“Forget your troubles, and just get happy!   Ya better chase all your cares away!” (Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler, 1930)

As we open the Guidebook to AFI’s pick for Best Musical film (2006) and gather clients, students, and family members around the DVD on a rainy  August afternoon feel free to let “the glorious feeling” of Singin’ in the Rain wash over all of you!

Welcome to the August 2019 Edition ~ Happy Again!

“Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place. Come on with the rain; I've a smile on my face!”

A smile and excitement that lasts throughout the film.

When we begin where the film opens with the premiere of the Royal Rascal, “with those romantic lovers of the silver screen – Lockwood a Lamont.” we feel the excitement that the crowd feels when fans are screaming/fainting over their favorite stars. When Don and Lina (Kelly and  Jean Hagen), walk to the microphone, there is the excitement of seeing a favorite actor “up close.”

Gene Kelly is made for this role. He possesses the matinee idol good looks, the sly, but altogether pleasing smile, and absolute perfect style, whether wearing a fedora and tuxedo or khakis and loafers.

He is a man for both men and women. In this role, men want to be him. What man wouldn’t want to be handsome, famous, and have women delight in your touch or glance? Although he admits to ”being terribly lonely,” upon his first meeting with Kathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds), We as an audience know he can and does “achieve a certain level of intimacy” with his co-stars.

Women want to find themselves in this intimacy. Who wouldn’t want to be romanced by Kelly? What women wouldn’t want to be Kathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds), on a balcony with the glow of a sunset behind her and a “mist from a distant mountain”  in front of her? Or perhaps Cyd Charisse in the nightclub dancing with Kelly in some of the most tasteful yet intimate dance sequences? 

These sequences excite us, but I believe, as do many clients, friends, and fans, the real joy of this film is in the Nacio Herb Brown, and Arthur Freed score. I find all my clients laugh, sing, and dance in their seats when they hear Moses Supposes, Make ’Em Laugh, Good Mornin’ and of course, Singin' in the Rain.  Can anyone sit perfectly still when they see the joy, grace, and skill with which Kelly, O’Connor, and Reynolds approach these musical numbers? I think not!  

The musical numbers expertly choreographed by Kelly, fit well into the narrative of the story. They express the love, tenderness, and joy of a new-found relationship that this man cannot express in simple words.  When Kelly sings these songs, there is an ease and warmth in his voice that makes you happy.  

When you, your clients, residents, intergenerational family members, and students gather around the DVD player this rainy August to  laugh, sing, and  dance in your seats be sure to share  what makes you laugh a puts a “smile on your face!”

~~Lori