Make 'Em Laugh (1952): Full Song & Dance - Donald O'Connor - Musical Romantic Comedy - 1950s Movies

"Make 'Em Laugh" makes its debut in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN ('52), frenetically performed by Donald O'Connor. Written by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, the song is closely based on Cole Porter's "Be a Clown".

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[solezeta]

The fact that Donald O'Connor was bedridden for some time after this sequence.... Gotta give the man respect, he's a legend! Plus, he's perfectly casted as Cosmo: he has the humor, charm, wit, moves and voice!

[adammwalch]

Hysterical. I was honored to live next door to Donald O'Conner in the 1970's. He was gracious, charming and humble. He's an epic talent, and it makes me sad how much he is rapidly being forgotten in popular culture.

[aerinapatra]

him: make em' laugh!
me: *concerned about his physical well-being*

[deirdremacnamara]

This man is a legend. A one off. Never got the true recognition he deserved. Fantastic. 🎶🎤👏

[thepackingpacjack]

This is one of the best examples of physical comedy I’ve ever seen

[alexanderwells]

After that athletic Make em laugh sequence Donald O'Connor was laid up in bed for a week after finished shooting it suffering from exhaustion

[chriscarson]

I remember as a small child lying on my side and "running" in a circle to copy Donald. Great number performed brilliantly!

[vintagesubliminals]

What a genius scene, truly one of the greatest scenes in all of movies! People don’t give enough credit to comics and musical artists in films!

[bandicootsav]

This is the closest I’ve ever seen a living person acting comparable to looney-toons physics, as if he was a cartoon himself.

Dedication is the only thing that comes to mind, Jesus Christ, I hope he lived out his dreams for such a performance.

[jeremydyck]

Anybody who gives this a "thumbs down" clearly has no soul. This was, is and will always be one of the funniest scenes ever made.

[TheHouseBugDJ]

That effortlessly smooth jump onto the piano😳 amazeballs

[marvinhall]

I wish the movie industry would go back to making these kinds of movies, fun, pure joy, silly, the world needs more laughter, not violence, not sappy romance, but pure joy

[MaleOrderBride]

This scene is still so impressive...even to this day 80 years later!!

[randywhalen]

As a sound engineer I have met quite a few celebrities. I was fortunate to have met and have run sound for Donald O'Conner singing "Singing in the Rain" during a private event. I have a personal rule about celebrities, I simply don't ask for their signatures; I made an exception for for Donald O'Conner! He was the man! yes humble and gracious.

[chuffy]

I'm only 19 but singing in the rain is probably one of my favourite feel good movies of all time. Don't let older people tell you that young people don't know or don't appreciate classic movies and music from years ago.

[AnonYmous-ryjn]

This is monumental. If you read the wikipedia articles on O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds, it becomes obvious that the performances in this film were vastly more difficult to pull off than they appear, however impossible they appear. Reynolds reports that Gene Kelly pushed her beyond her capacity, to the point of physical injury and probably psychological as well (though she clearly admires and appreciates his direction more than any other's in her career), and O'Connor reports that the strain and injuries required hospitalization.

It's monumental because however great it is, it is a documentation in every frame of artists forming a vision and doing anything required to bring it to life, going far beyond what a human should be able to do, talent and stamina transcending their limitations.

They make it look exhilarating, smiling throughout, but they're pushing themselves like olympic athletes. And of course they strike pure gold.

[davedee]

This was the greatest musical dance solo ever filmed.

[Realbeatz]

Donald O’Connor = the king of physical comedy. RIP to legends like him. #purehollywoodgold

[jackofroge]

It's just 3 straight minutes of this guy being goofy. Best song I ever watched.

[denisesalles]

dude was an early break dancer and genius! wow!