Singin' in the Rain (1952)

The timeless musical remains an effervescent, life-affirming wonder that pokes fun at Hollywood’s transition to sound through brilliant comic set pieces and dance numbers. It celebrates joy and dreams while glossing over the industry’s less fortunate side.

A collection of talents at their peak generated an enjoyable and clever movie that evokes the excitement of making motion pictures. It is the supreme original, an affectionate parody of the sound era whose every incident actually happened, and a unique work of art from MGM at its height.

The critic calls it one of the most fun and enduring movie musicals, praising its lighthearted joy, inventive dance numbers, and clever satire of Hollywood's transition to sound. He singles out the title dance and 'Make 'em Laugh' for their exuberance and technical brilliance.

It is perhaps the greatest of movie musicals, the product of enormous toil yet defined by effervescence and joy that feels scarce today. Kelly and Donen’s masterwork is a meta celebration of Hollywood history with an inexhaustible bounty of ingenuity and unabashed showstoppers.

The critic calls it one of the greatest musicals ever made, an ode to the joy of moviemaking, friendship and dance, with sophisticated integration of songs into the story and timeless appeal.

The critic calls the film in a class by itself as the most durable example of the Hollywood musical, praising its exuberance and joy of performance as a theme and noting its impressive longevity in critic polls despite modest initial acclaim.

The review hails the film as the greatest to date about the promises and pitfalls of change in cinema, praising its exuberant musical numbers, technical ingenuity and Kelly’s dual role as star and co-director. It singles out the film’s sincere appreciation of cinema as pure enchantment and the way it relates Kelly’s own artistic journey.

The critic praises this sublime 1952 musical for its joyful display of artistry by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and others in a re-release. It highlights the film's meta-musical qualities, the rain dance number and how Kelly and Donen make entertainment look effortless.

The critic calls the film a gay, tuneful spoof of the late-1920s picture business that is poised to be another MGM hit thanks to its stars, songs, dancing and comedy. Direction by Kelly and Donen keeps a lively, tongue-in-cheek tone, with standout production numbers and excellent performances, especially from Kelly, O’Connor and Hagen.

The critic finds the film exhilarating in its affectionate, non-cynical view of Hollywood's Golden Age and the joy its makers took in their craft. They single out the contrast with more modern, jaded films-about-filmmaking and note how the movie folk are propelled by love and the compulsion to dance rather than cynicism.

The review welcomes the film as a fresh, cheerful musical comedy full of music, dance, color, and Gene Kelly's abundant energy, highlighting its impudent satire of early talkie-era Hollywood. It praises the lively performances, especially Kelly's dancing, and the overall buoyant, entertaining spirit.

The review calls Singin’ in the Rain one of the few musicals that rises above the formulaic, praising its style, high spirits, affection for the era it satirises and perfect timing in performances and numbers like Make ’Em Laugh.

The critic praises it as one of Hollywood's finest musicals and a Technicolor love-letter to the studio system, highlighting its seamless blending of song-and-dance numbers with the plot and Kelly's iconic title sequence.

The critic calls it a fancy package of musical entertainment with wide appeal that glitters with color, talent, tunes and an infectious air sure to click with audiences. They single out the hilarious satire on Hollywood's transition to talkies, the strong cast performances (especially Jean Hagen), the inventive musical numbers including the title song and 'Make 'Em Laugh,' and the topflight technical values.

The critic finds it good to revisit the film on its anniversary Blu-ray release and singles out Donald O’Connor’s vaudeville virtuosity and the sophisticated story of Hollywood’s transition from silents to talkies for praise, while noting Gene Kelly’s tap dancing remains astonishing.

The critic describes the film as one of the greatest musicals ever made, evoking joy and wonder through its smart Hollywood satire, engaging story, and transcendent musical numbers. They single out the pure joy and skill in sequences like 'Moses Supposes' and the title song for praise.

The critic praises Singin' in the Rain as the greatest movie musical for its joyful escapism and masterful dance sequences, particularly highlighting Gene Kelly's performance in the title song as capturing pure happiness and cinematic wonder.

The critic calls Singin' in the Rain one of the most enduring, effervescent and exuberant of films and the finest musical of all time. They single out its re-creation of the Roaring Twenties with inventive visual and aural contrasts, parodies of silent films, and its revolution in the American musical.

The critic calls Singin' in the Rain the platonic ideal of the classic movie musical and one of their favorite comfort watches. They single out Gene Kelly's luminous, athletic, and charismatic performance for particular praise.