Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly teamed up to produce this colourful, vibrant and very-funny homage to the Golden Age of Hollywood, when silent films were making the transition to sound.
Don Lockwood (Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are the golden couple of the big screen, even though Lina is deluded that Don is her squeeze. Whilst escaping the fans after a premiere of his latest film, Don is saved by Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), an aspiring actress and dancer who proceeds to get fired from a party when she accidentally throws a cake intended for Don in the face of Lina.
Unfortunately, these two silent stars will have to make a sound as THE JAZZ SINGER is making a splash and their very livelihoods are threatened, complicated by the fact that Lina’s voice is not suitable for the sound era. After a disastrous first preview of their first talkie, they have to work hard to preserve their reputations and their futures…
Some may have only heard the title track when Malcolm McDowell gave his all to Patrick Magee’s stomach as Alex on Mr. Alexander in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971), but this was an apparently improvised moment between McDowell and Stanley Kubrick. However, the real joy is found in the source movie, which features some amazing colourful dance sequences and some very funny moments which show up some of the difficulties that film-makers had when they tried to use the then-new technology. Hagen steals the show as Lamont, but the comedic chemistry between all lead actors, including Donald O’Connor as Lockwood’s lifelong friend Cosmo Brown (who also has the best song sequence with MAKE ‘EM LAUGH) still endures today.