9/10

“The Golden Age of Sound“

End of the silent film era

1920-1930 - very quick shift away from the silent films to synchronized sound

  • Don Juan (1926)

    • premiered on the new Vitaphone

    • The premiere in 1926 featured many shorts and opera/musical numbers, and the featured film

  • The jazz singer (1927)

    • story of a vaudeville performer

    • underscore by Louis Silvers

    • actor, Al Jolson, improvised dialogue. First speech heard on screen

    • viewer discretion advised. not a racially ethical film

Setting the scene of the 1930s

  • making films in the 30s was an uphill battle

    • Great Depression

    • new technology meant more to juggle

    • no standards on the morals being promoted

  • Hays code

    • led by William Hays & Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (now the MPAA)

    • TD: DR - our films will promote being good, law-abiding citizens

    • remained in effect until the 1960s, with the rating system we use today

  • birth of multiple genres of film

    • horror, action-adventure, romance, etc

Horror Films - King Kong (1933)

  • produced by Merian Cooper

  • Composed by Max Steiner

    • also famous for Gone with the Wind and Casablanca

  • preview audiences found it comedic rather than thrilling

  • Cooper to Steiner: help make it a horror movie

  • no underscoring until 20 mins in

Action-Adventure - The adventures of robin hood (1938)

  • produced by warner bros

  • music by Erich Korngold

  • Warner bros’ first film using technicolor

  • finale - a swashbuckling swordfight