I'm talking about how ridiculously corny Singing in the Rain - and many others like it - are.
But you're making that statement as if it's an undeniable fact, and it's not; it's merely YOUR opinion. And it's perfectly valid as opinions go, but it doesn't overrule or negate how anyone else feels. "Singin' in the Rain" is often cited by film historians as the best movie musical ever made because they didn't find it "corny" or full of "craziness" - no, they felt it examined a period of Hollywood history with wit, affection and exceptional talent (both in front of and behind the camera).
You're also slipping into generalizations with the phrase "and many others like it." What, exactly, are the "many" films you're referring to? Because "Singin' in the Rain" is highly regarded precisely because it WASN'T considered typical of the standard movie musical the industry was churning out during the 40s & 50s.
In your original post, you said "No one breaks into song in real life" - well, of course not. And you know why? Because it's real life. However, movies AREN'T real life, and neither are movie musicals; they are heightened reality. So yes, in a film musical you will find individuals running "over furniture doing stunts, tapping and singing along the way" because that's one of the conventions of the genre. And most film audiences understand that.
You also asked "How could my parents truly enjoy watching these films and not see through the craziness of them?" The answer is simple. They were able to accept the conventions of a film musical and appreciate the quality of the work that went into them.
So no, there's nothing wrong with you because you didn't like "Singin' in the Rain," just as there's nothing wrong with your parents (or anyone else) who felt it was a first class musical. It's simply a matter of taste; in other words, different strokes for different folks.
reply
share
yugfaed
7 years ago
often cited by film historians as the best movie musical ever made because they didn't find it "corny" or full of "craziness" - no, they felt it examined a period of Hollywood history with wit, affection and exceptional talent (both in front of and behind the camera).
Hmmm, talk about generalizations and opinions? They felt? I hate to break it to you but historians have been wrong too. As a matter of fact, there's a certain president (don't want to get into politics here) who the so-called historians and experts thought was inferior. But if you read the other side of it, you'd be amazed that he pretty much kept the world from WWIII. Not once but twice. But he never receives that credit from the mainstream crowd. So which side was right?
The same with movies. Yes, it's my opinion that I think SITR is corny, just like it's the experts' opinions that they don't because, to use your word, they "felt" it showed a slice of what it was like during film's transition from the silent era to talkies. OK...great. I guess.
reply
share
murph24
7 years ago
Hmmm, talk about generalizations and opinions? They felt? I hate to break it to you but historians have been wrong too.
So what, exactly, are you saying? Are you claiming that film historians are WRONG because they don't share your opinion? Wow - if you wanted to make yourself look intolerant, you couldn't have done a better job.
And no, referring to "Singin' in the Rain" as the best movie musical ever made is not a generalization; it's simply the opinion expressed by the members of the American Film Institute -
http://www.afi.com/100years/musicals.aspxJust because you don't share their opinion doesn't make them "wrong."
This isn't a question of "right" or "wrong," like misidentifying the people involved in the film's production. If you said "Singin' in the Rain" starred Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, you'd be wrong; it stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor. Nor can you say the film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock & Sam Peckinpah; that would also be wrong, because it was directed by Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen. But there's no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to expressing an opinion on whether the film works or not; you have an opinion about "Singin' in the Rain" that's perfectly valid, even if it isn't shared by the members of the American Film Institute, or the IMDb voters (who gave it a rating of 8.3 out of 10).
reply
share