Movie Trivia Tuesday: Singin' in the Rain

This coming Thursday, I will have the opportunity to see Singin' in the Rain on the big screen for the second time in my life at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, FL. If I were to make a top 5 list (and someday I still might, even though it's a nearly impossible task), then singin' in the Rain would probably land as my #2 favorite movie of all time. It is an amazing, entertaining, funny, awe-inspiring film that is a joy to watch over and over again. It is certainly the best musical of all time, with multiple excellent and memorable songs and the talents that populate the movie are all remarkable. I could really go on and on about how much I love this movie. Given this exciting occasion, I thought it only appropriate to make Singin' in the Rain this weeks trivia subject.
 
 

• Different actors were considered for all three of the main roles at various times. Judy Garland was considered among several other actresses to play the part of Kathy Seldon, but was deemed too old for the part, the role of Cosmo Brown was originally written for Oscar Levant before Donald O’Connor was suggested, and Howard Keel was the original choice to play Don Lockwood.

 

• Gene Kelly was seen by Donald O’Connor as somewhat of a tyrant while making the movie, and supposedly even criticizing Debbie Reynolds dancing to the point of making her cry

 

• In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked Singin' in the Rain the #5 greatest film of all time

 

• The film was nominated for two Oscars, one for Best Supporting Actress, Jean Hagen and another for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture. Donald O’Connor also won a Golden Globe for his performance as Cosmo Brown.

 

• The script was written after the songs. A plot had to be devised around which the songs would fit

 

• Only two songs were written specifically for the film, “Moses Supposes” and “Make ‘Em Laugh”

 

• In the songs “Would You” and “You Are My Lucky Star,” Debbie Reynolds is being dubbed by Betty Noyes

 

• The melody for “Make ‘Em Laugh” is strikingly similar to the song “Be a Clown” sung by Gene Kelly in The Pirate. Nobody was ever accused of plagiarism, though. Judge for yourself here and here.

 

• Gene Kelly had a 103 degree fever during the filming the “Singin’ in the Rain” musical number

 

• The rain used in the “Singin’ in the Rain” musical number was actually a combination of water and milk, which was used to make it show up better on film