Tap-dancing to the title tune in a rain-sodden street, Gene Kelly takes the plaudits, but the Make ‘Em Laugh number featuring Donald O’Connor is possibly the most impressively physical sequence in Singin’ in the Rain. Totally surrendering his body for the sake of slapstick and song-and-dance showboating, O’Connor as Cosmo Brown busts out a jaw-dropping array of stunts and sight gags.

Amidst the show-stopping scenes that comprise the classic 1952 Hollywood musical, Cosmo’s crazed explosion stands as a nifty oddity that goes all out for comedy instead of dance number perfection and as such offers a light break from the bigger and bolder spectacles. It’s a sequence that delightfully combines the incredible action of silent movies with the audible possibilities of talkies, all played out with enthusiastic gusto by O’Connor.

Though it’s a tribute to optimism and light-hearted outlooks on life, the scene was by no means great fun during filming according to anecdotal reports. The scene was so demanding that O’Connor allegedly had to rest in bed for a week to recover from the strain and stinging carpet burns, only to have to do the whole thing again when the footage was lost in an accident. Cosmo’s pain is our pleasure though, and Make ‘Em Laugh is a magnificent number guaranteed to make even the most stoney-faced spectator crack a smile.

You can view all our Greatest Scenes by clicking HERE. If you find any broken links or wish to request a scene (make sure you leave a paragraph saying why you recommend it), Contact Me and let me know.