Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Messrs. Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. It offers a light-hearted depiction of Hollywood in the late 1920s, with the three stars portraying performers caught up in the transition from silent films to "talkies".
One scene, arguably the most challenging to shoot yet most memorable, follows Mr. Kelly's character, Don Lockwood, as he joyfully dances home in the rain. Every great dancer needs a partner to match, and so Brigg was tasked with creating a light yet sturdy umbrella. The most celebrated and recognisable umbrella manufacturer worldwide, it came as no surprise to then Chairman, Mr. Gilbert Adeney, that the American motion picture required a Brigg Umbrella with presence and stature.
The master-craftsmen at Swaine created a two-piece Brigg Umbrella, with a whangee bamboo crook handle and a canopy covered in black silk, for one of cinema's best musical dance scenes of all time. Compared to today's available Brigg umbrellas, the finish of the crook handle combined the smooth shape of the Malacca with the wood of the Whangee. The film was only a modest hit when it was first released. However, it has since been accorded legendary status by contemporary critics, often regarded as the best musical film ever made and one of the greatest films ever made.
Today, clients can choose from either Whangee or Malacca, which is also available with a splendid silk-covered canopy.
