Singing in the Rain- "I'm happy again..."

It has been a long time since posting, but I believe in second chances.

Singing in the Rain was next on the list. The movie drove the guys crazy, but I really enjoyed it. It's the story of two men who travel together as entertainers, making it big in the silent film industry. Gene Kelly plays Don Lockwood, the main character, who becomes a giant movie star as a studio couple with Lina Lamont, played by Jean Hagen. Of course, Don has no interest in Lina, and Lina as more than enough interest in Don for the both of them (no points for a typical storyline). He's much more interested in the fiery Kathy Seldin (Debbie Reynolds), who he meets when he's trying to escape some overactive fans. They have a couple adventures, which end with Kathy throwing a cake in Lina's face by accident, causing Lina to declare her a sworn enemy.

Don and Lina work for Monumental Pictures, which finds itself behind the times when another studio releases the first "talkie", The Jazz Singer. So it immediately turns the new Lockwood Lamont picture, The Dueling Cavalier, into a musical renamed The Dancing Cavelier. Unfortunately, Lina has a face for pictures and a voice for torture. Monumental takes Don's suggestion to have Kathy be a voice over for Lina, and of course....he and Kathy fall in love.

The movie comes out to lavish praise, and Lina threatens to keep Don for herself by blackmailing the studio to fire Kathy and force Don to work with her forever. Kathy doesn't understand Don trying to defend her, and she walks out in a huff. Don and Company find a way to expose her to a live audience by revealing Kathy as her "voice" behind a curtain; Lina flees in shame, Don and Kathy make up, and...happily ever after. The movie is from 1952, after all.

I really enjoyed it, and only saw pros...the dance scene with Gene Kelly, the singing, the humor which had a slightly risque bent at points. The only con was the imagined scene with the dancing and psychedelic visions--I didn't blame a fellow watcher for asking "What the hell is this?".

All in all, a classic. Dear daughter of the hosts thought the women and the outfits were "beautiful". I concur.