Gene Kelly is undeniably one of the greatest musical talents of all time. A world-class dancer, choreographer, singer, and actor—he had it all. However, his biggest fear was that he would be forgotten. This fear is ironic, considering that one of his films is ranked No. 5 on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years … 100 Movies” 2007 list, and he himself is ranked No. 15 on their list of top stars.
The film which earned the No. 5 spot, as well as No. 1 in the ranking of movie musicals, is the 1952 film “Singin’ in the Rain.” In the original AFI list, released in 1998, No. 68 was another Kelly tour de force, 1951’s “An American in Paris.” Sadly, in the 2007 updated ranking, this film was removed. However, it still sits proudly as No. 9 in their ranking of movie musicals. While the storylines don’t have much in common, these two films are both excellent showcases of the truly exceptional talent that was Gene Kelly.
An American in Paris
Jerry Mulligan (Kelly) is the “American in Paris” of the title, a young artist who moved to France to soak up the artistic culture. When his friend and neighbor, cynical pianist Adam Cook (Oscar Levant), runs into an old acquaintance, French singer Henri Baurel (Georges Guétary), the latter tells him about his fiancée, Lise Bouvier (Leslie Caron).While displaying some of his art on the street later that day, Jerry encounters wealthy American heiress Milo Roberts (Nina Foch), who wants to sponsor his career. He takes her out to dinner where he encounters Lise and is immediately smitten. They spend a few romantic moments on the bank of the Seine before she rushes off to see Henri, who tells her he’s been offered an American tour and proclaims they can be married and go together. She feels indebted to him for protecting her during the war, so she agrees. Nevertheless, she and Jerry continue seeing each other, falling in love.
This film is a masterpiece in the musical genre. Featuring the famous 17-minute “American in Paris Ballet” at its climax, alongside a plethora of Gershwin tunes, it simply doesn’t have a bad number in it. Leslie Caron shines in her first screen appearance.
‘Singin’ in the Rain’
In the year 1927, Don Lockwood (Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are Hollywood’s leading screen couple. Their latest motion picture triumph, “The Royal Rascal,” premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The two stars arrive on the red carpet, alongside Don’s longtime friend, composer, and pianist Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor).
After the premiere, Don is mobbed by fans and barely escapes with his life by jumping into a stranger’s moving car, driven by young actress Kathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds). Thinking he’s a criminal, she tries to get him arrested. She acts very snooty, saying she’s a stage actress and thus superior to film actors. However, at the premiere’s afterparty, she appears as a dancing girl from a nearby nightclub. Kathy ends up losing her job.
Don can’t stop thinking about Kathy and is concerned about her losing her job. Shortly after, Don encounters Kathy doing chorus work on a new picture, and they share a romantic moment on a deserted soundstage. The premiere of Lockwood and Lamont’s first talkie, “The Dueling Cavalier,” is a train wreck, so Don’s career is threatened. However, Cosmo brilliantly suggests they turn it into a musical, overdubbing Lina’s obnoxious nasal voice with Kathy’s lovely one. As the musical production progresses, so does Don and Kathy’s romance.
“Singin’ in the Rain” rightly earned its No. 1 spot among movie musicals. Its lasting fame is due in part to the fact that it’s unlike anything else. Combining flashy musical spectacle with the fascinating story of Hollywood’s transition to sound is a unique idea, but it works. Also, unlike many films from later decades set in the 1920s, the costumes and hairstyles are very accurate for the day.
The musical numbers remain some of the greatest in film history. Will anything ever equal that image of Kelly on the lamppost from the film’s title number, to say nothing of the unforgettable “Good Morning” number or O’Connor’s hilarious “Make ‘Em Laugh” routine? The pièce de résistance is the epic “Broadway Melody Ballet,” which features two breathtaking duets with Cyd Charisse. Reynolds, although not really a dancer, does an excellent job living up to the dancing chops of her two male costars.
“An American in Paris” has an intrinsic charm and magic unequalled by any other musical. While the “Broadway Melody” sequence is fabulous, nothing will ever quite equal the “American in Paris Ballet.”
Both Gene Kelly films are fantastic examples of what a movie musical should be. While “An American in Paris” was a huge success upon release, garnering six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, it took a few years for “Singin’ in the Rain” to reach its peak fame, and has now overshadowed its predecessor.
