State’s cassic film series selection shows musical, comedic genius
In an era when the best of sound and music are introduced to the silent film industry, film stars Don Lockwood and Cosmo Brown make the transition with Kathy Selden in the 1952 classic film “Singin’ in the Rain.”
This musical-romantic comedy will be the September selection for The State Theatre Center for Art’s Classic Film Series showing at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 22.
Known as the best cinematic singer and dancer, Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly, “On the Town” and “An American in Paris”) is on top of the world. He finds himself dodging the advances of the shallow female co-star, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen, “The Asphalt Jungle” and “Make Room for Daddy”), as well as an eager crowd of fans that has him jumping into a passing car driven by Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds, “Charlotte’s Web” and “Halloweentown”).
Selden is unimpressed with Lockwood’s on- and off-screen antics, though an air of irony is introduced later as she is one of the chorus girls featured at a party.
A tumultuous friendship between Lockwood, Selden and Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor, “Toys” and “There’s No Business like Show Business”) commences while a romance blossoms between the first two.
A great deal of laughter and snickering occurs when Lamont attempts to use her grating New York accent in a delicate roll in a new “talkie,” while Lockwood finds himself at a loss for words. The audience is unimpressed, leading to the trio of friends developing a musical — turning the aged “The Dueling Cavalier” into “The Dancing Cavalier.”
History is made, though secrets are revealed and feelings initially hurt. A kiss is shared as the Selden is given credit for her angelic voice that was dubbed over Lamont’s less-than-attractive audio.
Shortly after the film’s release in 1952, Wanda Hale wrote for the Daily News that “Singin’ In The Rain” is “Another mighty fine MGM Technicolor musical comedy produced by Arthur Freed…”
“Mr. Freed knows what audiences want and he gives it to them,” Hale wrote more than 50 years ago. “As usual, in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ he gives us entertainment, something to look at, a lot of laugh at and good music to listen to, something to lose ourselves in. And something for us old timers to reminisce over in the songs and type of entertainment that looks as though it came out of MGM’s first big talking musical, ‘Broadway Melody.'”
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors, students or children.
“Singin’ In The Rain” is part of the classic film series that is supported by the Herald-Standard Be Local program and sponsored by 84 Lumber, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa and the Hardy and Magerko families, along with the State Theatre, to create an event around each of the two viewings of the monthly movie.
Coming soon
The 2017-2018 Classic Film Series will also include: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Oct. 27); and “The Green Berets” (Nov. 3).