Gene Kelly (Donald Lockwood) falls in love with Debbie Reynolds (Kathy Seldon), but his silent movie co-star (Linda Lamont - played by Jean Hagan) is determined to undermine their relationship.

Lamont gets not-famous-yet Seldon fired after accidentally throwing a custard pie in her face... she was aiming for Lockwood who has fallen in love with her.

Lamont whilst being a silent star, has an awful voice and when the talkies begin her screeching makes the audiences laugh.

What are they gonna do?

"Hot diggidy, this movie is great!"

"I feel a dance coming on, superb."

"Whenever I feel the world is getting me down I watch this movie. Pure unadulterated class."

"A feel-good, toe tapping, bravisimo inducing, utterly brilliant moment of movie heaven."

"Too much colour. Too much screeching."

"If Donald O'Connor (Cosmo Brown) did not have a sore ass after this movie there is no justice!"

Kathy Seldon dubs the voice of Linda Lamont in the movie and saves the day. However, drama queen Linda demands that Kathy work unaccredited for her for the rest of her 5 year contract... Donald and the boss of the studio will have none of it... Linda demands to talk to her audience. It becomes clear that the voice on the screen is not hers at all. Kathy runs crying from the theatre but is called back by Donald who tells the audience she is the real star of the show.

It all ends happily ever after, as Donald and Kathy stand arm in arm canoodling 1950's style in front of a poster for the movie showing Kathy as its star.

This is the greatest comedy musical of all time, and I will defend it against those plebs who say it is Grease to the ends of the earth! It is rare that a movie makes me want to stick my dukes up in ready to punch mode, but this movie does just that.

That it was made in 1952 is testament to how fantastic this movie is. Not only is it colourful, tuneful and the dancing is everything you would hope for in a musical, the comedy is also perfect rarely has elocution been so memorably parodied.

The sequence in which Gene Kelly sings in the rain, just after Kathy has told him she loves him, is utter movie memory perfection. One to watch over and over and over, and a movie to judge other movies by.

A fine seven course banquet including acclaimed wine, champagne, fine brandy, best coffee. Served by the most experienced of waiters. Food served on only the finest china, using golden serving spoons, chandelier lighting, candles. Napkins to pad your mouth before drinking from finest crystal glasses... etc...

In the lets put on a show position of enthusiastic hyperventilation.

Donald O'Connor does the slapstick well, although at times is slightly too enthusiastic. Gene Kelly is pure smoothie on the screen.

Your life is not long enough to get bored by this movie. Watch this movie once a year to remind you of movie making at its best.

Made in 1952, this is an all of the family movie - the sign of a true classic. At the time of writing this review, the movie is 51 years old and is as funny and entertaining as any movie of its type today, not that many movies like this are being made today...

Love can conquer all and there is nothing funnier than seeing a custard pie thrown in an annoying person's face.

7. Donald O'Connor is the main source of all the bangs and crashes in this movie. To be completely honest, he is a little too enthusiastic at times in this movie (the mouth pulling behind the elocution teacher's face is a little too much), however for enthusiasts of running backflips off walls, jumping behind sofas and walking into walls, he is a joy - even to the Jackass crowd - note that here all the stunts are performed to music, while singing...

A course of custard pies in the face.

Now, you won't be watching this movie if you intended to watch something like 9 1/2weeks; and if you only go to the movies to see those big tonguey kisses, then this movie is not for you.

However, the sheer understated passion in this movie is truly awesome. The music is uplifting. The comedy hysterically funny.

That old devil called Love lives here, and it triumphs against bad people, what more could anyone want from a matinee movie?

"The greatest comedy musical of all time", and it will probably be able to retain that title for a little while longer.

The Producers 2005, Mel Brooks' now legendary Broadway show on celluloid, has only just come out; it is utterly superb, but it is always difficult to rate new films so quickly after they have been released.

December 24 , 2003 Updated 1st June 2006