I was watching Singing In The Rain with my daughter tonight. I take the position that no matter how much I have to do, if my 13 year old daughter wants to spend time with the old man, I spend it. And I’m a big fan of the movie. Anyway, we tuned in at the start of the “Moses Supposes” song, and when we got to the “Gotta Dance” number, I was struck by a thought (I assure you, I’m used to it so it doesn’t hurt when it happens).
There is an amazing structural similarity between musicals and action flicks. In musicals, they periodically sing for no particular reason; in action flicks, they periodically do violence for no particular reason. In musicals, they have these large, elaborately staged production numbers that may or may not have anything to do with the plot or characterization, but they sure are fun; in action flicks, they have these large, elaborately staged action sequences that may or may not have anything to do with the plot or characterization, but they sure are fun. In fact, musicals often have the flimsiest of plot and characterization, and stuff is added clearly not because they make any sense but for their worth as spectacle — which is just like action flicks. No musical would be complete without a buddy and the guy getting the girl in the end, which is also the standard for action flicks.
You could remake Singing In The Rain as an action movie very simply – snip out all the singing and dancing and replace it with violence and explosions and you’d be done. Then I could watch that version with my 10 year old son.
