Singin' In The Rain

Singin' in the Rain is not only one of the favourite movie musicals of all time but I count it amongst my favourite films, period. This year, it celebrates its 60th anniversary by making its first appearance on Blu-Ray and with a brilliant remaster at that. Every time I see this film, I am reminded of just how groundbreaking it truly was, from its dazzling Gene Kelly choreography to its brilliantly cheeky take on Hollywood. There's a reason that the American Film Institute considers this film to be the best movie musical ever made. Most people don't know this, but Singin' in the Rain is actually a jukebox musical ― all but one of the songs sung in the film were written about 30 years before the movie was made. But even with Freed classics like "Good Morning" or the title track to set the mood, the film would never have endured if it wasn't for the Adolph Green and Betty Comden screenplay. Kelly plays a silent film actor who struggles to find his place in the "talkies" and falls in love with a young ingénue (a 19-year-old Debbie Reynolds, in her first starring role) in the process. Along the way, co-director Stanley Donen turns the mirror on the often-duplicitous nature of the studio system. Despite its classic status, Singin' in the Rain is better described as "timeless." The anniversary edition is available now, but aside from the all important picture quality upgrade, this edition contains no new bonus material. It is, however, available in a special edition package that contains a stunning colourful book about the production, as well an umbrella, so we can too can do a little singing next time you're caught in the rain.