Singin in the Rain (1952) - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

'Singin' in the Rain' is a 1952 MGM musical comedy directed by Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen, and starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds with Jean Hagen, Rita Moreno,  All musical numbers were choreographed by Gene Kelly.

The film is a satire on the awkward transition of silent to sound films and is most remembered for featuring Gene Kelly's signature song and dance routine 'Singin in the Rain'.

Musical program

• "Singin' in the Rain" (Intro) - Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor & Debbie Reynolds
• "Fit as a Fiddle" - Gene Kelly & Donald O'Connor
• "Temptation" (Instrumental)
• "Dreaming Of You" - Debbie Reynolds
• "Singin' in the Rain" - Gene Kelly
• "Make 'Em Laugh" - Donald O'Connor
• "Beautiful Girl Montage" (also features "I Got A Feeling You're Feeling", "The Wedding of the Painted Doll" and "Should I?"
• "You Were Meant For Me" - Gene Kelly (with Debbie Reynolds)
• "Moses Supposes" - Gene Kelly & Donald O'Connor
• "Good Morning" - Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor & Debbie Reynolds
• "Would You" - Debbie Reynolds
• "Broadway Melody Ballet" (also features "Broadway Rhythm") - Gene Kelly
• "You Are My Lucky Star" - Gene Kelly (with Debbie Reynolds)

Deleted songs:

• In an early draft of the script, "Singin' in the Rain" was to be sung by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor & Debbie Reynolds on their way back from the flop preview of 'The Dueling Cavalier'
• In an early draft of the script Gene Kelly was to sing "Dreaming Of You", instead of "You Were Meant For Me"
• Debbie Reynolds originally sang "You Are My Lucky Star" to a billboard showing an image of Don Lockwood - the footage has survived and is included on the DVD release
• Rita Moreno was originally meant to sing "I Got A Feelin' You're Foolin'"

Song: "Singin' in the Rain" - Gene Kelly

Song: "Dreaming Of You" - Debbie Reynolds

Song: "Good Morning" - Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds & Donald O'Connor

Song: "Make 'Em Laugh" - Donald O'Connor

Song: "Fit As a Fiddle" - Gene Kelly & Donald O'Connor

Song: "Singin' in the Rain" - Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds & Donald O'Connor

Clip from 'The Broadway Ballet' - Gene Kelly & Cyd Charisse

Clip from 'The Broadway Ballet' - Gene Kelly & Cyd Charisse

"Moses Supposes" - Gene Kelly & Donald O'Connor

Outtake musical number: "You Are My Lucky Star" - Debbie Reynolds (deleted from the final film)

Song: "Would You?" - Debbie Reynolds

Song: "You Were Meant For Me" - Gene Kelly (with Debbie Reynolds)

Song: "Singin' in the Rain (in E-Flat)" / "You Are My Lucky Star" - Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds & Donald O'Connor (with Jean Hagen)

Did you know...

• This was Debbie Reynold's first starring role
• Debbie Reynolds once said the two hardest things she has ever done is childbirth and 'Singin in the Rain'
• Arthur Freed gave Betty Comden and Adolph Green a mandate to write a film called "Singin' in the Rain", which was to feature as many of his songs as possible

Closing remarks

Although the film was only a moderate success on it's initial release, it is now considered to be one of the greatest musical films of all time, and even one of the best films ever made.