Of course, Singin' in the Rain is the world’s best musical film ever. How can you fault it? Stanley Donen, only 24 at the time, works in his trade-mark background gags leaving the marvellous Gene Kelly to choreograph, dance, sing, seduce and crack jokes as well as notch up a co-direction credit.
Donald O'Connor, the best supporting actor ever and a fab song and dance man in his own right, gives us the incomparable “Make Em Laugh!” and Debbie Reynolds hoofs up a storm at every turn.
But my favourite character is Jean Hagen’s Lena: “I keeeeeen stannit!”. She’s so blissfully stupid, so gloriously spoilt, so completely humourless - the epitome of comedy writing... and performing come to that. She cracks me up every time, and I also adore the cod 20s costumes with the ridiculous furs and rocks to go with... there’s also Debbie’s sweet pink number with the built in bowl of sweets. You don’t get much madder than that.
And of course this film features one of the best-loved film songs of all time: Gene tapping his way down a street awash with rain in the title number.
But you know all this, right? What???? Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it? Shame on you. Stop sitting there in front of your computer and watch this film.
