Journal #3 (a few points is better than none!)

Singin' In The Rain is an all time favorite to me because it was one of those childhood movies i grew up watching. Looking at the movie in detail now that i m older helps me to appreciate all the critical aspects that were made into it. For this journal i chose to focus on the music in this film.
Of course music plays a large role in this movie because it is a classic musical. Knowing this the music and musical numbers done had to be above and beyond any other films. To gain this above and beyond feeling Gene Kelly perfected all the musical numbers making sure the stage was set to wow the audience.

The musical scoring being one of its own is now know around the world because the musical was such a big hit. Just consider what song pops into your head when you are wondering around in the rain all alone, and you begin to hum, "I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling I'm happy again..." People who have not even viewed the film could tell you those few lines from the classic good feeling song. Dave Kehr says, "One of the shining glories of the American musical" A comment like that should draw a person towards watching this movie.

Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown, and Screenwritters Betty Comden and Adolph Green contributed to the making of the big hit titles used in Singin' in the Rain. Adding and removing lyrics and pieces from other MGM created songs played a big role in piecing together this musical. The directors only wanting to bring in what would be considered "big hits" made it difficult in choosing.

Especially when on set, at Monumental Pictures, in the film the music was very dramatic and soothing in order to fit with the movies they were creating all throughout the picture. Before the talking pictures were introduced the music was the most important aspect because of having no lines in the silent pictures. The music had to create the atmosphere so the viewers could take the emotions from the scenes. Differing from when on set, the big numbers where completely opposite musical choices. They were up beat, happy rhythms and very full of life and dancing. The drastic change in music from scene to scene helped the views to differentiate between the live music being sung and the music that was there for us to interpret. Also without the drastic differences the Diegetic and nondiegetic sounds would be almost the same. The Directors Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly knew this was an important to the viewer to be able to realize these so it was added in very well to the making of Singin' in the Rain.

In conclusion Singin' in the Rain is greatly influenced by music not only because it is a musical but because the musical aspects that Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly brought life and entertainment to the big screen. It was a new version for film that people loved to watch over and over until the lyrics where fried in their brains. In my opinion Singin' in the Rain is the greatest musical every made.