The Arrival of Sound

The Story of Film: An Odyssey 'The Arrival of Sound' (2011)

*** (out of 4)

The fourth film in Mark Cousins' series takes a look at the end of the silent era and the doors broke down with the invent of sound. From here we learn about some of the changes Hollywood had to make and then we see some of the most famous genres from this era including the Western, horror, musical and comedy. We then jump ship to France where we learn about the master French directors and their films. The film also takes us to German to see what Leni Riefenstahl was doing during this decade and then we go to Britain for the work of Alfred Hitchcock. As with the previous three, this here jumps all over the place. One moment you're on LOVE ME TONIGHT then you flashback to THE GOLEM, back to FRANKENSTEIN and then up to films decades later. Even with the Hitchcock segment, we spend much more time with films outside the 30's, although THE 39 STEPS gets some of the spotlight. Again, I'm not really sure what type of style Cousins was going for but it's somewhat distracting as things just jump around for whatever reason. It's almost as we really are getting Cousins look at the history of cinema and his mind just bounces around from one subject to another. While this is somewhat distracting, there's still no question that overall the film remains entertaining. It's always interesting hearing another opinion on cinema and we get several great film clips as well as getting to see locations of famous places connected to movies.

By the title of this episode, you would think the focus would be on sound stages being on the rise as the outdoors was no longer a silent environment with which to film. Instead, we all but abandon that after five minutes.

Another review complained (if that is the right word) about this episode's jump from the 1930s to the present day and back and forth and all over. It is true -- unlike the first three segments, this one does not seem nearly as cohesive.

Instead, we see the rise of horror, western, cartoon and gangster films, which brings us such things as the comparison of the "Scarface" films an even a look at "Audition". This segment champions Howard Hawks, and suggests he might have been bisexual and anti-semitic. Was that necessary? Probably not.

There is so much covered in this Episode it is a bit overwhelming. It begins with the implications of going from a purely visual presentation to one with sound, where a bit of sterility reared itself until the technical aspect could catch up. In other words, some of the films aren't very good. We are introduced to Ruben Mamoulian and his "Love Me Tonight" where wonderful things are done with sound, though they are almost like music. We are then introduced to six genres that begin to flourish in the Thirties: Horror (The Golem and Frankenstein); The Gangster Film (Cagney and Scarface); The Western (The Iron Horse and My Darling Clementine); Comedy (Bringing Up Baby); Musicals (especially those by Busby Berkeley); and The Cartoon (animation from the French culminating in Walt Disney with Snow White breaking ground).

We now go to France where the great filmmakers, Jean Vigo with Zero de Conduite and L'Atalante push the envelope, angering the powers that be with their political commentary. Jean Renoir and his humanist films. There is a look at what is going on in South America.

Leni Riefenstahl, a controversial though brilliant female director was at the right hand of Hitler, doing films like The Triumph of Will and work on the 1936 Olympic Games. She seemed to be unapologetic about her films. Because the Jews were not allowed to work in Hitler's Germany, much of the creative juice went out of the industry.

The final major focus has to do with Alfred Hitchcock who was possibly the most innovative of all. They list seven things he excelled at: 1) point of view 2) creativity based on his schooling and upbringing 3) an understanding of fear 4) close ups 5) beginning with non-descript close ups and moving back to a broader shot 6) diminishing sound for dramatic effect, and 7) moving to a high shot and then back to very emotional close up.

Finally, there are three films that feature female characters which are benchmark to this era: Ninotchka, with Greta Garbo; The Wizard of Oz, with Judy Garland; and Vivien Leigh's portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind.

This is really quite a tour de force in about one hour.