Singin’ in the Rain Notes
2.Fulltime producer beginning in ’39 w/Meet Me in St. Louis
a.Produced 40 Movie Musicals between ’39-‘51
3.Musicals began to advance story, characters & locations. More ‘Realistic’
4.Title taken from Freed song, but production sued by writer of book from ’36 called Singing in the Rain. “G” dropped to comply
ii.Betty Comden & Adolph Green-Writers
1.Tasked w/crafting musical using Singin’ in the Rain song
a.Began writing on 6/19/50 & finished 8/10/50
b.Revised into October
2.“BARNYARD MUSICAL: “kids putting on a show”
3.Script
a.Early thought was to base story on existing film in MGM catalog
i.Bombshell, Platinum Blonde, or Merton of the Movies
ii.John Gilbert Story
b.Characters
i.Lena based on Billy Dawn, played by Judy Holiday on Broadway & in Oscar winning film (Born Yesterday)
1.Hagen replaced Holiday on Broadway
ii.Cathy Selden was Kathy Summers, but real actress was named. Kathy Burrows & Kathy Norwood considered
iii.Roscoe Dexter= Busby Berkeley
iv.Dancer (Charisse) modeled on Louis Brooks
c.Late drafts were collaboration between writers Kelly & Donen
d.TURNING POINT: WHEN LENA SPEAKS
4.Other Musicals
a.On the Town
b.Good News
c.Barkley’s of Broadway
5.Post Singin’ Career
a.Auntie Mame (58)
b.What a Way to Go (64)
c.Bells are Ringing 60
iii.Prior Musicals Based on Songs
1.‘Till the Clouds Roll By ‘46
2.Easter Parade ‘48
3.An American in Paris ‘51
1.Joan Crawford/Buster Keaton & Marion Davies appeared in song
ii.All songs used in final film are Freed-Brown titles
iii.14 songs were chosen in Spring of ‘51
1.2 New songs added: Make ‘em Laugh & Moses Supposes
a.Make ‘em laugh blatantly rips off Cole Porter’s Be a Clown
1.Howard Keel (singing cowboy)
2.Oscar Levant in Cosmo role
3.Judy Holiday considered for Hagen role (too famous)
4.Kelly wanted dance assistant Carol Haney for dancer, but too earthy
ii.Gene Kelly: Peak of career. Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, director
1.Early Life
a.Began dancing at 7. Hated it teased
b.Dancing blossomed in HS as girls took notice
c.Hockey player & gymnast
d.Taught dance in mom’s studio in H.S.
e.1 year at PSU, then to Pitt to help w/finances Econ degree
2.Early Career
a.Went to Broadway in ’38 as choreographer
b.1940 debut in The Time of your Life as Harry the Hoofer
i.Freed noticed him, but Kelly said he wasn’t ready for H’wood
c.Pal joey got him Hollywood contract
d.For Me & My Gal w/ Judy Garland got film career started
3.Pre-Singin’ Career
a.Came to Hollywood on Selznick contract
i.Bought out by MGM
ii.For Me & My Gal w/ Judy Garland (Dir B. Berkeley)
iii.
b.Donan was Kelly’s assistant on Cover Girl
4.Post-Singin’ Career
a.XXX
5.Impact
a.Bassinger “with Kelly Dance moved away from ‘a 1 & a 2 & a 3…through ‘ta da’ to more natural & emotional”
6.Kelly/Astaire
a.Astaire more introverted, close, tight, while Kelly is wider & more open
b.Kelly: “My style is more proletarian his is more aristocratic”
c.Astaire more ethereal. Kelly more tangible & held with gravity
d.Bassinger: “Viewers hearts belonged to Astaire, but their bodies belonged to Kelly”
e.Ziefeld Follies only time on film dancing together
i.Gene deferential to the 45 yr old Astaire
ii.Both perfectionalists/did not compete with each other
iii.Similar upbringings
2.College roommate of Patricia Neal
3.Died of cancer in ‘77
2.Three Little Words first role: Singing & lines were dubbed
3.CONTROVERSY: Reynolds says she was foisted on Donen/Kelly in Mtg w/ LB Mayer. Donen/Kelly say they say previous role & never considered anyone else
a.Several girls auditioned, so truth may be in-between
4.19 when filming started
a.Only Dances in 3 songs
b.Jean Hagen dubbed her voice in looping section
c.Betty Noyes dubbed her singing
5.Unsinkable Molly Brown
2.Started performing at 13 months
3.Known for Francis the Talking Mule movies
4.4 pack a day smoker (dancing took its toll)
ii.Married Kelly protégé who loved Kelly. Marriage lasted 2 years (Jeanne Coyne)
iii.Donan was in love w/Kelly’s wife
iv.Kelly Married Donen’s ex-wife 10 years later (Jeanne Coyne)
v.Techinacally proficient with camera movement
1.Gene 12 years older
a.Donen “like a son”
ii.Cover girl for Columbia first collaboration
1.Alter Ego dance (Donen idea)
iii.Anchors Away dance w/Jerry the mouse was Donen’s idea to one up Alter Egonn
ii.Nina’s dress from Dueling Cavelier’s was Norma Shearer’s from Marie Antoinette
2.Tap Dance Sequences shot silently to playback, then taps synchronized & added in post production
b.6 days to reherse/Kelly had bronchitis/ 3 days to shoot
c.Black tarp hung over 2 block area to simulate night
d.Time of day to mitigate affect in Culver City (b-fore 5)
e.Hot house like set caused suit to shrink on Kelly
f.Inner joy expressed in joyless environment
4.BROADWAY BALLET SEQUENCE
a.13 minute sequence
b.56 Camera Set ups
c.Modeled after Red Shoes Ballet (’49)
d.Charisse had never smoked before shooting scene
e.50 foot veil, blown w/Airplane motors
f.Costume troubles required hand colored negative
g.Shot on ‘Infinity set’ inspired by Dali
h.Cost $605K to shoot
ii.“Good Morning” used in: Babes in Arms (’39) & Mr & Mrs North in ‘42
iii.“Make ‘em Laugh”
1.1st take unusable due to tech issues
2.2nd take next day worked. O’Connor took 3 days to recover
iv.“All I do is Dream of You”: Sadie McCree (34), Hide Out (34), No More Ladies (35), Broadway Melody of ‘36
v.I’ve got a Feeling your’re foolin: B’way Melody of ’36, Dancing Co-ed ’39, W/ a song in my heart ’52)
f.Sets/Props
i.Don’s mansion is filled w/props from Flesh & the Devil
ii.Cathy’s car used in Andy Hardy series
iii.Don’s portable dressing room used by Norma Shearer
g.Cinematography
i.John Alton started film, but was fired. Too Dark
IV.Post-Production
a.12/3 first cut available
b.12/21 first preview in Riverside
i.18 minutes & 2 songs were cut after preview
1.Kathy’s “you are my lucky star & Don’s “All I do is dream of you” in bedroom (reprise)
c.Private MGM Preview on 3/7/52
i.Lowe’s head Nic Shenk knew it was a classic
d.4/11/52 General Release
V.Release
a.An American in Paris released prior November & smash hit, winning Best Picture Oscar. MGM pulled SitR ad dollars to re-promote An American in Paris re-release
b.2 Oscar Noms. Lost both
VI.Legacy
VII.Mystique
a.Kelly donated his original script to Boston Univ in 1960’s, but asked for it back later & it was destroyed in Christmas eve fire at Kelly’s home in 1983.
b.Kelly & Donen had a falling out & spent years running each other down & claiming credit for genius. Donen later had a change of heart.
Fell out making It’s Always Fair W
- Origins
- MGM Freed Unit (Johnny Green MGM musical Director)
- Arthur Freed
- MGM Freed Unit (Johnny Green MGM musical Director)
2.Fulltime producer beginning in ’39 w/Meet Me in St. Louis
a.Produced 40 Movie Musicals between ’39-‘51
3.Musicals began to advance story, characters & locations. More ‘Realistic’
4.Title taken from Freed song, but production sued by writer of book from ’36 called Singing in the Rain. “G” dropped to comply
ii.Betty Comden & Adolph Green-Writers
1.Tasked w/crafting musical using Singin’ in the Rain song
a.Began writing on 6/19/50 & finished 8/10/50
b.Revised into October
2.“BARNYARD MUSICAL: “kids putting on a show”
3.Script
a.Early thought was to base story on existing film in MGM catalog
i.Bombshell, Platinum Blonde, or Merton of the Movies
ii.John Gilbert Story
b.Characters
i.Lena based on Billy Dawn, played by Judy Holiday on Broadway & in Oscar winning film (Born Yesterday)
1.Hagen replaced Holiday on Broadway
ii.Cathy Selden was Kathy Summers, but real actress was named. Kathy Burrows & Kathy Norwood considered
iii.Roscoe Dexter= Busby Berkeley
iv.Dancer (Charisse) modeled on Louis Brooks
c.Late drafts were collaboration between writers Kelly & Donen
d.TURNING POINT: WHEN LENA SPEAKS
4.Other Musicals
a.On the Town
b.Good News
c.Barkley’s of Broadway
5.Post Singin’ Career
a.Auntie Mame (58)
b.What a Way to Go (64)
c.Bells are Ringing 60
iii.Prior Musicals Based on Songs
1.‘Till the Clouds Roll By ‘46
2.Easter Parade ‘48
3.An American in Paris ‘51
- Songs
1.Joan Crawford/Buster Keaton & Marion Davies appeared in song
ii.All songs used in final film are Freed-Brown titles
iii.14 songs were chosen in Spring of ‘51
1.2 New songs added: Make ‘em Laugh & Moses Supposes
a.Make ‘em laugh blatantly rips off Cole Porter’s Be a Clown
- Pre-Production
- Casting
1.Howard Keel (singing cowboy)
2.Oscar Levant in Cosmo role
3.Judy Holiday considered for Hagen role (too famous)
4.Kelly wanted dance assistant Carol Haney for dancer, but too earthy
ii.Gene Kelly: Peak of career. Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, director
1.Early Life
a.Began dancing at 7. Hated it teased
b.Dancing blossomed in HS as girls took notice
c.Hockey player & gymnast
d.Taught dance in mom’s studio in H.S.
e.1 year at PSU, then to Pitt to help w/finances Econ degree
2.Early Career
a.Went to Broadway in ’38 as choreographer
b.1940 debut in The Time of your Life as Harry the Hoofer
i.Freed noticed him, but Kelly said he wasn’t ready for H’wood
c.Pal joey got him Hollywood contract
d.For Me & My Gal w/ Judy Garland got film career started
3.Pre-Singin’ Career
a.Came to Hollywood on Selznick contract
i.Bought out by MGM
ii.For Me & My Gal w/ Judy Garland (Dir B. Berkeley)
iii.
b.Donan was Kelly’s assistant on Cover Girl
4.Post-Singin’ Career
a.XXX
5.Impact
a.Bassinger “with Kelly Dance moved away from ‘a 1 & a 2 & a 3…through ‘ta da’ to more natural & emotional”
6.Kelly/Astaire
a.Astaire more introverted, close, tight, while Kelly is wider & more open
b.Kelly: “My style is more proletarian his is more aristocratic”
c.Astaire more ethereal. Kelly more tangible & held with gravity
d.Bassinger: “Viewers hearts belonged to Astaire, but their bodies belonged to Kelly”
e.Ziefeld Follies only time on film dancing together
i.Gene deferential to the 45 yr old Astaire
ii.Both perfectionalists/did not compete with each other
iii.Similar upbringings
- Jean Hagen
2.College roommate of Patricia Neal
3.Died of cancer in ‘77
- Debbie Reynolds
2.Three Little Words first role: Singing & lines were dubbed
3.CONTROVERSY: Reynolds says she was foisted on Donen/Kelly in Mtg w/ LB Mayer. Donen/Kelly say they say previous role & never considered anyone else
a.Several girls auditioned, so truth may be in-between
4.19 when filming started
a.Only Dances in 3 songs
b.Jean Hagen dubbed her voice in looping section
c.Betty Noyes dubbed her singing
5.Unsinkable Molly Brown
- Donald O’Connor
2.Started performing at 13 months
3.Known for Francis the Talking Mule movies
4.4 pack a day smoker (dancing took its toll)
- Cyd Charisse
- Misc
- Stanley Donen
ii.Married Kelly protégé who loved Kelly. Marriage lasted 2 years (Jeanne Coyne)
iii.Donan was in love w/Kelly’s wife
iv.Kelly Married Donen’s ex-wife 10 years later (Jeanne Coyne)
v.Techinacally proficient with camera movement
- Kelly/Donen relationship
1.Gene 12 years older
a.Donen “like a son”
ii.Cover girl for Columbia first collaboration
1.Alter Ego dance (Donen idea)
iii.Anchors Away dance w/Jerry the mouse was Donen’s idea to one up Alter Egonn
- Production
- 42 days in production. 54 days rehearsal
- Cost: $1,880,000 budget. $2,540,000 to shoot
- Costumes
ii.Nina’s dress from Dueling Cavelier’s was Norma Shearer’s from Marie Antoinette
- Dance Sequences
- Cine-Dance: camera as recorder of enhancer of space
- “A number is like a short story, it must have a beginning, a middle & an end”-Gene Kelly
- Choreography
2.Tap Dance Sequences shot silently to playback, then taps synchronized & added in post production
- Singin’ in the rain
b.6 days to reherse/Kelly had bronchitis/ 3 days to shoot
c.Black tarp hung over 2 block area to simulate night
d.Time of day to mitigate affect in Culver City (b-fore 5)
e.Hot house like set caused suit to shrink on Kelly
f.Inner joy expressed in joyless environment
4.BROADWAY BALLET SEQUENCE
a.13 minute sequence
b.56 Camera Set ups
c.Modeled after Red Shoes Ballet (’49)
d.Charisse had never smoked before shooting scene
e.50 foot veil, blown w/Airplane motors
f.Costume troubles required hand colored negative
g.Shot on ‘Infinity set’ inspired by Dali
h.Cost $605K to shoot
- Songs
ii.“Good Morning” used in: Babes in Arms (’39) & Mr & Mrs North in ‘42
iii.“Make ‘em Laugh”
1.1st take unusable due to tech issues
2.2nd take next day worked. O’Connor took 3 days to recover
iv.“All I do is Dream of You”: Sadie McCree (34), Hide Out (34), No More Ladies (35), Broadway Melody of ‘36
v.I’ve got a Feeling your’re foolin: B’way Melody of ’36, Dancing Co-ed ’39, W/ a song in my heart ’52)
f.Sets/Props
i.Don’s mansion is filled w/props from Flesh & the Devil
ii.Cathy’s car used in Andy Hardy series
iii.Don’s portable dressing room used by Norma Shearer
g.Cinematography
i.John Alton started film, but was fired. Too Dark
IV.Post-Production
a.12/3 first cut available
b.12/21 first preview in Riverside
i.18 minutes & 2 songs were cut after preview
1.Kathy’s “you are my lucky star & Don’s “All I do is dream of you” in bedroom (reprise)
c.Private MGM Preview on 3/7/52
i.Lowe’s head Nic Shenk knew it was a classic
d.4/11/52 General Release
V.Release
a.An American in Paris released prior November & smash hit, winning Best Picture Oscar. MGM pulled SitR ad dollars to re-promote An American in Paris re-release
b.2 Oscar Noms. Lost both
VI.Legacy
VII.Mystique
a.Kelly donated his original script to Boston Univ in 1960’s, but asked for it back later & it was destroyed in Christmas eve fire at Kelly’s home in 1983.
b.Kelly & Donen had a falling out & spent years running each other down & claiming credit for genius. Donen later had a change of heart.
Fell out making It’s Always Fair W
