No other movie embodies the spirit of the Hollywood dream factory like "Singin 'in the Rain". The film is a musical, a romantic comedy, and a one-hundred-minute adventure looking for magic in an alternate reality. Now, of course, "Singin' in the Rain" is also a wonderful film about the technological developments and the industry’s capacity to adapt and respond to major changes like the transition from silent films to talkies. Making a musical around this subject was perhaps the most inventive and surprising approach possible. But the truth is that this artistic, cultural and productive complexity has always been the crucial driving force behind Hollywood's success. "Singin' in the Rain" invites us to get involved, to leave our reality and enter the alternate reality of cinema. (DR)