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Singin' in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece
Singin' in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece | Earl J Hess, Pratibha A Dabholkar
11 posts | 1 to read
There is no movie musical more fun than Singin' in the Rain, and few that remain as fresh over the years. . . . It is a transcendent experience, and no one who loves movies can afford to miss it. Roger Ebert. America's most popular film critic is hardly alone in singing the praises of Singin' in the Rain. This quintessential American film made in Hollywood's Golden Age, showcasing the genius of Gene Kelly, and featuring what Ebert calls "the most joyous musical sequence ever filmed" has inspired love and admiration from fellow critics, film scholars, and movie buffs worldwide for more than half a century. Indeed, its reputation continues to grow: the American Film Institute now ranks it number 1 on its list of the Greatest Movie Musicals of All Time and number 5 on its list of the Greatest American Films of All Time. Echoing the enthusiasm of the film's most devoted fans, Earl Hess and Pratibha Dabholkar embrace and illuminate both the film and its reputation. Combining lucid prose with meticulous scholarship, they provide for the first time the complete inside story of how this classic movie was made, marketed, and received. They re-create the actual movie-making experience, on the set and behind the scenes, and chronicle every step in production from original concept through casting, scripting, rehearsals, filming, scoring, and editing. They then trace its distribution, critical reception, and enduring reputation. The book is brimming with human interest, bursting with anecdotes and quotes by and about the film's stars and makers. Here are Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor at the top of their form, along with Debbie Reynolds and Cyd Charisse in their breakthrough roles. Here, too, are fascinating tidbits about censorship troubles, continuity flaws, stunt doubles for Kelly, voice doubles for cast members, the dubbing of taps, and genealogy of all the songs. Hess and Dabholkar also provide in-depth analyses of each of the major song-and-dance performances, including details of everything from the dynamics of "Gotta Dance!" to the physical challenges of the remarkable title number. Based on exhaustive research in oral histories, studio production records, letters, memoirs, and interviews, their book is factually impeccable, compulsively readable, and indispensable for anyone who loves movies at their absolute best."
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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Happy 12th birthday to Cosmo Brown! #DogsOfLitsy

EclecticBookLover Great name!!! 5y
Soubhiville Aw, happy birthday! 🐶💜 5y
xicanti Happy birthday, wee doggo! 5y
See All 6 Comments
Karkar Happy birthday!! 5y
LeahBergen Happy Birthday! 🦴 5y
JoScho So sweet! Happy Birthday cutie! 5y
58 likes6 comments
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StayCurious
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#lilithjuly #umbrella @Cinfhen @KarenUK This is a book about the making of one of my favourite movies and of course umbrellas immediately come to mind when I think of it.

BethM GreAt movie! 5y
KarenUK Gene Kelly! 😍😍😍 5y
royallyregan93 One of my favorite musicals!! 🥰 5y
56 likes3 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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Happy 11th Birthday to Cosmo Brown!!!

#DogsOfLitsy

AmyG Ha! Happy Birthday. 6y
DivineDiana Are these all Birthday gifts? 🎁 🎉👏🏻 6y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @DivineDiana Nah, but dumping his years of accumulated toys for him to root around in has become a Birthday tradition. 6y
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DivineDiana A splendid tradition! 🎉🎁🎉 6y
wanderinglynn Super cute! Happy birthday Cosmo! 🎉❤️🐶 6y
Jess7 Aww happy birthday Cosmo! 6y
RohitSawant Happy Birthday, Cosmo! 😍🐶🎉🎉 6y
mabell Happy Birthday, Comso! You look like you're living the life! 6y
Redwritinghood 🎉🎉🎂🎂 6y
readordierachel Happy birthday Cosmo! 🎉 6y
Craftylikefox Happy Birthday Cosmo!!! 6y
LeahBergen Awww! Happy Birthday, Cosmo Brown! 🍖🥩🍗🧀 6y
64 likes12 comments
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CrowCAH
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#MelodiousMusicals https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SND3v0i9uhE

Day 26: Make ‘em Laugh

Do some silly shenanigans and you‘ll get that belly laugh! 😆

Reecaspieces Love Love Love this movie! ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Andrew65 @Reecaspieces Couldn't agree more. 6y
CrowCAH @Reecaspieces @Andrew65 me, too!!! It‘s actually my younger sister‘s favorite musical! 🎤 🌧 (edited) 6y
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Andrew65 @CrowCAH I love that scene, fancy dancing with a settee! @Reecaspieces 6y
Reecaspieces @Andrew65 it‘s my favorite where they ride the back of the couch all the way down!! 6y
Andrew65 @Reecaspieces Me too. I'm sure I saw a documentary where they said it was a badly behaved couch and had to do it a fair few takes! 6y
Reecaspieces @Andrew65 oh! I am sure the couch was just the worst! 6y
68 likes7 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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Cosmo Brown turned 10 years old today! He went blind two years ago due to a genetic disorder but he is still his wonderful, charismatic, occasionally grumpy little self. #dogsoflitsy

vivastory Happy Birthday to Cosmo! 🐶 🎂 🎈 7y
coffeenebula 😍 7y
AlaMich Yay for Cosmo!! He looks like a lotta personality packed into a tiny body! 😊 7y
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398.2 Aww! Happy Birthday! 7y
readordierachel So cute. 🐕 7y
Mdargusch Cutie. ❤ 7y
mcipher Happy birthday!! What a cutie. ❤️ 7y
elkeOriginal Such a face! 💕 7y
Jabberwocky Omg too cute 7y
DebinHawaii Adorable! Happy Birthday Cosmo! 🎂🐶❤️ 7y
brennahawleycraig The best name!! That is the reason we named our cat Cosmo. He's kind of humorous and floppy 😂 7y
CindyMyLifeIsLit Adorable!! We had a teeny tiny Yorkie named Libby for 14 wonderful years. Your Cosmo reminds me of her. So cute! 7y
xicanti Happy birthday, Cosmo! He shares a name with my favourite psychic space dog. 7y
Moray_Reads What a sweetie 😍 7y
86 likes14 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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How has this long holiday weekend left me more worn out than a regular one? I am out of gas, folks. No photo challenges for me tonight. Just going to watch Sense8 until I fall asleep. Cosmo Brown agrees. #dogsoflitsy

Nat_Reads Dog ❤️🎈❤️🎈❤️🎈 Sense8 👌😍⭐️ 7y
Soubhiville Cosmo already gave up! 7y
AlaMich That is one worn-out pup! 🐶💤💤 7y
64 likes3 comments
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KateTheBookworm
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Reading about the making of one of my all time fave movies in preparation for seeing the stage play in Tokyo this month! ☔️🎶 Am I the only one who prefers Donald O'Connor to Gene Kelly? Those dance moves! Those blue eyes! Adorbs. #TeamCosmoBrown all the way.

CAGirlReading Yes! He totally made the movie! 7y
AllenTStClair One of my favorite musicals! Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor definitely made the movie! 7y
Dragon I love Donald O'Connor ! Loved those Francis the Talking Mule movies as a kid 😀 7y
Leelee08 He was my favorite ever!!!!😍❤#teamCosmoBrown 7y
33 likes4 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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G'night folks. Cosmo Brown wishes you a happy #nationalpuppyday from way back in his puppy days. #dogsoflitsy

Texreader Darling 7y
DGRachel 😍🐶😍 7y
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Sace Those eyes! That little pink tongue! So cute! 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @Sace He turns 10 this year so he is a bit more of an elder statesman than a puppy. Still just 3 pounds though. 7y
Sace Awwww! ❤️ "elder statesman" 7y
diovival Cuuuuute! 7y
48 likes7 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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I've had Litsy since last October, and for months I used it as a quick way to catalogue quotes. It wasn't until this month that I actually figured out what it's all about.

Being bookish was such an isolating thing growing up, and it is so exciting for me to know, especially since I'm #raisingreaders, that a community like this exists. I have enjoyed your comments and been humbled by your reading lists.

Cosmo Brown and I just want to say thanks.

readordierachel ❤️️ 🐶 7y
SharonGoforth 🐶🐶 7y
LeahBergen He is so sweet! 💗 7y
annkuch13 💜💜💜 7y
36 likes1 stack add5 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
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#dogsoflitsy @lemonlime799 Cosmo Brown many years ago. He is now blind, but still just 3 pounds, and is currently chilling in my lap.

Suet624 💕💕💕💕💕 7y
queerbookreader Is he wearing a little sweater omg that's so cute!! Thank you for tagging me! 💝 7y
See All 6 Comments
CherylDeFranceschi Good gravy, he's the cutest! 7y
DogMomIrene 💜💜💜 7y
Eyelit Adorable! That tongue 😄💜 7y
31 likes6 comments
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rubyslippersreads
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Just wanted to share this with all the #Littens. 💔

Tigerbook Noooooooo!😱 7y
113 likes5 comments