Fred Astaire is one of the biggest legends in Hollywood history, and he even had a hand in making Singin’ in the Rain, without ever appearing on-screen. Astaire starred in some of the best movie musicals ever made, often appearing alongside his partner Ginger Rogers. His biggest hits, like Top Hat and Swing Time, are still enjoyed by fans today.
Astaire was already an iconic dancer and entertainer by the time Gene Kelly started making a name for himself in Hollywood, and Kelly looked up to Astaire. The duo collaborated on 1946’s Ziegfeld Follies, and their friendship continued for many years. Although Astaire wasn’t directly involved in Singin’ in the Rain, he played an important role behind the scenes.
Astaire set the standard for Hollywood musicals in the 1930s, using full-body shots and restricted camera movements to draw attention to the dancers on-screen. Singin’ in the Rain demonstrates the ways that Kelly innovated on this formula, with the camera often moving around to enhance the movements of the dancers. Still, this doesn’t mean Astaire was left behind.
Fred Astaire Helped Debbie Reynolds While Filming Singin’ In The Rain
Reynolds Wasn’t A Natural Dancer Like Her Co-Stars
Debbie Reynolds wasn’t a trained dancer like her Singin’ in the Rain co-stars Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor, so she sometimes found it hard to keep up. Kelly lost his patience with her on set one day, causing her to cry. Fred Astaire had to step in and rescue the movie by helping Reynolds.
Related
8 Modern Musicals That Are As Good As The Old Classics
While it’s hard to live up to the legacy of classic musicals, these modern releases deserve to be remembered alongside the best of all time.
Not only did Astaire help cheer Reynolds up when he learned about the ordeal, but he invited her to watch him rehearsing. He hoped this would teach her that dancing was hard work for anyone, even a highly-skilled professional like himself, and that she only needed to stick to her task.
Reynolds returned to her work with renewed vigor, and her performance soon improved. To Kelly’s credit, he later apologized and admitted he was wrong to treat Reynolds so harshly. However, it’s possible that the movie would have looked a lot different without Astaire’s intervention.
Singin’ In The Rain Wouldn’t Be The Same Without Reynolds
Reynolds Makes The Comedy Funnier And The Drama More Moving
It’s a good thing that Reynolds didn’t leave the production, because she’s one big reason why Singin’ in the Rain is so special. She’s pitch-perfect in “All I Do is Dream of You”, and the joy of seeing her dancing alongside Kelly and O’Connor is what makes “Good Morning” a contender for the best song in Singin’ in the Rain.
Aside from her musical talents, Reynolds also brings her acting skills and her innate charm to Singin’ in the Rain. The image of her in the theater at the end, with two teardrops rolling down her cheeks, sums up the intangible magic that characterizes her performance. The romance wouldn’t feel so real with a lesser actor, and the comedy wouldn’t feel as lively either.
Singin’ in the Rain
10/10
- Release Date
-
April 11, 1952
- Runtime
-
103 Minutes
- Director
-
Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
- Writers
-
Adolph Green, Betty Comden
