- Actors: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell
- Directors: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
- Writers: Adolph Green, Betty Comden
- Producers: Arthur Freed, Roger Edens
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: U
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: 24 Jan 2000
- Run Time: 103 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000057H8P
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 7,062 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Decades before the Hollywood film industry became famous for megabudget disaster and science fiction spectaculars, the studios of Southern California (and particularly Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) were renowned for a uniquely American (and nearly extinct) kind of picture known as The Musical. Indeed, when Sight & Sound conducts its international critics poll in the second year of every decade, this 1952 MGM picture is the American musical that consistently ranks among the 10 best movies ever made. It's not only a great song-and-dance piece starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and a sprightly Debbie Reynolds; it's also an affectionately funny insider spoof about the film industry's uneasy transition from silent pictures to "talkies". Kelly plays debonair star Don Lockwood, whose leading lady Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) has a screechy voice hilariously ill-suited to the new technology (and her glamorous screen image). Among the musical highlights: O'Connor's knockout "Make 'Em Laugh"; the big "Broadway Melody" production number; and, best of all, that charming little title ditty in which Kelly makes movie magic on a drenched set with nothing but a few puddles, a lamppost, and an umbrella. --Jim Emerson
Amazon.co.uk Review
Singin' in the Rain is probably the most treasured musical in the history of cinema. It is essentially a satire on the dawning age of talking pictures, but that description doesn't begin to describe its importance in the hearts of film lovers, even those who can't otherwise stand musicals. Given its origins--producer Arthur Freed wanted a framework on which to hang a selection of the hits he'd written in the early part of his career with Nacio Herb Brown, many of which had themselves featured in early talkies--it should have been a mongrel of a picture. But somehow, with its combination of endearing performances, the razor-sharp script of Adolph Green and Betty Comden, instinctive direction from Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen and those delightful songs, it is triumphantly greater than the sum of its parts.
Kelly's dance sequence, conceived for the title song, is an undiluted joy and remains an iconic cinema moment. But there is so much more to savour: Donald O'Connor's knockout vaudeville, Jean Hagen's hilarious Bronx-voiced leading lady and the honest charm of underrated Debbie Reynolds, crowned by Kelly's choreography for the Broadway Melody suite. No collection is complete without this.
On the DVD: Singin' in the Rain--Special Edition, vibrant in 1.33:1 fullscreen format with a crystalline mono soundtrack, is the crown jewel in the embarrassment of riches on this 50th anniversary two-disc DVD. The extras just keep coming: "Musicals, Great Musicals" (a documentary about Arthur Freed's legendary production unit at MGM), a shorter documentary about the film itself (much of which is duplicated by the audio commentary, led by Debbie Reynolds), outtakes and audio scoring sessions and extracts from films in which many of the songs originated. There's also a hidden feature in which Baz Lurhmann offers his own testimony to the film's enduring appeal, but it's a tad redundant given the primary sources on offer. --Piers Ford
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have had this movie on VHS long before DVDs even existed! And watched it countl4ess times, so now my original 2 (!) copies are worn out. This is a wonderful movie, an all-time favourite you can't get tired of!
The humour, the playfulness, the freshness and charm are still intact after so amny years. The songs and dance parts are amazing. This movie is a true legend! Who has never heard of "Singin' in the rain"? *shakes head* everyone has!
The actors are great: Gene Kelly is stunning, Debbie Reynolds is charming in her fresh youth, Donald O'Connor playing Cosmo is extremely funny and Jean Hagen (who plays Lina Lamont) is simply perfect! her voice is so irritating, hehe :-)
This film is a must have, you must have it in your collection, there is nothing that can cheer you up better on a rainy Sunday or after an exhausting week on a Friday night than watching this witty and funny production. This movie is a true gem!
The humour, the playfulness, the freshness and charm are still intact after so amny years. The songs and dance parts are amazing. This movie is a true legend! Who has never heard of "Singin' in the rain"? *shakes head* everyone has!
The actors are great: Gene Kelly is stunning, Debbie Reynolds is charming in her fresh youth, Donald O'Connor playing Cosmo is extremely funny and Jean Hagen (who plays Lina Lamont) is simply perfect! her voice is so irritating, hehe :-)
This film is a must have, you must have it in your collection, there is nothing that can cheer you up better on a rainy Sunday or after an exhausting week on a Friday night than watching this witty and funny production. This movie is a true gem!
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Produced when Technicolor was a revolutionary and seat-filling innovation, "Singin' in the Rain" is, regardless of its many other claims to fame, a stunning example of how to use the medium's clear, saturated colours to incredibly powerful effect. Every scene is meticulously crafted to amplify the contrast, atmosphere & impact of the technology and, on this superbly rendered DVD rendition, they just jump out of the screen at you.
A truly amazing experience for this reason alone. Add-in its wonderful songs - including Gene Kelly's iconic title number, arguably the best song & dance routine of all time - its brilliant comic sequences - including Donald O'Connor's "Make 'em Laugh" slapstick rollercoaster, arguably the slickest & funniest slice of cinema of all time (watch how he catches his hat towards the beginning... incredible) - and its charmingly optimistic, infectiously entertaining story-line and you've got something very special.
They don't make films like this any more; in fact they didn't make many, if any, films as good as this then. Pure cinematic brilliance - sit back and revel in it all.
A truly amazing experience for this reason alone. Add-in its wonderful songs - including Gene Kelly's iconic title number, arguably the best song & dance routine of all time - its brilliant comic sequences - including Donald O'Connor's "Make 'em Laugh" slapstick rollercoaster, arguably the slickest & funniest slice of cinema of all time (watch how he catches his hat towards the beginning... incredible) - and its charmingly optimistic, infectiously entertaining story-line and you've got something very special.
They don't make films like this any more; in fact they didn't make many, if any, films as good as this then. Pure cinematic brilliance - sit back and revel in it all.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Maybe I am one of the few who directly go to the extras on DVD and I certainly wasn't disappointed in this one. The film is a classic and can put a smile on my face any time I feel down in the dumps.
I especially loved the special of the Arthur Freed Unit as my favourite musicals were produced by that Unit. Although I am only 41 and born after the heyday of the musical, I have always loved them and especially want to k now how they were made. I will always appreciate the hard work and long hours that were done by anyone involved in these "feel-good" movies (from the time when that wasn't a dirty word).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Singing in the rain
Great entainment singing and dancing with great screen in the rain. the sings are very catchy and you must see.
Published 1 hour ago by Rabbit
Singin' in the rain
I thought it was very good, Iwas very impressed with all the fetures I would definatly recommend this to anybody, becuse this is also coming from my mum and sixteen year old sister... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Lucy, age 10
What a Glorious Feeling !
(THE FILM)
Singin in the Rain is the quintessential Hollywood music. Bright and colourful, with great songs, great cast, ambitiously well done production numbers--in short,... Read more
Singin in the Rain is the quintessential Hollywood music. Bright and colourful, with great songs, great cast, ambitiously well done production numbers--in short,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. F. husseiny
Singing in The Rain
Perfect movie for a rainy day. Can't beat a bit of Gene Kelly. My children are the perfect ages to enjoy this movie too.
Published 1 month ago by Tim J. Watts
classic film
Father in law loved this as he had it on old video format and had been wanting it on DVD for ages
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Isobel Campbell
Brilliant
A very good film. Bought to help myself and my colleagues with the music which we were playing at an amateur stage production of the film
Published 1 month ago by Wendal
Dancing at it's best!
I bought this DVD for my elderly brother who was a wonderful dancer years ago...now confined to a wheelchair, this film gave him such a lift and the dancing is first class. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Barbara, Norfolk
Great Feel Good Watching!
I've seen the films many times - it has some of the all time great sequences in it: 'Make 'Em Laugh' and ' Singing in the Rain' Great film to have in your collection for a rainy... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Anthony Shields
Musicals review
Really useful film to show the transition to talkies. My little daughter loves it and my son is entranced by the dancing in the rain routine. Great stuff.
Published 5 months ago by mama lou
Singing in the Rain
I enjoyed the musical, but what I enjoyed most of all was the Extras. There are interviews with the performers, directors, songwriters, etc. Read more
Published 5 months ago by mary mintey
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