Because of her nasal twang, the number one Hollywood star Jean Hagen was replaced for the first sound movies in Hollywood by an unknown actress – Debbie Reynolds, and the film, predicted as being a real turkey, turned out to be a dazzling musical comedy.Thanks to its title song this musical comedy in Technicolor has become a legend, representing the quintessence of the late 1920s in the USA. It takes an entertaining look at that key period when silent movies gave way to talking movies, putting many stars out of work (also the theme of Michel Hazanavicius’ film The Artist).The actors are amazing in their tap dance routines, wonderfully choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. An unforgettable film, probably one of the world’s best, most accomplished and most fascinating.The Orchestre national de Lyon will play live the orchestral part of Nacio Herb Brown’s music, but it really is Gene Kelly we shall hear singing “Dancin’ in the rain” and Debbie Reynolds wishing us “Good mornin’”!

“After hearing Dancin’ in the Rain, anyone who has never felt like jumping in puddles, running on walls, tap dancing on tables, can’t be normal. It’s the cinema version of the Stendhal syndrome: when confronted with such immense beauty, one could almost faint… with joy...!” N. T. Bihn, Télérama, 2014

A co-production with Institut Lumière.