3.5, United States/Canada

Singin’ in the Rain

1952 / Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly > With the possible exception of Cary Grant, I can’t imagine anyone more suave than Gene Kelly in classic cinema. He’s got the type of charisma that makes movies, careers and eventually legends, and he puts it all on display in Singin’ in the Rain. The fact that the famous title sequence was actually performed when the actor had a 103° fever just makes it that much more extraordinary. But as a film, you can often tell that the story itself was written to match the musical numbers. But let’s face it: You don’t watch this for plot, you watch it to see Kelly and Debbie Reynolds and Cyd Charisse dance and sing and dance again. For that, it’s absolutely dandy. In fact, the wondrous Broadway sequence, with its innovative set designs and dazzling colors, is alone the worth the price of admission.

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