If it seems like, most of the time, everybody in Singin' in the Rain is lying, it's because they are. Welcome to Hollywood! Here's the thing, though: The characters are also frequently quite honest. We're talking about soul-baring honesty here. That's because anytime somebody sings or dances, they seem to be totally truthful. The movie suggests that, while you should never believe what you hear, or even what you see, song and dance communicate the truth. Or, as the great philosopher Shakira once said, "Hips don't lie."
Questions about Language and Communication
- The musical numbers: Do they move the plot forward, or do they take the story off on a tangent?
- What do you think it means that Lina doesn't get a song and dance routine?
- How do the movie's dance numbers express characters' moods or emotions? Pick two to focus on.
- When you watch movies, what do you believe more: what you see or what you hear? How about in real life?
Chew on This
Take a peek at these thesis statements. Agree or disagree?
Singin' in the Rain would be a better movie if it cut the song and dance numbers and stuck to the comedy and romance.
According to Singin' in the Rain, dancing is the sincerest expression of emotion.