Classical Hollywood Cinema adjusting to sound The Golden age of Hollywood! Films with sound are quite new to film makers. They were used to their slapstick comedy that acquired skilled actors who were capable of using their body language and facial expressions to display their emotions. But in 1926 sound was starting to be incorporated into films! It was a big deal. Comedy could be created by speech rather than actions. At first, the films contained a lot of static because the actors had to speak into a static microphone, this was one of the problems. Along with the camera work that directors had been improving for 30 years to enhance the camera movement. It was no longer in the films with sound.
Time Line of Achievements in Cinema
1926: The Warner Brothers figured out how to sync recorded sound to motion pictures. In parts, the film would seem choppy, and that was because the actors and filmmakers alike were still adjusting to it.
An early example would be “The Jazz Singer” Starring Al Johnson, directed by Alan Crosland.
1933: One device that really helped actors to be heard clearly on film, was the “Boom Microphone” invented by Dorothy Arzner, who was the only female director in the 1930s. You see, some actors were not able to adjust to films with sound because they were so used to applying their body language and facial expressions to portray the situation and how they’re are feeling. And by using their voices to do that as well, it was more difficult. What Dorothy Arzner wanted to accomplish by using her Boom Microphone, was to allow actors to continue using motion in “motion pictures” Make sense?
1935: The Magnetophon tape recorder was invented by Fritz Pfleumer. This is a reel to reel tape recording system where the medium is held on a reel instead of being contained in a cassette. The Magnetophon was the first tape recorder to use magnetic tape that was able to preserve the exact sound of voice and music. In fact, the Magnetophon was at Mozart’s 39th Symphony during their 1936 concert tour recording the whole thing. Amazing.
In 1936, a new and improved model was created by Valdemar Poulsen, first introduced in Germany. It included new feature like a plastic based tape which was much lighter, easier to use and less expensive. That’s always a bonus.
1940: Walt Disney made history! They created the first film with a four track soundtrack which was recorded from eight channels. The film is called Fantasia. It was animated in colour, so it became very popular especially in the younger audiences.
Now for a little history… During the late 1920s, approximately 110 000 000 movie tickets were sold each week. Sound in movies was very popular with the citizens. It was common for families to go to the movies two or three times a week if they could afford it. People loved to go to the movies because it provided an escape from the real life chaos and let them take a chance to relax. Most movies were still in black and white due to the expensive cost of color films. In the 1930s, when the Great Depression began, families couldn’t afford to go to the movies anymore. Even though more than 1/3 of movie theatres had to close down due to the lack of income,60-80 000 000 movie tickets were still being purchased. For film makers, it was difficult to create films, reason being that the government had control of the black, white and colored films, so it was expensive to purchase the film. The tough times for filmmaking really started in the 1940s, with World War 2 happening. The government had all control over the films. They had to approve all films before being directed towards the public to make sure there was no revealing of information to the enemy countries. This was called Voluntary Censorship. The style of most 1940s film were patriotic towards the solders fighting in the war that was going on at the time.
Before the 1950s, cinematography was considered a popular business to get into. It was constantly changing and evolving with technology, new people were always welcome in exploring it. But in the 1950s, people started viewing cinema as a form of art instead of a business. they started to realized how much skill and knowledge was required to succeed in the art of cinema.
Characteristics of the films INVISIBLE STYLE:
The preferred style of cinema that has grown popular in films today.
The goal of this style was to make sure that the lighting, camera angles, and sound recording wasn't noticeable by the viewers.
PLOT:
Simple
Predictable
Easy to understand and enjoy( feel good movies)
Made for entertainment
It wasn't until late 1950s that films started getting complex plots and variety in the genres of films.
CLIP ANALYSIS The Jazz Singer - 1927 Description: The main character (Jakie Rabinowitz played by Al Johnson) who has a very strong bond with his mother and loved to play jazz music since he was 13 years old. His father (Cantor Rabinowitz) does not approves of this so called jazz music so Jakie decides to run away from home and escape the Jewish traditions. Ten years later, he changed his name to Jack Robin and has become a very talented jazz performer. He befriends a woman named Mary Dale, she helps him with his career in jazz performing. Jack goes to see his family again so that he can explain his passion for modern music. His father banishes him from ever setting foot in his house ever again. Not long after that, Cantor becomes terribly sick and Jack is forced to choose between jazz and his family. The father forgives him just before he passes away. Observation: The camera work is mostly focused on the center of the action in the scenes. Jack’s voice is always much louder than his soft spoken mother’s voice. At some points the voices are difficult to understand, but decent quality for the time period. The key lighting included; the stage lights and ceiling lights, filler lights were lamps, and back lights were the candles. The make up in The Jazz Singer was over dramatic, the actors were always covered with a heavy layer of foundation, eye liner, blush and lip gloss. This especially applies to the make up Al Johnson uses when he performs. At parts, it may appear that Jack isn’t even actually playing the piano. Analysis: It is very obvious that Al Johnson was a skilled stage actor and it was quite effective for his character Jack because he was a Jazz performer who was used to being on stage. His body language and facial expressions were always on cue in the scenes. This film is easy for citizens to understand and relate to after seeing the struggle of not fitting in in one’s own family. It happens every day. Evaluation: The Jazz Singer was the first motion picture to last more than 40 minutes. It has won awards such as: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Engineering Effects, The Producer Darryl F. Zanuck won an Academy Award, in 1996 it was selected for preservation in United States Library of Congress’s Nationals Film Registry, and in 1998 it was chosen for the American Film Institute. The Jazz Singer was a very popular in 1927, and has songs that we still hear to this day. Trouble in Paradise -1932 Description:
When thief Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall) falls in love with a pickpocket Lily (Miriam Hopkins), they begin planning to rob a lovely perfume company executive Mariette Colet (Kay Francis). But when Gaston becomes romantically involved with Mme. Colet, their plan is jeopardized and Gaston is forced to choose between Lily and Mme. Collet. Love Triangle Alert!
Observation: Much like the other films in this time period of cinema, the camera frames are always centered on the important parts of the scenes. The acting is fantastic and mature for such a comedic romance film. There is evidence of stage lighting, along with curtains, but in some scenes there are lamps and other uses of lighting. The costume selection is very formal and sophisticated, with suits and ties and party dresses for the women. The make up was very simple and did not consist of heavy layers of foundation. Thank goodness. The editing on the other hand, is quite obvious and the viewers are able to see when scenes and sets are changing. Analysis: This film is full of surprises, innuendos, and comedic intelligence. In this clip above, when Gaston goes to lock the door and shut the curtains, the audience automatically thinks that Gaston and Lily are going to do what people in love tend to do behind closed doors, and that's what Ernst Lubitsch ( director) wanted his audience to think too. But that's not what happens. Instead, Gaston goes up to Lilly and shakes her until the wallet she stole from him drops on the floor from her dress. No one saw that coming. That's classic comedy right there. Evaluation:Ernst Lubitsch is a well respected director all over the world, " The Lubitsch touch" was clearly visible in the films he directed. He was able to show the actors how he wanted a certain character to walk, smile, laugh and even eat. He had a vision for each character in each film he directed. That is why all his films are so precise on movement and comedy. Lubitsch is there every minute of rehearsal guiding them through it all. Now that's dedication. Fantasia -1940
Description: This film is unlike other films. It consists of eight animated symphonies of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski and performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Fantasia was released by Walt Disney Productions. Amazing symphonies in an amazing movie that took years to create. Observation: The colour selection is amazingly accurate to the mood of the song being performed in each scene. The animals all move to the specific rhythm in the songs. If the song is quieter and more staccato, then the animals would tip toe, if it was moving into a crescendo, then the scene would build and get more intense. Even though the film is animated, they still incorporate spotlight and stage lighting into it, treating it like true performance. Each character had a costume and a certain way they would react to situations, along with what they wore. There wasn't much make up because it was an animated film. All facial expressions are clearly visible. The most well known scene from Fantasia is "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", starring Mickey Mouse. Believe it or not, Mickey Mouse wasn't always popular, this film actually got viewers interested in him. The reason this scene is so popular is thanks to the key ingredient of imagination. Magic is a wonderful thing, Mickey lets the mops and water buckets do all his chores without the wizard seeing him, it is sneaky and keeps leaving the viewers wondering what will happen next. That's the beauty of imagination, anything is possible. Analysis: The purpose of Fantasia was to entertain the audience, the scenes were comical and filled with energy. It bent the general stereotypes of body shapes, for example, the average person would think of a tall, skinny woman if they were to think of a ballerina, but Walt Disney didn't care about that, they let a hippopotamus be a ballerina. All shapes and sizes are capable to do whatever they choose. Very nice. Evaluation: Fantasia did get released to the public in 1940, during World War 2, but it was difficult for the public to go and see it. But they did not give up, Walt Disney released Fantasia in 1941 and again in1942. Eventually popularity and respect for the film became known world wide with technology that was years before it time. This film is evidence that cinema is changing constantly, there are new ideas and new inventions that improve cinema every day, all we need to do is watch. By: Dayna Stone
The Golden age of Hollywood! Films with sound are quite new to film makers. They were used to their slapstick comedy that acquired skilled actors who were capable of using their body language and facial expressions to display their emotions. But in 1926 sound was starting to be incorporated into films! It was a big deal. Comedy could be created by speech rather than actions. At first, the films contained a lot of static because the actors had to speak into a static microphone, this was one of the problems. Along with the camera work that directors had been improving for 30 years to enhance the camera movement. It was no longer in the films with sound.
Time Line of Achievements in Cinema
- 1926: The Warner Brothers figured out how to sync recorded sound to motion pictures. In parts, the film would seem choppy, and that was because the actors and filmmakers alike were still adjusting to it.
An early example would be “The Jazz Singer” Starring Al Johnson, directed by Alan Crosland.Now for a little history…
During the late 1920s, approximately 110 000 000 movie tickets were sold each week. Sound in movies was very popular with the citizens. It was
In the 1930s, when the Great Depression began, families couldn’t afford to go to the movies anymore. Even though more than 1/3 of movie theatres had to close down due to the lack of income,60-80 000 000 movie tickets were still being purchased. For film makers, it was difficult to create films, reason being that the government had control of the black, white and colored films, so it was expensive to purchase the film.
The tough times for filmmaking really started in the 1940s, with World War 2 happening. The government had all control over the films. They had to approve all films before being directed towards the public to make sure there was no revealing of information to the enemy countries. This was called Voluntary Censorship. The style of most 1940s film were patriotic towards the solders fighting in the war that was going on at the time.
Before the 1950s, cinematography was considered a popular business to get into. It was constantly changing and evolving with technology, new people were always welcome in exploring it. But in the 1950s, people started viewing cinema as a form of art instead of a business. they started to realized how much skill and knowledge was required to succeed in the art of cinema.
Characteristics of the films
INVISIBLE STYLE:
- The preferred style of cinema that has grown popular in films today.
- The goal of this style was to make sure that the lighting, camera angles, and sound recording wasn't noticeable by the viewers.
PLOT:- Simple
- Predictable
- Easy to understand and enjoy( feel good movies)
- Made for entertainment
It wasn't until late 1950s that films started getting complex plots and variety in the genres of films.CLIP ANALYSIS
The Jazz Singer - 1927
Description: The main character (Jakie Rabinowitz played by Al Johnson) who has a very strong bond with his mother and loved to play jazz music since he was 13 years old. His father (Cantor Rabinowitz) does not approves of this so called jazz music so Jakie decides to run away from home and escape the Jewish traditions. Ten years later, he changed his name to Jack Robin and has become a very talented jazz performer. He befriends a woman named Mary Dale, she helps him with his career in jazz performing. Jack goes to see his family again so that he can explain his passion for modern music. His father banishes him from ever setting foot in his house ever again. Not long after that, Cantor becomes terribly sick and Jack is forced to choose between jazz and his family. The father forgives him just before he passes away.
Observation: The camera work is mostly focused on the center of the action in the scenes. Jack’s voice is always much louder than his soft spoken mother’s voice. At some points the voices are difficult to understand, but decent quality for the time period. The key lighting included; the stage lights and ceiling lights, filler lights were lamps, and back lights were the candles. The make up in The Jazz Singer was over dramatic, the actors were always covered with a heavy layer of foundation, eye liner, blush and lip gloss. This especially applies to the make up Al Johnson uses when he performs. At parts, it may appear that Jack isn’t even actually playing the piano.
Analysis: It is very obvious that Al Johnson was a skilled stage actor and it was quite effective for his character Jack because he was a Jazz performer who was used to being on stage. His body language and facial expressions were always on cue in the scenes. This film is easy for citizens to understand and relate to after seeing the struggle of not fitting in in one’s own family. It happens every day.
Evaluation: The Jazz Singer was the first motion picture to last more than 40 minutes. It has won awards such as: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Engineering Effects, The Producer Darryl F. Zanuck won an Academy Award, in 1996 it was selected for preservation in United States Library of Congress’s Nationals Film Registry, and in 1998 it was chosen for the American Film Institute. The Jazz Singer was a very popular in 1927, and has songs that we still hear to this day.
Trouble in Paradise -1932
Description:
When thief Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall) falls in love with a pickpocket Lily (Miriam Hopkins), they begin planning to rob a lovely perfume company executive Mariette Colet (Kay Francis). But when Gaston becomes romantically involved with Mme. Colet, their plan is jeopardized and Gaston is forced to choose between Lily and Mme. Collet. Love Triangle Alert!
Observation: Much like the other films in this time period of cinema, the camera frames are always centered on the important parts of the scenes. The acting is fantastic and mature for such a comedic romance film. There is evidence of stage lighting, along with curtains, but in some scenes there are lamps and other uses of lighting. The costume selection is very formal and sophisticated, with suits and ties and party dresses for the women. The make up was very simple and did not consist of heavy layers of foundation. Thank goodness. The editing on the other hand, is quite obvious and the viewers are able to see when scenes and sets are changing.
Analysis: This film is full of surprises, innuendos, and comedic intelligence. In this clip above, when Gaston goes to lock the door and shut the curtains, the audience automatically thinks that Gaston and Lily are going to do what people in love tend to do behind closed doors, and that's what Ernst Lubitsch ( director) wanted his audience to think too. But that's not what happens. Instead, Gaston goes up to Lilly and shakes her until the wallet she stole from him drops on the floor from her dress. No one saw that coming. That's classic comedy right there.
Evaluation: Ernst Lubitsch is a well respected director all over the world, " The Lubitsch touch" was clearly visible in the films he directed. He was able to show the actors how he wanted a certain character to walk, smile, laugh and even eat. He had a vision for each character in each film he directed. That is why all his films are so precise on movement and comedy. Lubitsch is there every minute of rehearsal guiding them through it all. Now that's dedication.
Fantasia -1940
Description: This film is unlike other films. It consists of eight animated symphonies of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski and performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Fantasia was released by Walt Disney Productions. Amazing symphonies in an amazing movie that took years to create.
Observation: The colour selection is amazingly accurate to the mood of the song being performed in each scene. The animals all move to the specific rhythm in the songs. If the song is quieter and more staccato, then the animals would tip toe, if it was moving into a crescendo, then the scene would build and get more intense. Even though the film is animated, they still incorporate spotlight and stage lighting into it, treating it like true performance. Each character had a costume and a certain way they would react to situations, along with what they wore. There wasn't much make up because it was an animated film. All facial expressions are clearly visible. The most well known scene from Fantasia is "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", starring Mickey Mouse. Believe it or not, Mickey Mouse wasn't always popular, this film actually got viewers interested in him. The reason this scene is so popular is thanks to the key ingredient of imagination. Magic is a wonderful thing, Mickey lets the mops and water buckets do all his chores without the wizard seeing him, it is sneaky and keeps leaving the viewers wondering what will happen next. That's the beauty of imagination, anything is possible.
Analysis: The purpose of Fantasia was to entertain the audience, the scenes were comical and filled with energy. It bent the general stereotypes of body shapes, for example, the average person would think of a tall, skinny woman if they were to think of a ballerina, but Walt Disney didn't care about that, they let a hippopotamus be a ballerina. All shapes and sizes are capable to do whatever they choose. Very nice.
Evaluation: Fantasia did get released to the public in 1940, during World War 2, but it was difficult for the public to go and see it. But they did not give up, Walt Disney released Fantasia in 1941 and again in1942. Eventually popularity and respect for the film became known world wide with technology that was years before it time. This film is evidence that cinema is changing constantly, there are new ideas and new inventions that improve cinema every day, all we need to do is watch.
By: Dayna Stone