Top 10 Facts About Singin' in the Rain That Will Ruin Your Childhood
#10: Debbie Reynolds Was Dubbed
Debbie Reynolds’ character, Kathy Selden, has her big coming out moment when she is revealed to be the one singing the song that Lina Lamont is lip syncing to. However, in an ironic, we-couldn’t-make-this-up twist, Reynolds herself was dubbed in parts of the film. On two of her songs, "Would You" and "You Are My Lucky Star", her singing voice is actually that of Betty Noyes. In an even more wonderfully ironic twist, it’s Lina’s actress Jean Hagen’s voice we hear in one particular scene when Kathy is speaking a line in her place, not Reynolds’! What is it they say about life imitating art?
#9: Burned Negatives
James Taylor has seen fire and rain, and unfortunately “Singin’ in the Rain” saw fire. Tortured metaphor aside, a blaze is what led to the loss of the movie’s original negative. This occurred sometime at the end of the 1970s, over two decades after the cinematic masterpiece was first introduced to audiences. The 2-alarm fire at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, N.Y. is likely the culprit, as numerous works were wrecked in that incident. There are however few details out there today. Nevertheless, it definitely feels like a piece of movie musical history went up in flames.
#8: The End of “Good Morning” Was No Laughing Matter
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There are some amazing individual song and dance numbers in the film. But “Good Morning” is the one that brings all three leads, played by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds, together. However, despite the name of the song, filming the scene was anything but a good morning – or night! That segment alone took all day to shoot – 15 hours, to be specific. It’s a wonder they made it through and were still able to deliver such stellar performances. You know that expression “laugh through the pain”? We bet that’s what they were doing by the end, as the intensity of the ordeal reportedly caused Reynolds’ feet to bleed.
#7: Gene Kelly Almost Couldn’t Do the Movie
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Try to imagine “Singin’ in the Rain” without Gene Kelly. It’s impossible to do, right? Well, had things gone a little differently, that’s exactly how you’d be picturing it by default. When they were initially developing the film, Kelly was working on “An American in Paris.” Meanwhile, actor - and bass-baritone - Howard Keel was briefly considered for the lead. With him in mind, the character was going to be a washed up actor, once famous for his Westerns, who attempts to re-enter the scene using song. The scriptwriters ultimately reworked the concept to the one we know, and Kelly finished shooting his other project in time. That’s how we got the Don Lockwood we all know and love.
#6: A ‘Censored’ Moment
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Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse dancing during the "Broadway Melody" number is an example of pure greatness on display. Just watch them together - the technique, the screen presence and the smoothness of their movements…. It’s all majestic. Well, except for that one weird moment when the scene does an awkward jump cut as Kelly is lowering Charisse down from a lift. Maybe you thought it was a mistake in the digital transfer to the DVD, but no, that’s how audiences saw it in theaters back in 1952 as well. According to most reports, the edit came because of a dance move being too risqué in nature. If only the original negatives were still around, maybe we could know for sure.
#5: The Stuntman Got Hurt Often
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Stunt men and women are consummate professionals, who often put their lives on the line for the sake of the art. If they can’t do a risky trick safely, who can? Well, Russell M. Saunders, who did a lot of Gene Kelly’s stunt work in “Singin’ in the Rain”, didn’t get away from the job unscathed. Donald O'Connor, who so brilliantly portrayed Cosmo, once explained that Saunders was often brought in if something was too dangerous for the actors. But the poor guy would often get hurt, and O’Connor or Kelly would then step in to complete the stunts in question as a result! In case you were wondering though, “Make 'Em Laugh” was all O'Connor!
#4: Debbie Reynolds Struggled
Working on a film set is demanding for anyone. If you’re a performer, you have to contend with the fact that countless eyes are on you, all while trying to master your part. Now imagine being Debbie Reynolds - a teen girl who’s not a professional dancer, and is attempting to learn on the job and keep up with one of the all time greats – Gene Kelly. It was so rough on her, that in one instance, she escaped for a minute to herself, hid under a piano and cried. She was eventually comforted by none other than Fred Astaire, who gave her a hand and helped her practice.
#3: The Original Song Was Plagiarized
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Rather than writing the songs to fit the movie, “Singin’ in the Rain” was a movie written to incorporate the songs. They had been written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown back between 1929-39. But there was one number, penned by Brown and Freed, that was meant to be brand new. We’re talking about Cosmo’s big solo moment, “Make 'Em Laugh.” Now, directors Stanley Donen (Dawn-en) and Gene Kelly had noted that “Be a Clown,” Cole Porter’s famous tune, could provide some interesting ideas to draw from artistically. The final so-called original song, however, was seen by many as more of a copy than an homage. Donen even reportedly said it was “100 percent plagiarism.”
#2: Gene Kelly Had a High Fever During the Most Famous Number
When you have a fever you’re supposed to rest and drink plenty of fluids. We aren’t doctors, but we’re pretty sure you aren’t supposed to sing and dance in the rain and splash around in puddles. But that’s what Gene Kelly did when he was sporting a temperature of roughly 103 degrees - he undoubtedly wasn’t feeling as “glorious” as his character was on screen. But you would never tell by watching the scene. The star kept the sun in his heart and a smile on his face, and turned in one of the most iconic movie dance numbers of all time.
#1: Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds Did NOT Get Along
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It will probably surprise no one to hear that the character relationships we see on screen don’t always match the relationships the actors have in real life. And according to both Kelly and Reynolds, that was the case for them as well. While Don Lockwood and Kathy Selden fell madly in love in the movie, things weren’t nearly as amorous behind the scenes. In her memoir, Reynolds called Kelly a “cruel taskmaster” who constantly criticized her. Meanwhile Kelly - who seemingly came to recognize how awful he’d been to her - reportedly said that he was shocked she still spoke to him after all he put her through.
