Bit of Ivory

I’m on break again and I just had to write a little entry about something I just found. I was making a list of new acquisitions for our Art, Theatre, and Film librarian, and I came across a title called Cult Movies. Of course, I just had to get a look at it, so I ran over to the shelf and picked it up. I was so disappointed! Not only are my two favorite cult movies NOT in the book (Harold and Maude and What’s Up, Doc?), but they labelled what I consider perfectly mainstream movies as cult flicks. I mean, Singing in the Rain, a cult film? Give me a break. Although, I was happy to find that my family’s original supposition is correct.

You see, in Singing in the Rain, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) can’t sing, so they dub her voice with Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), right? Only thing is, the voice that is used for that dubbed voice ISN’T Debbie Reynolds– the voice is much too deep. My dad thought that maybe the dubbed voice was actually Jean Hagen using her real voice–she actually has a lovely alto voice. Well, this book confirmed it– it was really Jean Hagen. So basically, the scene is Jean Hagen dubbing for Debbie Reynolds who’s supposedly dubbing for Jean Hagen. Lovely little trivia tidbit, no?

Now I want to get a hold of Harold and Maude. I haven’t seen that movie since high school– 4 years now! Sheesh!