Singing in the Rain is “backstage” musical filled with comedy, songs and romance that was released in 1951 but set in the late 1920’s. It was one of the last films to be produced during the profitable golden age of the studio system. The film employs the typical characteristics of a Hollywood musical by relying on superstar names and contagious dance numbers. The movie incorporates an additional level of parody into its wistful plot that is centered on the disruptive shift from silent movies to “talkies”, movies with sound. Singin’ in the Rain promotes classical Hollywood musical numbers supplemented by affectionate satire. This is shown in a single scene, Gene Kelly’s “Singin’ in the Rain” song and dance number. MGM was able to reveal a majority
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There are such close ties between camera speed, movement, angles and the music. In the dance performance, the camera remains fluid and never stationary. The scene begins with wide shots that are often long and medium while tracking Lockwood through his song. These long shots later dolly in and form close-ups of Don. After a close-up is established, the camera waits about one measure of the song and cuts back out in a different angle of a wide shot angle. The camera motion seems to repeat itself throughout the scene while never fully breaking away from the pattern of shots. The simplicity of the shots (wide shot, dolly in to close-up, and then cut back to wide) perfectly represents the simple joy of Don Lockwood’s experience. His actions also contribute to the simplicity as the audience views his movements as effortless and trifling. Don’s life is also mirrored by the unblemished editing and camera movement. The scene is roughly five minutes long and in that time, nine cuts are made. This not only says a lot about the importance of Gene Kelly’s performance but it also says a lot about the filmmaker’s technique and priorities. Once again, the cutting of the camera from one shot to the next follows a pattern that perfectly corresponds with the music being played. By cutting whenever the song switches measures, it helps the scene appear more smooth and …show more content…
Most of the sound in this scene is diegetic: Kelly’s singing, his dancing and tapping feet, the splashing puddles, and the heavy pattering of the rainfall. The remaining non-diegetic sound is the background and accompanying music, to which the actor dances and sings in accordance but without the character’s awareness. The elaborateness of these layers—the sound of his feet tapping, layered on top of Kelly’s voice, layered on top of the developing music, layered on top of the definitive drumming of the rain—creates an impressive orchestra of sound which allows the audience to experience a multitude of simultaneous sensations and increases the complexity of the film. Such complexity and realism would be impossible to achieve during the time period in which the film is set, therefore the scene once again creates a contrast between old and new, and the addition of sound, as well as other aspects of the mise-en-scène, intensifies the audience’s
There are such close ties between camera speed, movement, angles and the music. In the dance performance, the camera remains fluid and never stationary. The scene begins with wide shots that are often long and medium while tracking Lockwood through his song. These long shots later dolly in and form close-ups of Don. After a close-up is established, the camera waits about one measure of the song and cuts back out in a different angle of a wide shot angle. The camera motion seems to repeat itself throughout the scene while never fully breaking away from the pattern of shots. The simplicity of the shots (wide shot, dolly in to close-up, and then cut back to wide) perfectly represents the simple joy of Don Lockwood’s experience. His actions also contribute to the simplicity as the audience views his movements as effortless and trifling. Don’s life is also mirrored by the unblemished editing and camera movement. The scene is roughly five minutes long and in that time, nine cuts are made. This not only says a lot about the importance of Gene Kelly’s performance but it also says a lot about the filmmaker’s technique and priorities. Once again, the cutting of the camera from one shot to the next follows a pattern that perfectly corresponds with the music being played. By cutting whenever the song switches measures, it helps the scene appear more smooth and …show more content…
Most of the sound in this scene is diegetic: Kelly’s singing, his dancing and tapping feet, the splashing puddles, and the heavy pattering of the rainfall. The remaining non-diegetic sound is the background and accompanying music, to which the actor dances and sings in accordance but without the character’s awareness. The elaborateness of these layers—the sound of his feet tapping, layered on top of Kelly’s voice, layered on top of the developing music, layered on top of the definitive drumming of the rain—creates an impressive orchestra of sound which allows the audience to experience a multitude of simultaneous sensations and increases the complexity of the film. Such complexity and realism would be impossible to achieve during the time period in which the film is set, therefore the scene once again creates a contrast between old and new, and the addition of sound, as well as other aspects of the mise-en-scène, intensifies the audience’s