Question

At the beginning of Singin’ in the Rain (Kelly and Donen, 1952), Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) tells the story of how he and his friend Cosmo (Donald O’Connor) worked their way to Hollywood. The audience experiences this story as a flashback. However, this flashback serves a purpose other than merely telling the story of Don and Cosmo. Much like Singin’ tells the story of the development of sound in film, this flashback tells the story of early years of cinema. Describe how this flashback shows the development of cinema in its early years?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) The field of art is generally not taken as seriously as professional fields, unless the artist becomes successful. This has led to the profession and the product of the profession to both have different views from an audience. Art is viewed as pedantic, prissy, overly-sophisticated and even elitist. 'Film' is one such art form.

However, in the flashback scene of “Singin’ in the Rain,” the evolution of the film industry makes it come across as a medium that isn’t as pedantic as other art forms. Furthermore, it makes films seem like the medium of the people. It is meant for all viewers and not just like the rich people who would visit an art gallery.

Kelly makes the film industry’s journey relatable and understandable to the audience. Consequently, he takes away the image of awe and alienation that the film industry went through with the masses in the initial stages of this new art form. 'Film' was now a new art form that wasn’t as inaccessible a viewing a Da Vinci painting. 'Film' had evolved to be view by all types of audience and was accessible to them through the cinema or viewing screen in their own living rooms.