It is the musical for people who hate musicals. "Singin' in the Rain" has grown to be one of the most beloved American musicals of all time, and for the 50th anniversary of its release, a remastered print of the film will premiere at the Michigan Theater on April 20 and will subsequently be in theaters across the country this summer. The proceeds from the premiere will go to the scholarship fund at the Allen Creek preschool in Ann Arbor. Kerry Kelly Novick, Gene Kelly's daughter and president of Allen Creek, has been instrumental in arranging for the world permiere to take place in Ann Arbor at the historic Michigan Theater.

"Singin' in the Rain" has become the quintessential musical, in part because of its technical brilliance but mostly because of the charisma and magnetism of Gene Kelly. Kelly, with his athletic and versatile dancing and his compelling on-screen persona, has become one of the icons of dance. Kelly was a dancer who was able to successfully combine masculinity with his art. As Kerry said, his ability to maintain the leading-man role while still dancing "has to do with his particular style of dance and his own personality. The style was athletic and that made it masculine. And also that it was unabashedly sexy."

Despite the unbelievable popularity of the film, Gene "never thought of it as his most important film artistically," said Kerry. By the time that "Singin' in the Rain" came out in 1952, Gene had already established his artistic style and "had already figured out how to photograph dance on film, so I don't think it had the excitement of new discovery, new creation," added Kerry, "but he thougth it was great fun. He knew that it had something joyful in it."

Kerry's son Ben, who is also a professor at the University of Michigan, commented that "although it wasn't a very daring film, everything works in it. It's very slick and polished." Kerry added, "Polish is partly responsible for its success. There are so many narrative and emotional elements (in the film) that it doesn't feel dated." However, at the time, it wasn't a massive success comercially or critically. It is only with the passage of time that it has come to be cherished as one of the great musicals.

Part of what makes "Singin' in the Rain" so accessible to such a broad audience is Gene's ability to avoid, as Ben called it, "the cringe factor ... Most musicals have a moment when you wince and think that just doesn't work. ("Singin' in the Rain") simply doesn't have one. You don't have to apologize for this film."

Although there are moments in the film that defy reality and tumble into the realm of Hollywood musicals, where people can burst into song with no warning, there is never a scene in the film that you wish was not included. This is partly due to Gene's dynamic presence on-screen, his bright, slightly crooked smile and his fun-filled, acrobatic dance style.

One of the most frequent comparisons that is drawn when Gene Kelly's name is mentioned is his relationship with Fred Astaire and their roles on the screen. Most people think of Astaire as the sophisticated gentleman dressed in a tuxedo in a ballroom, whereas Gene is traditionally thought of as the regular guy who dances in a sweater or a t-shirt and splashes in puddles.

However, as Ben Novick said, "(Gene) resented the fact that the public, perhaps understandably, portrayed him or saw him only through his roles. He did try to dress down ... and yet this is the man who went to college, who was a very intellectual man. It was a big part of his life; he liked fine art and could speak foreign languages, and could speak with you very intelligently, while Fred Astaire was a Vaudeville kid who came up through the ranks of Vaudeville. But off-screen, their roles were almost turned around." Kerry added, "it's one of the burdens of famous people that they do get characterized according to other peoples' perceptions."

On the other hand, rumors of Kelly's and Astaire's rivalry were greatly exaggerated as well. "(They) had the greatest respect for each other; they were friends. The mythic creation of a rivalry and a competition seemed really foolish to them both. It was more a construction of press agents than any reality," said Kerry.

However, their relationship was more complicated than a simple friendship. As Ben said, "(Gene) was frustrated about a built up rivalry that wasn't really there professionally, and yet also, there was more to it than the public statement that both of them made saying, 'Oh, we're the best of friends." There was also, at least on my grandfather's part, an undercurrent of some resentment of how the public viewed the two of them.

In adition to his identity as a dancer, Gene was also conflicted about his Irish identity. Although he is commonly identififed with his Irish heritage, he seldom used his background professionally.