Nine Things You Probably Didn't Know About Singin' in the Rain

This summer, the film Singin' in the Rain celebrates its 60th anniversary.  Not only am I going to see the film at my local movie theater tonight to celebrate the event, but I also thought it was fitting to make a little "fun facts" post.

The film stars Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds.  Kelly also co-directed and provided choreography for the film.  Though it was only a modest hit when first released, it is now frequently given legendary status by movie critics and is often described as one of the best musicals ever made.

If you haven't seen it, than you are seriously SERIOUSLY missing out.  That's all I'm going to say on the matter.  

So here we go, nine things you probably didn't know about Singin' in the Rain:

1.) Stars Judy Garland and June Allyson were just a few of the many actresses considered for the role of Kathy Selden.  However, Gene Kelly was determined the land starlet Debbie Reynolds.  Reynolds was a gymnast who had been discovered in a beauty pageant and had since landed only a few small movie roles.  Though she was still a teenager (Reynolds when 19 when she began filming,) Kelly was certain she had the athleticism and vocal chops the part required.

2.) However, Reynolds was not as confident in her ability to handle the part.  She had no dance training, and found Gene Kelly to be an intense perfectionist.  One day, she became so discouraged with the difficult choreography that she curled up beneath a piano and started to cry.  Eventually, she was found by Fred Astaire, who gave her some dance coaching.  By the time she filmed the "Good Morning" number, she was able to keep up with Kelly and O'Connor, but after the 14-hour shoot was done, she had to be carried to her dressing room because of her bleeding feet.  Years later, Kelly referred to Reynolds as "strong as an ox" and complimented her on her ability to learn complicated routines quickly.  Still, she said, "The two hardest things I ever did in my life are childbirth and “Singin' in the Rain."

3.) O'Connor also worked himself to exhaustion performing the "Make 'Em Laugh" number, which had him recreating bits of acrobatic comedy he'd done in the early stages of his career (including running up a wall and flipping into a somersault).  O'Connor was a four-pack-a-day smoker, and after filming the number, took to bed for several days.  However, he soon learned that all of the footage from the shoot had been accidentally destroyed.  So, in true broadway fashion, he offered to do the entire thing again.

4.) Even Kelly worked himself sick.  The title number, filmed on a street set two blocks long on the MGM backlot, took seven days to film, with six hours of fake rain each day.  The water was mixed with milk to make it show better on camera.  However, the mixture made Kelly's wool suit shrink.  On tope of his shrunken suit, a drenched Gene Kelly had a bad cold and fever the entire shoot.  With all this, Kelly still managed to complete the scene in just one take.  This is the take seen in the movie.

5.) The title song became a highlight on the soundtrack, but also became the soundtrack to another infamous film moment.  In Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, actor Malcolm McDowell sang the tune while his character raped a woman.  The song was McDowell's suggestion on the set, and director Stanley Kubrick immediately called for a break.  Within an hour, he had received permission to use the song.  Co-director of Singin' in the Rain Stanley Donen happened to be in London near the set, so Kubrick hunted him down and told him his idea for the use of the song.  Donen raised no objections at the time, but I wonder if he regretted it after seeing the film.  After all, it is a far cry from the happy-go-lucky tone set in Singin' in the Rain.

6.) Debbie Reynolds had to rub her eyes with onions to make herself cry for the penultimate scene in the movie, when Gene Kelly tells the audience that she, and not Lina, is the real star of The Dancing Cavalier.

7.) Filming of the Cyd Charisse dance number had to be stopped for several hours after it was discovered that her pubic hair was visible through her costume.  When the problem was finally fixed, the film's costume designer Walter Plunkett said, "It's OK, guys, we've finally got Cyd's crotch licked."

8.) Donald O'Connor admitted that he did not enjoy working with Gene Kelly, since Kelly was considered somewhat of a tyrant.  O'Connor said that for the first several weeks of shooting he was terrified of making a mistake and being yelled at by Kelly.

9.) The screenwriters bought a house in Hollywood from a former silent film star who lost his wealth when the innovation of sound film killed his career.  This was part of the inspiration for the film. 

Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain

So there you have it, nine things you probably didn't know about Singin' in the Rain.

Now go pop some popcorn, sit down with a group of friends, and watch the iconic film in its entirety.  I'm begging you.  

And if you still haven't seen Singin' in the Rain yet, I don't know what more I can say to make you watch it, so I'm just going to hang my head in shame and walk away...

Maybe Gene will be able to convince you...