On the day Gene Kelly was scheduled to film his now iconic splash-filled Singin’ in the Rain scene, the actor had a temperature of 103°F (39°C). But the story goes that Kelly refused to go home, saying that halting production would waste the massive preparations that had been made (which included mixing water and milk to make the raindrops show up better on film). Kelly convinced the director to allow at least one take — and that was all it took. While some say that’s a movie myth, one thing that remains a fact is this scene’s place in cinema history.
Top 10 Movie Dance Scenes
Dance involves movement across space and time—something that the cinema does very well. TIME presents the most memorable dance scenes in film history.
A Wet, Soft Shoe in Singin’ in the Rain
Full List
In Step
- A Wet, Soft Shoe in Singin’ in the Rain
- The Ballet Scene in The Red Shoes
- The Twist in Pulp Fiction
- Fred and Ginger in Top Hat
- ‘No One Puts Baby in the Corner’ in Dirty Dancing
- On the Floor in Saturday Night Fever
- ‘Jet Song’ in West Side Story
- The Madison in Band of Outsiders
- The Prison Dance in Jailhouse Rock
- ‘The Dance of the Hours’ in Fantasia