As nearly perfect as they come

Rating: 10/10 (10 June 2010)

Add me to the list of those who have nothing negative to say about this film - all the building blocks fitted together to make a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts. Even the songs all fit perfectly, notwithstandinng that a number of them (including the title song) were NOT written for the film.
The story neatly fits a number of things together - the passage of a couple of vaudeville hoofers into the movie business, the birth of sound and the problems it brought, and a love story (and the threats posed to it by outside pressures).
The musical sequences are all first rate, although pride of place must go to the utter joyousness communicated by the title song's routine.
Kelly was never better as a leading man, Donald O'Connor was a perfect second banana, Debbie Reynolds was cuteness personified, and Jean Hagen was absolutely brilliant - funny and malevolent - as the screechy voiced Lina Lamont. But all the supporting players were excellent.
The Hollywood musical never bettered this film.