Lecture Notes: Sound in Movies

Introduction

• Movies were silent for the first 30 years.
• Sound introduction in the mid-1920s turned the industry upside down.
• Historical anecdote: Dixon Experimental Sound Film (1894) in Edison’s lab, the first attempt at sound film.

Motivations for Incorporating Sound in Film

• Technology advancement: Made sound practically usable in the mid-1920s.
• Cost of silent film exhibition: Required live musicians, which was expensive.
• Competition from radio: Movies needed a competitive edge to draw audiences from radio.
• Complex narratives: More elaborate stories needed sound to avoid disruptive title cards.

Sound Film Technologies

• Vitaphone (Warner Brothers): Sound and picture as separate elements (film and record). Prone to synchronization issues.
• Movietone (Fox Studio): Sound-on-film system, sound printed on the film itself. Became the standard.

Historical Context

• Don Juan (1926): First popular film using Vitaphone, with recorded musical score but no dialogue.
• The Jazz Singer (1927): First popular film with recorded dialogue, marking a shift to sound films.
• Transition to Movietone (1928): Industry quickly adopted Movietone, making silent films obsolete.

Impact of Sound on the Film Industry

• Actors' careers affected: Some silent film stars could not transition to sound due to poor voice quality.
• New Writers: Needed for dialogue scripts.
• Emergence of Musicals: Became popular, offering a new genre that utilized sound.
• Increased production costs: More technology and soundproof facilities required.
• International market changes: Dubbed films less effective, reducing international exchange.
• Unemployment for theater musicians: Soundtracks replaced live music.
• Technical changes: Cameras silenced; soundproofing and microphone placement became critical.
• Small theaters' competitiveness: Soundtracks leveled playing field with larger theaters.

Key Terms

Synchronous Sound

• Sound that matches the picture and is recorded simultaneously.
• Example: Actors speaking on screen.

Non-Synchronous Sound

• Sound not recorded during the shoot; added in post-production.
• Example: Foley effects like footsteps.

Diegetic Sound

• Sound originating from an on-screen source.
• Overlaps with synchronous/non-synchronous sound.

Non-Diegetic Sound

• Sound not from the on-screen source, such as background music or narration.

Film Analysis: Singin' in the Rain

• Explores transition from silent to sound films: Reflects real issues actors and studios faced.
• Pokes fun at Hollywood: Offers a humorous take on the film industry and celebrity culture.

Discussion Questions

• How does Singin’ in the Rain comment on the transition from silent to sound films?
• In what ways does it poke fun at Hollywood?