Oh, because of April showers. I get it.

Now it’s time again to talk about my wall calendar.

It only took me until April 26th to figure out that the reason my classic movie poster calendar chose Singin’ in the Rain for the month of April because of April showers (what do you mean calendars don’t choose their own monthly representative pictures?). When I told Tom about my brilliant realization, he said, “But March was Stormy Weather.” Nothing makes you feel quite as stupid as when you falsely think you’re being smart.

I don’t believe in having one favorite movie. Sometimes I try and come up with a top ten but that’s still very hard to do. However, Singin’ in the Rain is always on that list. My grandma owned a few movies on VHS. I narrowed those down to two movies that I would alternate between: Singin’ in the Rain and How to Marry a Millionaire. Interestingly (only to me), both of these movies have bizarre fashion show segments where the models come out and then pose like a mannequin.

Singin’ in the Rain is a movie from the past set in an even further past, which is something I really enjoy for some reason (NOT way way in the past, only a few decades difference, what am I, a giant weirdo? Please). The movie was released in 1952 and is set in the late 1920s. It’s a musical (for the one person who maybe doesn’t know), and deals with the troubles facing silent film actors during the transition to talkies.

Donald O’Connor’s musical number, “Make ‘Em Laugh,” is very famous, as it should be. The sequence for “Singin’ in the Rain’ (the song) is also iconic. I have a special place in my heart for “Moses Supposes” because it’s pretty much about procrastination and not doing your homework. A glorious song and dance tribute to screwing around.

This movie also has one of my favorite comedic performances of all time: Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont. Lina Lamont is akin to Billie Dawn from Born Yesterday, and Wikipedia just told me that Jean Hagan was Judy Holliday’s understudy for that role on Broadway. So, that makes sense.

I love every single moment she’s on screen, and I often quote her when I hear the word “people.” “People!? I ain’t ‘people’! I’m a… ‘a shimmering, glowing star in the cinema firmament.'” Except, I usually get it wrong because I’m lame like that and can’t remember something I’ve seen probably a dozen times at least.

I’m very picky about musicals. I’m not crazy about sentimental musicals – people genuinely expressing love while singing and dancing makes me uncomfortable, and Singin’ in the Rain does have one of those numbers, but that’s when I use the bathroom and get a snack or something.

Do you have a favorite musical?

24 thoughts on “Oh, because of April showers. I get it.”

  1. I’m typically not a big fan of musicals but when you asked “Do you have a favorite musical?” the first thing that came into my mind was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

    I loved that movie as a kids even though I was terrified of the child catcher. I actually still love the movie now. If I ever come across it while flipping channels I’ll setting in and watch it.

    1. It’s interesting you should mention Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

      I never saw that movie as a child, so I had no nostalgic attachment to it (neither did Tom). We tried to watch it as adults a few years ago and couldn’t even get through it. It moved so slow, which is ironic since it’s about a car that can fly.

      But, everyone I know who saw it as a kid absolutely love it.

  2. I love musicals, but sadly, I really haven’t seen that many and basically none of the classics. I should get on that…

    Anyway, I know every word to “Grease” and “Les Miserables,” so you get both ends of the spectrum with me.

    1. I love Grease, and, ashamedly, Grease 2. I wrote a whole post about that.

      You should see Singin’ in the Rain! And, if you love it, tell me that you saw it and loved it. If you don’t, don’t mention it because then I’d feel guilty.

  3. I’m embarrassed to admit to never having seen “Singing In The Rain.” I will have to change that. Favourite musical? Hmmmm, I think I could argue for South Park the Movie but an easier case could be made for Sweeny Todd. I don’t catch too many musicals, but my favourite live musical performance was definitely Avenue Q.

  4. This one. Right here. Favorite.

    I love “Good Morning” and often get it stuck in my head for days, complete with couch jumping and dancing correography in there as well.

    Oh shit. I just remember White Christmas. Ok, that one. But this is a super close second.

  5. Normally I would rather grate my own eyeballs with a cheese grater than sit through a musical.

    Unless it’s Westside Story, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory or Singin in the Rain. It is by far my most favourite musical.

    Yesterday morning when I made my way through a torrential April downpour on my way to work, I discovered a waterfall coming out of the ceiling in the work toilet. I had to stand there emptying bucket load after bucket load of rain water down the toilet til someone could save me. I got extremely moist. And I wasn’t singing or dancing in it.

    Clearly they must have been on acid when they made that movie.

  6. Oh- but I love Les Mis! I thought you were just talking about movie musicals. And I love Grease. And I love Evita. And Charlie and Singin’ in the Rain. Damn. About to break out in song, here.

  7. I enjoy the musicals of the 30s and the 40s. I think after our grandparents survived the Depression and won a world war they just decided enough with the good singin’ and dancin’ and that’s why I don’t like a lot of the contemporary ones.

    Singin in the Rain brings back great memories of my late grandparents. It will always be special.

  8. As my brain prepared to conjure up my most favorite musical of all time, one came to mind, then another, and another, and another. Currently it’s working on overtime trying to keep up with the titles of musicals that I love. And now I am just realizing what a musicals nerd I really am. Yankee Doodle Dandy and Sound of Music, for starters. And Moulin Rouge, and Chicago, and West Side Story, and…

  9. I don’t care much for musicals, but I do have not one but two favorites. I know all the words to both Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fiddler on the Roof.

    I’m a little embarrassed to admit that.

  10. Crap.. I have almost too many musicals to name. I guess I’m not quite as picky. But, like you, Singing In The Rain is one of my absolute faves. If I have to pick another one out of the favorites hat, I’ll go with Victor/Victoria because it’s also funny, and has very few numbers in which people are seriously singing about love.

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