Top Song & Dance

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2002)

Greetings again from the darkness. Classic musical making its way through art houses with a remastered format that causes the colors to jump off the screen. Never a much of a Gene Kelly fan, however, his pompous persona lends itself very well to screen star Don Lockwood. Tremendous performances by Kelly, O'Connor, Reynolds, Hagen and Charisse drive this spectacle to heights no other song & dance film has ever reached. I do not rate it as the best musical of all-time, because I think "Sound of Music" and "Music Man" are both slightly better, but only "West Side Story" even comes close on the dancing. O'Connor is nothing short of physically amazing on his "Make 'em laugh" and the trio's performance during "Good Mornin'" will leave you wanting more. Jean Hagen is perfectly excrusciating as the screech-voiced Lina. Truly, I think Reynolds and O'Connor should receive more credit for the success of the film. Both are in supporting roles that nearly steal the film. If you have never seen this on the big screen, hunt this down in your town - and take your friends and kids and parents!!