Singing In The Rain
Not necesarily a nit, just something that bugged me.
In order to save a movie within the movie it's decided to add some musical numbers to it.
In order to explain why a story set in the French Revolution has modern music and dancing (I guess they were afraid of nitpickers.;-) they are going to add a framing sequence which has a modern hoofer getting hit on the head and imagining all this.
Toward the end of the film Don (Gene Kelly) tells of a dance sequence that explains a little of the modern hoofer's story. The problem is that this dance sequence runs forever, and frankly I think it would give the audience the wrong impression of what the movie is all about. Of course the sequence we the audience sees is all inside Don's mind so maybe the finished version looked different. ;-) Also the movie within the movie (The Dancing Cavalier) ends without any return to the present.
In The Dancing Cavalier Don's character has a bloody stab wound and then sings with the leading lady. My dad commented about no more blood coming out of the wound despite the exertion and I said it's all in the guy's head.
This next one might be a real nit. After seeing Kathy (Debbie Reynolds) home, Don starts singing and dancing in the rain. At the end of the movie, Kathy sings Singing In The Rain and the orchestra conducter knows the song, even though neither of them had seen Don singing this song earlier. However, I believe, Singing In The Rain was originally done in a short film (featuring Noah's Ark) in the early days of Talkies. So it might not be a nit if this short film had been released prior to Don singing this song. Of course, this film is set during the transition from silents to talkies so it might be a legitimate nit.
The Broadway Melody sequence was a parody/tribute to the Broadway Melodys/Broady Revues/etc. of the 20's and 30's. And it's obviously in Don's mind - it's in colour!
Singing In The Rain
Lina Lamont tells the studio chief that if her publicity is damaging to her career she will sue, so the studio can't promote Kathy as the singing & talking voice of Lina in The Dancing Cavalier.
However at the end it is revealed that Kathy is the voice and, presumably, this will have a damaging effect on her career, therefore Lina could still sue.
Sequel: Singing With Pneumonia
Isn't the title Singin' in the Rain?
You're right.