Stanley Donen

 Stanley Donen




On the Town (1949)

Singin' in the Rain (1952)




RANKED:


2. On the Town (1949)


After the war, American cinema was still transfixed on churning out bleak, dark films modeled after the film noir movement that had garnished so much popularity. However, as the 1950s started to take shape, so too did the technicolor technology that would make musicals and westerns the new American aesthetic. One of the films that acted as a sort of prototype for how these 1950s technicolor musicals would look and sound was Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly's adaptation of the 1944 stage play "On the Town." This would not be the technicolor musical that the duo would come to be known for, but it certainly offered a sneak peak nonetheless.




1. Singin' in the Rain (1952)


By 1952, America and the rest of the globe were entering a new, post-war era. The changing nature of human life was becoming increasingly nerve-wracking. On top of this, the evolution of Hollywood was entering new and challenging phases as well, especially the rapid increase in technicolor filmmaking. Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly's landmark musical "Singin' in the Rain" could not have come at a sooner time and could not have tapped into these notions. One would think that the lighthearted approach to such anxieties would be antithetical, but on the contrary, the pure joy and spirit of "Singin' in the Rain" acts as an antidote to these troubles. The film centers on a group of filmmakers attempting to adapt to the changing landscape of Hollywood when the industry was transitioning from silent films to 'talkies.' Fully recognizing the changing nature of reality, the film's themes fully embrace these changes. It not only embraces them, the film proves that it can go one step further. It's utter revelry in its own spectacle and technical mastery of the medium metatexually demonstrates the ability to embrace change, to conquer the unknown, and to smile in the face of challenges. Don't let getting the rug pulled out from under you deter you from reaching to zenith-level heights. Don't let the changing landscape of art and technology keep you from putting your best foot forward. Don't let a little rain keep you from singin'. 

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