Singin’ in the Rain premiered this week in 1952 to great acclaim at Radio City Music Hall. The film is highlighted by Gene Kelly’s famous twirling umbrella dance and Donald O’Connor’s amazing Make ‘Em Laugh number. It also starred nineteen year old Debbie Reynolds. (The story goes that Gene Kelly ridiculed her dancing, causing her to cry. A sympathetic Fred Astaire visiting the studio that day found her hiding and gave her encouraging advice.) The American Film Institute placed the film at the top of its 100 Years of Musicals lists.
The Encyclopedia Britannica lists Jazz Singer staring Al Jolson, released in 1927, as the first musical, not to mention the first talkie. From the beginning, musicals have been costly and time consuming to produce. So understandably Hollywood has hit some dry spells between now and then when this genre was ignored. Let’s see if the success of Dream Girls brings about a resurgence. A remake of the movie turned Broadway smash Hairspray (with John Travolta and other big names) is coming soon.
In the meantime, enjoy the fabulous lending collection available in the Westport Library audio visual department. Your choices range from the great Broadway shows brought to the screen such as Brigadoon, Oklahoma and West Side Story to cult classics like Rocky Horror Picture Show and more recent choices such as Moulin Rouge and Chicago. Come in and browse the selection or check our catalog online.
Comment and share your favorite musical(s).
Comments (1)
I think the best movie musicals have come from Disney: Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. One became a Broadway hit, and the other comes to Broadway this Fall.
Posted by Paul | April 3, 2007 9:54 AM
Posted on April 3, 2007 09:54