Gene Kelly is a Hollywood legend. An actor, choreographer, singer, performer, and director, Kelly has taken on virtually every major role available when it comes to filmmaking, particularly in classical Hollywood romance movies, cementing himself as one of the greatest contributors in film history. Revolutionary during his time, his techniques have often been replicated and has influenced many films today.
It was announced earlier this year that Captain America actor Chris Evans will play Kelly in an untitled biopic. Per Deadline, the film will reunite Evans with Knives Out collaborators Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman (as producers). Not much is known about the biopic, but when it comes to biopics about artists, the film is certain cover Kelly’s career in Hollywood, touching on great films like Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris. Kelly, after all, remains one of the foremost stars in Hollywood. As we await further details on the biopic, here’s a look at the actor’s best movies, ranked.
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7 Anchors Aweigh
MGM
Anchors Aweigh was released in 1945 and features Kelly as Joe and Frank Sinatra as Clarence, two sailors on leave in Los Angeles. They plan to relax, however, quickly become involved with a singer (Kathryn Grayson) and embark on comedic adventures. Anchors Aweigh features gripping song and dance performances and an amazing cast of some of the best names in Hollywood, as outlined by NY Times.
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6 Cover Girl
Columbia Pictures
Cover Girl was released in 1944 and features performances by Otto Kruger, who plays John Coudair, a man who has not recovered from when his fiancée called off their engagement. After he spots her granddaughter, Rusty Parker (Rita Hayworth), he is reminded of what he lost. He then decides to put her on the cover of his magazine. Kelly plays her boyfriend, Danny, who decides not to interfere with her path to success. It’s a great film with an ensemble cast that perfectly captures 1940s Hollywood.
5 Summer Stock
Summer Stock was a film released in 1950 that sees Abigail (Gloria Dehaven) traveling with a theater company while her sister, Jane (Judy Garland), stays at home to tend the family’s farm. Abigail returns to the farm and tries to convince Jane to turn it into a performing venue. Kelly plays Joe, Abigial’s boyfriend, and they all have excellent chemistry, which works well on screen.
4 On the Town
On the Town was released in 1949 and features Kelly as Gabey, Sinatra as Chip, and Jules Munshin as Ozzie, who all have 24 hours of shore leave in New York City and want to make every second count. The film features many vibrant musical numbers and shows the golden era of Hollywood in full effect.
3 The Young Girls of Rochefort
Parc Films
The Young Girls of Rochefort tells the story of Delphine (Catherine Deneuve) and Solange (Françoise Dorléac), twin sisters who want to find romance and leave their hometown to do so. Kelly plays Andy, a songwriter whom Solange falls for, and the pair have amazing chemistry throughout. The film plays on vibrant colors, creating some of the most visually stunning set pieces and sequences in film.
2 An American in Paris
An American In Paris was released in 1951 and sees Kelly starring as Jerry Mulligan, an American ex-GI who stays in Paris after the war, with dreams of becoming a painter. He falls for Lise Bouvier (Leslie Caron) and the two have many beautiful scenes set in Paris with amazing costumes, music, and dance numbers. The film is striking and beautiful, capturing the vibe of Hollywood’s golden era.
1 Singin’ in the Rain
Singin’ in the Rain was released in 1952 and tells the story of Don and Lina, who have regularly been cast as a romantic couple. However, with the transition from silent films to ‘talkies’, Lina realizes she cannot keep up, and her voice is not up to par, so a young aspiring actress is hired to voice-over the role. Kelly is Don, and he stars alongside Debbie Reynolds. Their chemistry is great, and the film produced some of the best visuals in cinema history.
