Singin' in the Rain Literary Elements

Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen

Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds

Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell

Comedy, Musical, Romance

English

Nominated for 2 Oscars: Best Music-Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Actress in a Supporting Role-Jean Hagen

1952

Arthur Freed

1927 Hollywood transition from silent era into talkies

There is no narrator, but we follow Don Lockwood's perspective throughout.

Comedic, Dramatic, Romantic, Silly, Fun, Feel-Good

Protagonists are Don, Cosmo and Kathy. Antagonist is Lina.

The first conflict is the question of whether Lockwood and Lina will be able to successfully transition into careers in "talkies." The second is Lina's desire to control and limit Kathy's career. After Kathy is used as the voice for Lina in her first talkie Lina demands that she continue to be her voice and give up her own career.

Lina, in search of attention from the crowd, is asked to sing. Cosmo, Simpson, and Lockwood raise the curtain to reveal to the adoring audience that it was not Lina's voice in the film, but Kathy's. Don announces that Kathy is the true voice behind the film and the audience cheers for her.

The introduction of the "talking picture" and the party guests' shrugging it off foreshadows the studio's inability to move with the times and make a successful talkie at first.

Cosmo's contribution to Don's fame is understated. Cosmo is, indeed, the brains behind the operation.

The film itself is an allusion to the silent film era. Allusions are made to silent films, to King Lear, Ethel Barrymore.

Lina is one of the biggest stars on the planet, but her voice is so off-putting that if it was revealed to the public she would fall from grace.

Kathy and Lina are placed in parallel. They are opposites of sorts. Where Kathy is wholesome, Lina is jaded. Where Kathy is talented, Lina is not.