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Singin' In The Rain

Here is the only other film on the A-List that could fight off It Happened One Night for being the most crowd-pleasing. Singin' In The Rain is arguably the greatest musical Hollywood has ever made. Some say that another musical starring Gene Kelly, An American In Paris, should be at the head of the line, but for me, there's nothing like this movie. Though it wasn't as huge of a success when originally released in 1952, Singin' In The Rain is as charming as they come, filled with big laughs, memorable music, a swooning romance, and even a little suspense. Okay, there's not really any suspense here; this was the time when Hollywood movies didn't feature many surprises, so it won't do me any good to avoid mentioning that the two leads of the movie - Kelly and newcomer Debbie Reynolds - do get together at the end of the story. But, then again, to watch Singin' In The Rain isn't about watching a romance be consummated in any way. To watch this movie is to marvel at the best Hollywood can be. The story is set in 1927; Kelly stars as Don Lockwood, a big-time silent movie star who tries his best to keep up with the changing times, as movies begin to talk. He falls in love with Kathy Selden (Reynolds), a dancer who beguiles him. However, Lockwood's on-screen love interest, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) would like to put a wrench or two in his plans. The title sequence is most often mentioned, but the extended Broadway Ballet sequence at the end of the film and the boisterous "Make ‘Em Laugh" are equally unforgettable. For any and all moviegoers, Singin' In The Rain is the musical to end all others and must be seen.

12 Angry Men

As pure drama, nothing compares with 12 Angry Men, one of the greatest cinematic insights into what it means to be human. Though the film does star, as the title would suggest, 12 men, the discussions they have are universal throughout race, gender, and creed. What would happen if you were a juror on a murder trial? What if the defendant was of a different ethnic background than you? Would you bring your prejudices to the table? What if all the evidence pointed one way, but you felt differently? Would you stick up for yourself? All of these questions, and many others, are asked in the 1957 Sidney Lumet courtroom drama 12 Angry Men, adapted from the television play by Reginald Rose. With a diverse cast, featuring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Klugman, and Martin Balsam, this film takes place almost entirely inside the claustrophobic jury room in a New York courtroom. 12 jurors finish hearing both sides of a murder trial and begin deliberations. All the evidence, plus some faulty assumptions, make it seem like the defendant is guilty of killing his father; one juror (Fonda) chooses to vote not guilty, and spends the next 90 minutes trying to convince everyone else that he may just be right. It may not sound like an exciting way to spend 90 minutes, but thanks to the crafty direction by Lumet, a fantastic script, lasting performances, and even some suspense, 12 Angry Men makes it worth your while. This is not a movie with an easily assumed ending, not initially. Still, as Fonda's nameless juror (all of the characters are only known by their juror numbers) is able to sway even the most prejudiced and hateful man in the room (Cobb, dominating and scary), you can't help but pray for the best. For the averse moviegoer, this old film packs as much a punch today as it did over 50 years ago.

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