Sound or silence, loss or gain?

The Weimar Cinema debate about the transition of sound

Essay , 2005 , 10 Pages , Grade: 1,3

Communications - Media History

“Put speech into films, and you will get speech plus film but you will not get a film.”

Although, initially, sound films were considered to be only a temporary phenomenon that would never replace the silent picture, the transition to talkies proceeded more and more in Weimar cinema of the late 20’s, and, in 1931/32, the sound film completely replaced its predecessor, which had gone out of fashion finally. Yet, the new invention unmistakably evoked numerous debates about whether the addition of sound to cinema pictures rather should be seen as a pro- or regress within the evolution of film art. In view of that, this essay discusses the advantages and drawbacks of silent as well as of sound films. [...]

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Sound or Silence, Loss or Gain?
• The Weimar Cinema Debate about the Transition to Sound
• The Numerous Critics of Sound
• The Economic Impact of Sound
• The Limitations of Talkies
• The Loss of Cinematic Art
• The Impact of Sound on the Visual Track
• The Impoverishment of the Screenland
• The Argument of Silence
• The Theatrical Influence on Film

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay examines the transition to sound in Weimar cinema, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of silent and sound films. It analyzes the impact of sound on the artistic, economic, and technical aspects of film production.

• The artistic development of silent films before the introduction of sound
• The economic challenges and consequences of transitioning to sound films
• The technical limitations of early sound film production
• The impact of sound on the visual aspects of film and the potential for artistic impoverishment
• The debate surrounding the role of silence in film

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The essay opens by discussing the initial resistance to sound films, despite their growing popularity. It highlights the achievements of silent films, arguing that they had reached a high stage of artistic development.
• The economic consequences of transitioning to sound films are explored, including the rising production costs, the decline in the number of films produced, and the impact on film attendance.
• The essay examines the limitations of talkies, such as their restricted international market and the technical challenges they presented for filmmakers.
• The loss of cinematic art is discussed as a major concern for contemporary film theorists, who saw sound as a regression from the advancements of the silent era. The essay emphasizes the potential for sound to overshadow the visual track.
• The essay explores the argument that the introduction of sound diminishes the expressive potential of film, arguing that silence is crucial for the eloquence of the medium. It further explores the theatrical influence on early sound films, which were often criticized for being too stage-bound.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The essay centers on the transition to sound in Weimar cinema, focusing on its artistic, economic, and technical consequences. Key themes include the artistic achievements of silent films, the financial challenges of sound production, the technical limitations of early sound films, the impact of sound on visual storytelling, and the significance of silence in film.

• College: University of Southampton (University of Southampton - School of Humanities: Film Studies)
• Course: Image, Sound and Narrative in Late Weimar Cinem
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Sabine Buchholz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2005
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V82632
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638906180
• ISBN (Book): 9783638906241
• Language: English
• Tags: Sound, Image, Sound, Narrative, Late, Weimar, Cinem