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.006 - Singing in the Rain
Out of all the choices to write about this week, I'm going with Singin' in the Rain. Citizen Kane, The Godfather, and Raging Bull are to me very different movies from this one and not the kind I'd actually watch on my own unless someone was forcing me to to do a homework assignment.

Singin' in the Rain, however, is a comedy and a musical, which is vastly different and contains a song in it I sing to myself and have tried to reenact in the middle of the rain with actual tap shoes on before. Overall the film is witty and enjoyable. The characters are likeable, even the ones you're supposed to find annoying and obnoxious. The performances are well done (I might just be biased as a huge Gene Kelly fan), the writing is beautiful, and it gives a lot in sight into the film industry even if it might not be 100% accurate for comedic effect. It's the first time I've actually watched it all the way through but I have seen bits of it before. I did enjoy it a lot even if I got a little antsy and might have made a sandwich in the middle of it while waiting for my favorite song to come up.

While most of the songs are easily forgettable nowadays, there is one that stands out strongly and is used and used and used and referenced in media all the time. It's an incredibly catchy one.



The scene is about five minutes (exactly 4:36 according to this Youtube clip of it.) The scene comes right after a boring musical number I don't remember any of the words too. He doesn't have a care in the world and can just be free. Within the context of the movie, Singing in the Rain is actually the name of Don and Kathy's new film at the end -- wither or not the song he's singing in the rain is actually put into their film Singing in the Rain isn't clear but it probably is put in. The entire film is probably the one they have the billboard for at the end.

To convey the carefree attitude, the lyrics talk about being free and being happy again. The song is upbeat, cheery, and gets it across. It's something anyone would want to sing when they're feeling great. The actor himself conveys it too by not caring if his umbrella covers him, purposely splashing in puddles, and naturally dancing around like he just doesn't care. He's got face expressions showing he doesn't really regret anything he's doing -- even to the cop at the end who is giving him that scolding look. The camera work and sound, besides the tap dancing splashes, are all rather boring all things considered. It's not a lot of shots or angles but that might be to convey it feeling like one long linear take to show off Gene Kelly's skills instead of using it as a narrating tool, since doing so would be rather odd.