Columbia Pictures gave Gene Kelly almost complete control over the making of this film, and many of his ideas contributed to its lasting success. He removed several of the soundstage walls so that he, Rita Hayworth, and Phil Silvers could dance along an entire street in one take. He also used trick photography so that he could dance with himself in one sequence. Rita Hayworth's singing voice was dubbed by Martha Mears. As she stated in her autobiography, Lauren Bacall had been wanted by C ...[Read Story ]