The Movie Journal

  Singin' in the Rain (1952) In one of the earlier films that Hollywood has made about itself, there is no other adjective that can be used to describe 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain except for delightful. When Gene Kelly stepped outside, oblivious to the rain, to joyfully declare his love for a gal, a big smile arose on my face. This lamppost scene is an iconic scene that every movie lover knows about. I have no idea why it took me so long to see the movie, but better late than never! For one hour and forty-three minutes, I was in a state of joy watching Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds work their magic. Considering this an Arthur Freed production, you are pretty much guaranteed that there will be great music, lavish sets/costumes, and pitch-perfect dance choreography. The music certainly wasn’t new (as most of them were older Freed songs), but the song versions from this movie are certainly the most memorable. When I think about the title song, “Singin’ in the Rain,” ...

  High Noon (1952) Before Fred Zinnemann made classics like From Here to Eternity and A Man for All Seasons , he made one of the most recognized Westerns in history, High Noon . Gary Cooper’s career has been in decline for years, so this film helped him put his career in turnaround. He actually won an Academy Award for his performance, and I can say he delivers a powerful performance. The movie also receives credit for being an early “revisionist” Western. In other words, this movie does not play out like traditional Westerns which surprised many people. The build-up towards the explosive ending works very well, and I also liked how feminist the film is when compared to other Westerns. The women (including the great Grace Kelly) are given juicy but significant roles. The making of film features some exciting drama. The production was beginning in the midst of another Red Scare, so communism was on the minds of many Americans. The screenplay was written by Carl Foreman, who appare...