Knowing these 16 behind-the-scenes facts about Singin' In The Rain will make watching the film even more exciting

Last night I relaxed by going through the Pyramid Scheme archives and watching old musicals. Every time I turn on an old MGM movie, I am blown away by the talent of the Golden Age of Hollywood. So here are 16 really interesting facts about Singing in the rain.

1.Gene Kelly performed the title dance number with a fever of 104 degrees. The director wanted to send him home, but Gene insisted on a single take to avoid unnecessary preparation.

Gene Kelly dances happily in the rain, holding an umbrella and a hat, wearing a suit, in front of a shop window — Courtesy of the Everett Collection

2.They had to reschedule the scene to get the water pressure they needed. When they first tried to shoot in the afternoon, everyone came home from work and watered their lawns, so their fake rain was just a trickle. They had to come back in the morning when everyone was at work to get the water pressure they needed.

Person singing and dancing in the pouring rain while holding an umbrella in front of the Mount Hollywood Art School — Courtesy of the Everett Collection

3.It was Debbie Reynolds’ first film. She was 17 years old and had no dance experience.

Gene Kelly in a tuxedo and Debbie Reynolds in a dance dress posed in the middle of the dance with lively expressions, probably from "Singing in the rain." — Courtesy of Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Everett Col

4.Plus, she only earned $75 a week from the film.

Debbie Reynolds smiles at an event in an elegant one-shoulder dress, surrounded by men in tuxedos — Courtesy of the Everett Collection

5.In the “Broadway Melody” sequence, there is a cut during the dance sequence because Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse’s moves were a bit too daring.

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse perform a dance routine on a stage with silhouettes of figures in the background. — Courtesy of the Everett Collection

6.“Singin’ in the Rain” is not an original song. It was actually performed in 1928. Most of the songs in the film are cover versions, making it a jukebox musical, similar to Moulin Rouge!.

A scene from the film "Singing in the rain" with Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and a group of dancers in raincoats and hats performing in the rain — Courtesy of Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Everett Collection

7.One of the two “original” songs in the film, “Make ’em Laugh”, is actually, as the director admitted, a rip-off of “Be A Clown” from The Pirate.

Ray Bolger and Judy Garland in a scene from The Wizard of Oz, dressed in bizarre costumes during the performance

8.Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor performed many of their own stunts. In an interview with Roger Ebert, O’Connor said, “(Russ Saunders) was the stuntman. If a stunt was too difficult, they thought I or Gene would get hurt, so they called Russ. And 90 times out of 100, he would get hurt, and we would have to step in and do it ourselves.”

Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds in a scene from "Singing in the rain," with Kelly pointing up wearing a wrapped curtain — Everett Collection

9.Two blocks of outdoor sets were covered with tarps to make it dark enough for the number “Singin’ in the Rain”.

Gene Kelly swings happily in the rain on a lamppost while holding an umbrella in a scene from "Singing in the rain." — Courtesy of Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Everett Col

10.The film’s characters were inspired by real Hollywood personalities. Real-life gossip columnist Louella Parsons served as the inspiration for Dora Bailey; Cyd Charisse is dressed as 1920s film star Louise Brooks, and Dueling Cavaliers director Roscoe Dexter is modeled after Busby Berkeley.

Juxtaposed images of Marie Dressler as Emma Thatcher in a film (left) and the real Emma Thatcher with a typewriter (right). Large text: Film, Real Life — The Everett Collection / Getty

11.Costume designer Walter Plunkett made over 500 costumes for the film.

A large group of dancers perform energetically in colorful costumes. A man in a black suit and hat stands in the middle and leads the dance — Courtesy of the Everett Collection

12.Rita Moreno, who plays Zelda in the film, is the last surviving member of the main cast.

Rita Moreno poses in a pinstripe suit in front of the backdrop of a WNET Group event

MGM, Kristina Bumphrey / Variety via Getty Images

13.The premiere of “The Royal Rascal” in the film is actually footage from MGM’s The Three Musketeers with Gene Kelly, which came out four years earlier. You can briefly see Lana Turner from the original Three Musketeers Film before cutting to Lina Lamont.

Upper picture: Scene from "Singing in the rain" shows a performer dancing on a large staircase. Lower picture: Scene from "The Three Musketeers" shows a figure in a similar pose on a staircase — MGM

14.Cyd Charisse’s scarf for the Broadway Ballet number is 12 meters long and made of Chinese silk.

Gene Kelly kneels with his arms wide open while Cyd Charisse dances in the background holding a flowing piece of fabric — Courtesy of the Everett Collection

15.Jean Hagen was the only actor in the film to be nominated for an Oscar.

A woman in a vintage film wearing a high-necked outfit and a hat decorated with spherical ornaments holds a fur stole — MGM

16.Finally, it has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor appear in the rain, wearing long raincoats and holding umbrellas in a scene from "Singing in the rain" — Courtesy of the Everett Collection

Do you have a favorite movie from Hollywood’s Golden Age? Tell us in the comments below!

Knowing these 16 behind-the-scenes facts about Singin’ In The Rain will make watching the film even more exciting

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