This week, Every Rom Com is celebrating our 75th episode with one of the greatest movies in cinema history - “Singin’ in the Rain”! New guest and old friend of the podcast, film archivist Karin Carlson-Snider, adds her insight as we discuss the transition from silent to sound film. We reveal what went on behind the scenes, and how this movie’s musical numbers and romantic and comedic moments have affected us over the years. Plus, we explore the careers of Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, and give our recommendations for great double features! Whether it’s a nostalgic favorite or you’re a new cinephile, join us for an informative deep dive on this American classic!

0:00-13:18 Introducing Karin Carlson-Snider of Northeast Historic Film; Favorite Rom Coms, Favorite L.A. Movies

Northeast Historic Film: https://oldfilm.org/

Support Northeast Historic Film’s Work: https://conta.cc/4io9cJW

Follow Northeast Historic Film on Instagram: @northeasthistoricfilm https://www.instagram.com/northeasthistoricfilm?igsh=aHE1ZzU3YzNuM2Vy

Karin Carlson-Snider is a film archivist and the Vault Manager at Northeast Historic Film in Bucksport, Maine, a regional film archive dedicated to preserving and sharing moving image history. With nearly 15 years at the archive, she has played a key role in numerous grant-funded digitization projects, including The Boston TV News Digital Library, The Woman Behind the Camera, and WCVB: More Than the News. Notably, through The Woman Behind the Camera project, she helped digitize, catalog, and make publicly accessible over 300 hours of home movies and amateur footage from 58 collections created by women filmmakers—shedding light on underrepresented voices in film history. In addition to managing the archive’s climate-controlled vault, Karin also oversees the licensed footage department, supplying archival content for high-profile productions including Ken Burns documentaries, HBO and ESPN sports features, and true crime series on Netflix. She holds a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, an MFA in Digital Video Production from Governors State University, and an MA in Public History from Duquesne University. She is also a graduate of the prestigious L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation, where she was awarded the Hagefilm Fellowship and completed restoration work on two 1910 Essanay silent film comedies: Mulcahy’s Raid and A College Chicken.

13:18-29:40 TRAILER, Basic Info, Interesting Facts

More Information On “Singin’ In The Rain”:

Singin’ in the Rain: the Making of an American Masterpiece, by Pratibha A. Dabholkar and Earl J. Hess

The Movie Musical, by Jeanine Basinger

https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/revealed-results-2022-sight-sound-greatest-films-all-time-poll

https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies/

https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-of-musicals/

Commentary and special features from Bluray release

29:40-33:33 General Opinion

33:33-48:19 Cast & Crew In-Depth

For More Information on Gene Kelly: https://www.everyromcom.com/podcast-1/episode/4eab5950/every-rom-com-59-on-the-town

More Information on Debbie Reynolds:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Debbie-Reynolds

https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/28/entertainment/debbie-reynolds-hospitalized/

https://www.debbiereynolds.com/debbie-reynolds-biography

https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/heresthething/episodes/281718-debbie-reynolds#transcript

https://www.vogue.com/article/debbie-reynolds-famous-love-triangle#:~:text=The%20Taylor/Fisher%20marriage%20lasted,friendship%20was%20perhaps%20worth%20more.%E2%80%9D

More Information on Donald O’Connor:

https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/143068%7C40186/Donald-O%27connor#biography

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-28-me-oconnor28-story.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/nyregion/donald-o-connor-who-danced-through-many-hollywood-musicals-dies-at-78.html#:~:text=He%20was%20drafted%20toward%20the,Gloria%20De%20Haven%20(1949).

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/sep/29/guardianobituaries.film1

Donald O’Connor’s Roller-Skating Dance Number in “I Love Melvin”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGlaPXQyfyM&list=RDoGlaPXQyfyM&start_radio=1

48:19-57:56 Opening of the Film, Film Premiere “The Royal Rascal”

57:56-1:10:25 Don & Kathy’s “Meet Cute”/”Meet Annoyed”, Hollywood Party, Sound Film Demo

1:10:25-1:19:19 Make ‘Em Laugh

“Be A Clown” from “The Pirate”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9250pY6wfQ&list=RDS9250pY6wfQ&start_radio=1

1:19:19-1:30:47 “You Were Meant For Me”, The Arrival of Talking Pictures

1:30:47-1:44:19 The Transition From Silent to Sound Film

The Parade’s Gone By by Kevin Brownlow

The Talkies: American Cinema’s Transition to Sound, 1926-1931 by Donald Crafton

1:44:19-2:02:25 Diction Coach Scenes, “Moses Supposes”, Filming “The Dueling Cavalier” and “The Dueling Cavalier” Premiere, “Good Morning”

2:02:25-2:11:33 “Singin’ In The Rain”

Original Movie Appearance of “Singin’ In The Rain”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh0hqXBXL00&list=RDMh0hqXBXL00&start_radio=1

Weather in Los Angeles: https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/los-angeles-rain-why-its-a-big-deal

2:11:33-2:23:25 Dubbing the Dancing Cavalier, “Broadway Rhythm”/”The Broadway Melody”

2:23:25 SPOILERS BEGIN

2:23:25-2:31:20 End of The Movie, The Theme of Changing Technology In “Singin’ In The Rain” and AI

2:31:20-2:42:46 Double Feature Recommendations