15 Popular Movies Which Were Notoriously Difficult To Produce

Singin’ in the Rain is one of the greatest movie musicals ever made. Known for its upbeat showstoppers and unbelievably complex dance routines, the whole film is an utter joy. But at an average working day of 19 hours, the making of it was the complete opposite.

Gene Kelly was one of the most difficult people to work with because he was such a perfectionist when it came to dance. His co-stars admitted to not enjoying working with him because of how afraid they were to make a mistake.

Debbie Reynolds had never danced to such a high degree and Gene often picked on her. He singled her out so much that she hid and cried, only to be discovered by Fred Astaire. During the “Good Morning” sequence, Reynolds broke so many blood vessels in her feet because of the taxing choreography that she physically couldn't walk and had to be carried to her dressing room.

Donald O’Connor had to perform the lively "Make 'Em Laugh" number twice, because the original take was destroyed. A true professional, Donald acted the routine again and was so exhausted that he allegedly took a three-day nap afterwards.

Even Gene Kelly himself struggled when performing the film’s title number. He was battling a high fever but insisted on doing the sequence anyway. Apparently, he was actually dancing in milk because straight water wouldn't show up clear enough on camera.