EntertainmentGene KellyVideoPatricia Ward Kelly

INTERVIEW: Patricia Ward Kelly On Life, Love And Filmmaking With 'Singin' In The Rain' Husband Gene Kelly

'He Was The Epitome Of Romance': Gene Kelly's Wife Tells Of Hollywood Legend
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By 

Deputy Picture Editor and Culture Writer, Huffington Post UK

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Getty/PA/Rex

Grab your umbrella and wellies - there's rain forecast at the Royal Albert Hall.

The romantic Hollywood of a bygone age is coming to London as the historic venue marks the 60th anniversary of musical classic Singin' in the Rain (1952) on 8 and 9 March with a screening of the film, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performing in sync with the soundtrack.

Singin’ in the Rain: Live in Concert will be introduced by Patricia Ward Kelly, wife of the late Singin’ in the Rain star Gene Kelly.

Kelly's prolific career shaped American film, including performances in Cover Girl (1944), An American in Paris (1951) and starring roles alongside Judy Garland in For Me and My Gal (1942), Fred Astaire in Ziegfeld Follies (1945) and Frank Sinatra in On the Town (1949).

Ranking number one on the American Film Institute's 100 Years of Musicals list, it was Kelly's directing and performance in Singin' in the Rain that defined the notion of the Hollywood musical.

HuffPost UK caught up with writer Patricia Ward Kelly to find out about the remarkable life of legendary dancer, director and choreographer Gene Kelly. From the myths surrounding the famous rain scene, to Gene's love of filmmaking - read our interview:

Patricia Kelly will be introducing Singin’ in the Rain – Live in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the film’s 60th birthday celebrations on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 March. To book tickets visit the Royal Albert Hall website or call 020 7589 8212.

Gene Kelly Through The Years
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Lt. (jg) Gene Kelly USNR, during his WWII service - August 1945(Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images)
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Gene Kelly holding Judy Garland in a scene from the film 'For Me And My Gal', 1942. (Photo by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images)
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7th June 1944: Film star Gene Kelly (1912 - 1996) famous for his dancing routines. (Photo by Clarence Sinclair Bull/John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images)
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Gene Kelly (1912 - 1996) as Harry Palmer and Judy Garland (1922 - 1969) as Jo Hayden in a scene from 'For Me and My Gal', directed by Busby Berkeley, 1942. (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)
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Debbie Reynolds, US actress, singer and dancer, poses with Gene Kelly (1912-1996), US actor, singer and dancer, in a studio portrait, against a red background, issued as publicity for the film, 'Singin' in the Rain', 1952. The musical, directed by Stanley Donen, starred Reynolds as 'Kathy Selden' and Kelly as 'Don Lockwood'. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
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This undated file photo shows US actor Gene Kelly with actress Debbie Reynolds from the movie 'Singin' in the Rain.' Kelly was best known for his roles in the movies 'Singin' in the Rain' and 'An American in Paris'. (Photo credit: FILE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Gene Kelly performs in the 1952 film "Singin' in the Rain." (AP Photo/file)
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1952: American actor-dancer Gene Kelly (1912 - 1996) rehearsing with Debbie Reynolds for the MGM musical 'Singin' In The Rain', directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Gene Kelly (1912-1996), US actor and dancer, holding a dance pose, in a studio portrait, dancing on a red floor with a yellow wall in the background, circa 1950. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
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Kay Kendall, Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor and Taina Elg in publicity portrait for the film 'Les Girls', 1957. (Photo by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images)
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American actor and dancer Gene Kelly (1912 - 1996) wearing a harlequin costume in the musical 'An American In Paris', directed by Vincente Minnelli and Kelly, 1951. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
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1949: L-R: American actors Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, and Gene Kelly standing on the Brooklyn Bridge in sailor's uniforms, in a still from the film On the Town, New York City, New York. With a view of the Manhattan skyline in the background. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Gene Kelly, American dancer, actor, singer and director in action. Original Publication: People Disc - HF0431 (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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1948: American actor and dancer Gene Kelly. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Vintage portrait of actor and dancer Gene Kelly. (Credit: PA)
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Photo of Gene Kelly (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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GENE KELLY -- Pictured: Gene Kelly -- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank (credit:Getty Images)
NBC Radio- Gene Kelly(18 of36)
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NBC RADIO- GENE KELLY -- Pictured: Actor/dancer Gene Kelly (Photo by NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Gene Kelly(19 of36)
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GENE KELLY -- Pictured: Dancer/actor Gene Kelly -- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank (credit:Getty Images)
Gene Kelly(20 of36)
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GENE KELLY -- Pictured: Dancer/actor Gene Kelly -- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank (credit:Getty Images)
Omnibus(21 of36)
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OMNIBUS -- 'Dancing: A Man's Game' -- Aired 12/21/1958 -- Pictured: Actor/dancer Gene Kelly -- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank (credit:Getty Images)
The Julie Andrews Show(22 of36)
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THE JULIE ANDREWS SHOW -- Aired 11/28/1965 -- Pictured: (l-r) Julie Andrews, Gene Kelly -- Photo by: Gerald Smith/NBCU Photo Bank (credit:Getty Images)
The Julie Andrews Show(23 of36)
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THE JULIE ANDREWS SHOW -- Aired 11/28/1965 -- Pictured: (l-r) Julie Andrews, Gene Kelly -- Photo by: Gerald Smith/NBCU Photo Bank (credit:Getty Images)
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GENE KELLY -- Pictured: Gene Kelly, Liza Minnelli-- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank (credit:Getty Images)
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14th June 1966: Dancer Gene Kelly relaxing during a break whilst filming in France. (Photo by Reg Lancaster/Express/Getty Images)
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13th June 1966: American film star Gene Kelly (1912-1996) talking to French film actress Catherine Deneuve and her older sister Francoise Dorleac (1942-1967) on location for the filming of 'Les Demoiselles de Rochefort' in France. (Photo by Reg Lancaster/Express/Getty Images)
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1966: American dancer and film star Gene Kelly (1912 - 1996) on location in France for the filming of 'Les Demoiselles de Rochefort'. (Photo by Reg Lancaster/Express/Getty Images)
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Dancer and film star Gene Kelly (1912 - 1996) amusing the cast with an impersonation. (Photo by Reg Lancaster/Getty Images)
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1968: Actor and dancer Gene Kelly (1912 - 1996) peers through an eye-glass whilst directing the film musical 'Hello Dolly!'. (Photo by Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images)
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'Gene Kelly's Wonderful World of Girls', aired 01/14/1970 (Photo by: Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank)
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The 48th Annual Academy Awards, February 9, 1976. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
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Actor Gene Kelly, 77, and writer Patricia Ward, 36, pose after they were married in a private ceremony attended by family in Santa Barbara, California, July 20, 1990. They met five years ago in Washington, D.C. The couple will honeymoon in Europe later this summer. (AP Photo)
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Gene Kelly at American Film Institute awards in Los Angeles on March 7, 1985. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
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Gene Kelly poses with the Oscar he received at the 56th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles April 9, 1984 for the one he lost when fire destroyed his home in Dec. 1983. Kelly, a dancer and choreographer who brought his athletic grace and Irish charm to ``Singin' in the Rain and other great movie musicals of the 1940s and '50s, died Friday, Feb. 2, 1996 at his Beverly Hills home, his publicist said. In 1951, Kelly was given a special Academy award ``in appreciation of his versatility as actor, singer, director and dancer, and especially for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film.'' (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, files)
Fourth Annual ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards(35 of36)
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - APRIL 26: Singer Janet Jackson and actor Gene Kelly attend the Fourth Annual ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards on April 26, 1989 at Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Getty Images)
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Patricia Kelly (L), widow of Gene Kelly, and actress Leslie Caron attend a star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame honoring actress Leslie Caron on December 8, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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