10 Best Singin’ in the Rain Moments
8. Don Drops In
As far as meet-cutes go, this is a doozie.
Don literally falls into the passenger seat of Kathy Selden’s car. Kathy doesn’t recognise him at first and calls for help from a nearby police officer. Once she realises who is sitting in the car next to her – one of Hollywood’s biggest stars – she does her best to appear aloof and almost does too good of a job. Slagging off Don’s trade, his career, and his films, she states: “If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”
The fact that in the next scene Kathy is revealed bursting out of a cake, as a chorus girl, immediately shows her lofty aspirations to be just that. And Don is delighted.
Singin’ in the Rain is a tongue-in-cheek satire of Hollywood, and this first interaction between the romantic leads is a perfect reflection of that.
7. Lina Lamont’s Debut
Jean Hagan is put to work again in this great comedic scene.
Lina is struggling with the new talking element of her job. There’s a lot of new technology to get to grips with, and a new style of acting to learn.
The microphone can’t pick up her voice as she still employs the over the top methods of a silent film star. The elocution tutor hovers, correcting her every other word, and the director’s top is about to blow. Lina winds up legs akimbo with her skirts around her ears.
Hagan doesn’t dance or sing during the film, but she is far from wasted on screen. Her comedic prowess is up there with Donald O’Connor’s. As is her physicality.
Recommended for you: Damien Chazelle Movies Ranked
6. Screen Test
The studio has attempted its first talking picture. Everyone is excited to see The Duelling Cavalier, it’s bound to be good. It has Lina Lamont and Don Lockwood in it for goodness’s sake…
The disaster unfolds as the theatre audience bursts out laughing. Lina’s elocution lessons haven’t had the desired effect, the speech and acting falls out of sync, and Don’s hammy acting is all the more apparent when he has lines.
And here is the obstacle they have to overcome: that middle act nemesis. Saving face in this judgemental industry is incredibly important and the stakes are rising.
Is it good? No no no. Do they need to fix it? Yes yes yes.
