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11/13/2002 Archived Entry: "Singin' at the Cinerama"

"Singin' in the Rain" is playing at the Cinerama in Seattle, today (Show Times: 2:30 5:00 7:30 9:50) and tomorrow afternoon (2:30 only). I strongly recommend you go and see it, if you like musicals or movies. I took my nephew yesterday and we both enjoyed it very much! Donald O'Connor in Make 'Em Laugh is his favorite part since it combines clowning and dancing -- he's enjoyed both since before he was two. "When asked about choreographing the gravity-defying 'Make 'Em Laugh' dance number, O'Connor admits to throwing in so many stunts and pratfalls that he feared he'd be left with only one possible ending. 'I was building to such a crescendo,' he says, "I thought I'd actually have to commit suicide.' " The print is great, the sound is wonderful, and the impact of the very big screen -- yowzaa!

We'll be getting the new two-disc DVD set. Reviews at DVDmoviecentral ("A benchmark for classic film restoration!"), Helpfulreviews.com ("throw on the second disc, which is a goldmine"), Toronto Star ("combines a remastered print with a wealth of fascinating background and Hollywood lore"). I especially like this appreciation in the New York Times by Wendy Wasserstein: "I believe 'Singin' in the Rain' can transform even the most dyspeptic cynic, and remarkably, it accomplishes this without being cloying or campy or annoyingly wholesome."