Which change in Hollywood does the story satirize?

The move from silent films to talkies

Singin' in the Rain Quiz: Studio Scenes and Songs

A Hollywood studio scrambling to switch from silent films to talkies in 1927 is the setting, and this Singin' in the Rain quiz goes behind its comic studio scenes. Play 10 interactive questions on Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Lina Lamont's voice, hidden microphones, The Dueling Cavalier and Make 'Em Laugh.

Start Singin' in the Rain Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Year
In which year was Singin' in the Rain released?
Directors
Who directed the film?
Era
Which change in Hollywood does the story satirize?
Lina
What is the problem with silent star Lina Lamont?
Mic
Where do the crew hide a microphone during a comic filming scene?
Film
What is the troubled film within the film called at first?
Kathy
Who plays Kathy Selden?
Laugh
Who performs Make 'Em Laugh?
Songs
Who wrote most of the film's songs?
Ranking
Where did the AFI rank it in its 2006 list of greatest musicals?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In which year was Singin' in the Rain released?
Answer: 1952
MGM released the musical in 1952.
Q2: Who directed the film?
Answer: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen
Kelly also starred as Don Lockwood.
Q3: Which change in Hollywood does the story satirize?
Answer: The move from silent films to talkies
The plot is set in 1927, the year of The Jazz Singer.
Q4: What is the problem with silent star Lina Lamont?
Answer: Her speaking and singing voice
Jean Hagen earned an Oscar nomination for playing the shrill-voiced star.
Q5: Where do the crew hide a microphone during a comic filming scene?
Answer: In a bush and on Lina's dress
Lina keeps turning her head away from the microphone.
Q6: What is the troubled film within the film called at first?
Answer: The Dueling Cavalier
It is rescued by turning it into The Dancing Cavalier, a musical.
Q7: Who plays Kathy Selden?
Answer: Debbie Reynolds
Reynolds was 19 when she made the film.
Q8: Who performs Make 'Em Laugh?
Answer: Donald O'Connor
O'Connor's acrobatic routine is one of film's great comedy dances.
Q9: Who wrote most of the film's songs?
Answer: Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown
Many songs came from their earlier MGM work.
Q10: Where did the AFI rank it in its 2006 list of greatest musicals?
Answer: Number one
The American Film Institute named it the greatest movie musical.

Singin' In The Rain Quiz – Behind the Studio Scenes

Singin' in the Rain, released by MGM in 1952 and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, is set in 1927, when Hollywood rushed to make talking pictures after The Jazz Singer.

Gene Kelly plays silent star Don Lockwood, Debbie Reynolds plays Kathy Selden and Donald O'Connor plays Cosmo Brown. Jean Hagen's Lina Lamont has a voice unsuited to sound, leading to scenes with microphones hidden in bushes and costumes.

The disastrous film The Dueling Cavalier is saved as the musical The Dancing Cavalier, with Kathy secretly dubbing Lina. Songs by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown include the title number, and the AFI later named it the greatest movie musical.

What This Quiz Teaches

Film fans and musical lovers will enjoy these questions.

When and where the story is set
Who stars in the film
Which studio jokes it makes
Who wrote the songs
How it is ranked

Did You Know?

Cyd Charisse dances in the Broadway Melody ballet.
Good Morning is a famous trio number.
The title dance was shot on an MGM backlot street.
Jean Hagen's real voice was used when Kathy dubs Lina's speaking.
A stage version opened in London in 1983.