October 25, 2013 /

BEHIND THE SCENES – TALKIES

Silents in the 1920s had fluidity and range that was roped in by Talkies – suddenly scenes with dialogue were boxed in, restricted, and stagey because of sound technology.

Sound recording, 1928 –

Microphone and lights adjusted on set, 1928 –

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CategoriesFilm History Hollywood Los Angeles Movies Photography Science Uncategorized

Tags1928 baffled camera behind the scenes booth bulky dialogue equipment film history microphone on set silent movies stagey synchronized sound talkies THE JAZZ SINGER

10 Comments

  1. laniersmith
    October 24, 2012

    Phoeby Dinsmore: [giving Lina diction lessons] Repeat after me – Tah, Tey, Tee, Toe, Too.
    Lina Lamont: Tah, Tey, Tye, Tow, Tyo.
    Phoeby Dinsmore: No, no, no Miss Lamont, Round tones, round tones. Now, let me hear you read your line.
    Lina Lamont: And I cayn’t stand’im.
    Phoeby Dinsmore: And I can’t stand him.
    Lina Lamont: And I cayn’t stand’im.
    Phoeby Dinsmore: Can’t.
    Lina Lamont: Cayn’t.
    Phoeby Dinsmore: Caaaan’t
    Lina Lamont: Cayyyyn’t

      • laniersmith
        October 25, 2013

        Dear Vickie! “All I do the whole day through is dream of you!”

  2. theperfumeddandy
    October 25, 2013

    Dearest V
    Boxed in physically in the studio and in the choice of stars, too many couldn’t take to the kind of elocution lessons Mr Lanier recounts so vividly…
    Yours ever
    The Perfumed Dandy

    • Vickie Lester
      October 25, 2013

      Speaking of boxed in… Look for an email of mine shunted to “promotions”… I shudder to think! xox, V

  3. John Grabowski
    October 25, 2013

    This is why a number of movies shot in the late 1920s-early 1930s were reshot a while later when sound technology became more flexible, and that boxiness or staginess could be avoided. It’s interesting to compare the 1930 version of Holiday, for example, with the 1938 one.

    • Vickie Lester
      October 25, 2013

      You are a doll! Thank you for pointing that out, I’ve never seen the Mary Astor, Ann Harding, version — and now I will.

  4. laniersmith
    October 25, 2013

    By the way… on December 6-7 the San Francisco Symphony will be presenting “Singing In The Rain”. The entire orchestra is going to be playing along!! I just may go for my …birthday!! Next Saturday (November) I am going to see “The Best of Hitchcock” at the sympony. They will be playing excerpts from Strangers on a Train, Dial M For Murder, To Catch a Theif and North by Northwest with the ochestra providing the music. I can’t WAIT! (Vertigo and Psycho were sold out…boo hoo)
    Link: http://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/Festivals/film

    • Vickie Lester
      October 26, 2013

      Whoa! That sounds SPLENDID, especially the part about your birthday. Must check out the link. Thank you… and XOX

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