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Parents' Guide to

Singin' in the Rain

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Often considered the finest musical of all time.

Movie NR 1952 102 minutes
Singin' in the Rain Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 14 parent reviews

alicewas
alicewas Adult
April 2, 2019
age 7+

Great singing and dancing, but a bit of blackface

This is a wonderful classic film and a lot of fun, but I was horrified to discover a (thankfully) very brief blackface scene of white actors playing drum-playing chanting Africans in the jungle. I was not prepared for that even after reading a lot of reviews, so I was not expecting to have to explain this racism to the children watching the film with me.
3 people found this helpful.
mamalizzy
mamalizzy Adult
January 4, 2020
age 8+

Bad male/female relationships

I used to love this movie-- but recently watched it with my daughters (6 and 3). It had SO MANY cringe moments-- mostly the outdated and inappropriate social dynamics between men and women. Not the kind of relationship modeling I would want my dd's to see. My daughter also found the cowboy fighting scenes (short) quite stressful.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In Singin' in the Rain, silent movie star Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) is paired on screen with high-maintenance Lina Lamont (Jean Hagan), who would like to be paired with him off screen as well. Sparks fly when Don encounters newbie actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), which makes Lina jealous. When the first talking picture, The Jazz Singer, becomes a hit, the stars of the latest Lockwood/Lamont movie, The Dueling Cavalier, are coached in vocal technique in an attempt to turn it into a "talkie" too, but the results are disastrous. Meanwhile, Don and Kathy have fallen in love. After an all-night brainstorming session, Don, Kathy, and Don's best friend, Cosmo (Donald O'Connor), decide to turn the production into a musical, dubbing Kathy's voice for Lina's. But it's not long before Lina and Kathy are put on the spot and have to face the music.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (41 ):

This film is often considered the finest musical of all time. Certainly, Singin' in the Rain has it all: classic musical numbers (including the title sequence, in which Kelly splashes around while singing) and a witty script that's unusually sharp and critical of its industry. The film combines elements from several genres to create a hilarious mix that's meticulously rehearsed and shot but meant to feel like it's happening spontaneously.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether or not Singin' in the Rain is entertaining. Does is deserve "classic" status? Why, or why not?

  • Discuss the history of movies and the period in which silent movies gave way to "talkies." What were some of the problems? What were some of the benefits?

  • Are there any role models in this film? If so, who, and why?

  • How do the characters in Singin' in the Rain demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? Why are those character strengths important?

  • How did you feel about the film's treatment of Lina? Could Don and Cosmo have treated women with more respect?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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