Cinema In Context

Musicals on film. William Chen, Jeremy Downing, Max Tarrant and Sarah Watt discuss the films La La Land (2016) and Singin’ In The Rain (1952). Both films are movie musicals about filmmaking. The discussion touches on the magic of musicals, while both films deconstructing the magic of cinema. Nostalgia for older cinema, in both films. The suspension of disbelief in musical films and the grey area between fantasy and reality. The Academy being behind the eight-ball and taking a year or so to catch up. The potential renaissance of musicals in Disney Animation Studio films, particularly Moana (2016). The message of La La Land is problematic, while the female representation of Singin’ In The Rain is equally problematic. The impressive technical achievements of both films. The strength of Jean Hagen in Singin’ In The Rain and her underrated performance as Lina Lamont. There is comedy in Singin’ In The Rain that has or hasn’t dated, while the Broadway Melody sequence being out of place.