Singin’ in the Rain

Singin’ in the Rain, motion-picture musical about several Hollywood performers adjusting to the transition from silent to sound films during the 1920s. Released in 1952, the film stars Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor as two performers who worked their way up the show business ladder all the way from vaudeville to talking motion pictures. A young actress (played by Debbie Reynolds) gets her break in show business when she dubs the voice of a silent screen star who has a terrible voice. She and Don Lockwood (Kelly) fall in love, which prompts him to sing for joy in a memorable, rainy sequence.

Directors

• Gene Kelly
• Stanley Donen

Cast

• Gene Kelly (Don Lockwood)
• Donald O'Connor (Cosmo Brown)
• Debbie Reynolds (Kathy Seldon)
• Jean Hagen (Lina Lamont)
• Millard Mitchell (R. F. Simpson)
• Rita Moreno (Zelda Zanders)
• Douglas Fowley (Roscoe Dexter)
• Cyd Charisse (Dancer)
• Madge Blake (Dora Bailey)
• King Donovan (Rod)
• Kathleen Freeman (Phoebe Dinsmore)
• Robert Watson (Diction coach)
• Jimmie Thompson (Male lead in 'Beautiful Girls' number)
• Dan Foster (Assistant director)
• Margaret Bert (Wardrobe woman)
• Mae Clarke (Hairdresser)
• Judy Landon (Olga Mara)
• John Dodsworth (Baron de la May de la Toulon)
• Stuart Holmes (J. C. Spendrill III)
• Dennis Ross (Don as a boy)
• Bill Lewin (Bert)
• Richard Emory (Phil)
• Julius Tannen (Man on screen)
• Dawn Addams (Lady in waiting)
• Elaine Stewart (Lady in waiting)
• Carl Milletaire (Villain)
• Jack George (Orchestra leader)
• Wilson Wood (Vallee impersonator)
• Dorothy Patrick (Audience member)
• William Lester (Audience member)
• Charles Evans (Audience member)
• Joi Lansing (Audience member)
• David Sharpe (Fencer)
• Russ Saunders (Fencer)
• Patricia Denise (Female dancer)
• Jeanne Coyne (Female dancer)
• Bill Chatham (Member of male dancing quartet)
• Ernest Flatt (Member of male dancing quartet)
• Don Hulbert (Member of male dancing quartet)
• Robert Dayo (Member of male dancing quartet)
• David Kasday (Kid)

Awards

• Golden Globe Award for Best Actor—Musical/Comedy (1953): Donald O’Connor

Quotes

• Studio head (prediction that talking pictures will be a flop): 'The Warner Brothers are making a whole talking picture with this thing. The Jazz Singer. They'll lose their shirts.'
• Don Lockwood (to his best friend): “Cosmo, call me a cab.” Cosmo Brown: “Okay, you’re a cab.”