Singin' in the Rain (BFI Film Classics)
Peter Wollen's remarkable treatment ofSingin' in the Rainapproaches the film from many different angles. Wollen sees the movie as an important contribution to the history of modern dance, a representative example of the 1950s musical, a significant comment on American McCarthyist policies, and a work that is at once a collaborative effort and the product of Gene Kelly's creative genius. As Wollen develops these points, he also provides a shot-by-shot analysis of Kelly'sSingin' in the Rainnumber, perhaps the most famous dance sequence in any movie musical. Wollen concludes his revelatory book by talking aboutSingin' in the Rainas part of American mythmaking. He also provides an excellent annotated bibliography that will lead you to further reading on the filmmakers, the genre of the musical, and even the rudiments of tap dancing!