When the American Film Institute sat down to select its 25 Greatest Musicals of all time, there were many contenders for the top slot. The King & I, Oliver! and An American in Paris all had their champions, but only one movie was ever going to rule the musical roost and that movie was Stanley Donen's 1952 classic, Singin' in the Rain.
How could you not celebrate a movie which features the great Gene Kelly delivering the performance of his life, whether performing the famous title track (one of the most iconic sequences in musical history) or being seduced by Cyd Charisse and her million dollar legs? Then there's Donald O'Connor giving the performance of his life in the Make 'Em Laugh sequence; and Debbie Reynolds in delightful form as the young musical star hoping to make it in Hollywood.
But Singin' in the Rain is more than just a musical. It also ranks as one of the funniest movies in Hollywood history. The story of the transition from silent to sound movies was superbly handled, particularly by the great Jean Hagen, whose vocal, er, mannerisms didn't quite match her image on the silent screen.
This weekend, audiences are in for a treat as the first-ever Irish concert performance of Herb Nacio Brown's original film score comes to the NCH in Dublin on both Friday and Saturday evening at 8pm. John Wilson will conduct the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, while the vocalists delivering such magic numbers as Fit as a Fiddle, Good Morning, You Were Meant for Me and the classic title track, include Kim Criswell, Matthew Ford, Annalene Beechey, Paul Robinson, Josh Prince and New Dublin Voices.
You can check out ticket details for Singin' in the Rain: A concert performance with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, at www.nch.ie, but every day this week were offering a pair of tickets for each performance, Friday and Saturday.
Today's question is this: complete the following lyric: "I walk down the lane / with a happy - "
Send your answer, name, address and telephone number, marked 'Singin' Comp', to travel@rte.ie. One entry per person. No cash alternative and no other costs will be covered.
Monday's winners were David Nugent of Castleknock and Suzie Nolan of Cabinteely. Tuesday's winners were Sarah Greene from Glenageary and Davin Larkin from Palmerstown. Wednesday's winners were Gavin Murray from Harold's Cross and Stephen Paterson from Clondalkin. Thursday's winners were Ronan Gallagher from Terenure and Hildegard Seeber from Templeogue. Thanks to everyone who entered and keep checking back for more competitions on www.rte.ie/ten.
