One of the world’s most beloved movies, Singin’ in The Rain (1952, dir. Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen) ticks all the boxes: a musical-comedy satire of 1920s Hollywood, full of great musical numbers, colorful sets and wonderful performances by Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen (in an Oscar-nominated role), Debbie Reynolds and the focus of this month’s COMEDY GOLD, Donald O’Connor.
In the Make ‘Em Laugh number, Cosmo (O’Connor) tries to cheer up his best friend, Hollywood star Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly), by, well, making him laugh. After telling him that the first thing an actor learns is that ‘the show must go on’, he delivers what is possibly one of the greatest musical performances of all time. Everything from playing the piano then effortlessly jumping on it, to pratfalls, wall-climbing and playing out an entire relationship with a dummy, all while singing perhaps one of the catchiest tunes in the movie. The scene is vaudeville-worthy and it’s physical comedy at its absolute best. So demanding was the routine that O’Connor was apparently in bed for three days after the shooting. The show must indeed go on!
The Old Hollywood Garden 
I’ve always respected this scene too! I too heard he was in bed for 3 days, and I can imagine!! I’m exhausted just watching him do it all only once!
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Right? It’s crazy!
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You are so right Carol. I first saw “Singin’ in the Rain” when I was 11. Over the years other contenders have challenged it for favorite musical, but it’s still my #1. For ingenuity and zaniness I slightly prefer “Moses Supposes”, but as an individual tour de force Mr. O’Connor’s “Make ’em Laugh” is hard to beat. Utterly amazing is one way to describe it. As I grew up and became more knowledgable about movies, it surprised and disappointed me to notice that he did not become a bigger star. Also, I thought he and Gene Kelly had excellent chemistry. If I were in charge of the world, I would have made sure they worked together again, and again, …
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I love Moses Supposes! Definitely one of my favorites. And you are so right, Donald O’Connor is massively underrated.
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Great scene and great movie! It’s been awhile that you’ve mentioned a movie that I didn’t have to order from the library because I haven’t seen it, lol. One of the top scenes of all time.
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Haha! 😀
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Believe it or not, I have never seen Singin’ In The Rain.
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GASP! Lol
I think I’ve seen it way too many times haha
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I will watch it one of these years.
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