[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Why wasn't the sequel to this movie mentioned in the sequel threads?
[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
[/ QUOTE ]
I remember seeing this in a film school and everybody bursting out laughing during the Singing in the Rain song and dance, because everyone had seen A Clockwork Orange, and almost nobody has seen SITR, so their identification with the song and dance was indelibly linked with the viciously ironic Clockwork Orange rendition. It was just impossible to watch SITR without the brutal imagery Clockwork had seared into your brain coming back at you again, and it made the SITR passage screamingly funny. SITR could never quite win that passage back if you'd seen Clockwork first.
Still, like all exceptionally good musicals, which to my tastes are quite rare, if you can surrender to the inherent absurdity of the very concept of a musical, you can have a heck of a good time in this one. The stars are tremendously personable here and the movie really gels with lots of funny bits and absolutely exuberant performances. Donald O'Connor gets my first vote as the main reason to watch the movie; he was easily Kelly's match here if not better. The brilliant athleticism and quirkiness of his dance style was far above the level of the average musical and still stands as a benchmark for absolute fun in the genre.
I can't stand musicals, frankly, and I love this one. For that to happen, this one would have to be really, really good. And it is. It doesn't take itself too seriously and is all about joy, unlike many musicals that seem to plug their singing and dancing into the story in an almost dreary fashion at predictable and often, to those not a big fan of this strange type of entertainment, disappointing intervals. This movie actually delivers just about as well to people who don't like musicals as to those who do, which is quite an amazing trick to pull off.
Anyway, this one is very easy to watch and love, and the sense of fun and energy of a cast that looked like they loved what they were doing sticks with the viewer solidly even if they haven't seen it for years. It's hard not to hold at least a little fondness in yourt heart for this movie no matter how much of a cynic you are, and even if you can't help guffawing or snickering as you recall one of its scenes played otherwise in A Clockwork Orange.