Movie musicals aren’t just entertaining, they’re complete and total spectacles — a beautiful coming together of the best elements of theater: acting, singing, and of course dancing.
In the long history of movie musicals, a small select few have managed to stand the test of time, but none to a greater degree than Singin’ in the Rain .
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Considered by many to be the greatest movie musical ever made, have a look below and check out these 21 facts about Singin’ in the Rain’ that all fans should know.
Debbie Reynolds had no dance experience prior to the film.
In a 1998 interview, Debbie said that Gene Kelly worked her to the bone. In fact, the only thing harder than childbirth was being forced to dance in Singin’ in the Rain , according to Debbie. `
Debbie received some words of encouragement from one of the world’s most iconic dancers.
The legendary Fred Astaire was practicing in an adjacent studio when he heard Debbie crying. He went over to console the young girl and assured her all the hard work would indeed pay off.
‘Singin’ In The Rain’ was nominated for two Academy Awards.
The beloved film was nominated for “Best Music/Scoring of a Musical Picture.” Jean Hagen was also recognized for her incredible efforts and received a nomination for ” Best Supporting Actress .”
‘Singin’ In The Rain’ isn’t based on a Broadway musical.
Despite what you might have heard, the original script for the film version was conceived first. Once it had become a hit, it was reverse-engineered into a Broadway musical.
The last shot of “Good Morning” proved to be incredibly elusive.
Remember the part where the three of them somersault over the couch and then proceed to tip one another backward? That little piece of choreography required 40 different takes.
Donald O’Connor really was running up the walls in the “Make ‘Em Laugh” number.
“I was smoking four packs of cigarettes a day then ,” O’Connor recalled, “and getting up those walls was murder. They had to bank one wall so I could make it up and then through another wall. We filmed that whole sequence in one day.”
Gene Kelly was dangerously ill when they filmed the title number.
Do you recall how your mother used to warn you to come out of the rain, lest you catch a cold? Well, apparently Gene didn’t heed that advice. He had a fever of 103 degrees while filming “Singin’ In The Rain.”
Debbie Reynolds danced until she bled — literally.
After filming the “Good Morning” number, poor Debbie Reynolds had to be carried off the soundstage to her dressing room. She danced so hard that she wound up breaking several blood vessels in her feet.
Cyd Charisse never smoked a day in her life prior to ‘Singin’ In The Rain’.
In fact, Cyd had to be taught how to hold it and how to properly drag/inhale. It was the first and reportedly the last cigarette that she ever smoke in her life.
The original negatives of the film were destroyed.
Sometime during the 1970s, a horrible fire swept through a studio storage facility and the original negatives for Singin’ in the Rain were completely destroyed. Ironically, it was also the first Warner film to be restored using the Ultra-Resolution process.
‘Singin’ In The Rain’ is objectively one of the best movie musicals ever created.
According to the American Film Institute’s ” 100 Years of Musicals ” list, Singin’ in the Rain outdoes all others — including The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music.
The “Broadway Ballet” sequence was easily the film’s most difficult scene.
When all was said and done, the sequence took more than a month to rehearse, over two weeks to film, and cost $600,000 — nearly a fifth of the entire budget .
Making a convincing nighttime set proved to be grueling.
In order to create the illusion of nightfall, studio techs had to drape two outdoor city blocks on the backlot in a tarp . They were then equipped with a sprinkler in order for the rain to fall convincingly.
‘Singin’ In The Rain’ has a lot in common with ‘Seinfeld’.
The very same soundstage that was used for the “Singin’ In The Rain” number is the exact same one that was used to film street scenes for the iconic sitcom, Seinfeld.
Donald O’Connor was forced to become Gene Kelly’s whipping boy, for the sake of the picture.
Gene knew that the more Debbie cried, the more it would hold up filming. So instead of lashing out at her, h e turned his fury on Donald because Gene knew Don could take it.
Debbie Reynolds was essentially still a child when she was cast in the film.
Debbie was only 19 at the time and was still living at home. In order to get to the studio on time, s he had to commute with her parents and take three different buses.
Gene Kelly was incredibly vain when it came to his height.
Gene didn’t like how Cyd Charisse was taller than he was. So in order to conceal the fact, he specially choreographed their dance sequences to create the illusion that they were the same height .
‘Singin’ In The Rain’ has an outstanding score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Any film buff worth their salt understands the power that Rotten Tomatoes has come to possess in the world of cinema. That’s what makes Singin’ in the Rain’s T omatometer score of 100% all the more impressive.
The music came first.
Unlike other movie musicals, the music for Singin’ in the Rain was conceived first. This meant that the plot of the movie had to be written to fit the songs , not the other way around.
Despite their differences, Debbie Reynolds developed a profound respect for Gene Kelly.
“He is a perfectionist and a disciplinarian — the most exciting director I’ve ever worked for,” Debbie explained. ” And he has a good temper . Every so often he would yell at me and make me cry.”
The song “Make ‘Em Laugh” is basically one long ripoff.
If you compare Cole Porter’s “Be A Clown” with Arthur Freed’s “Make ‘Em Laugh,” the similarities are impossible to miss. Still, no one ever accused Freed of plagiarism at any point.
