Yo Kass answered
The transition between the era of silent movies and the advent of 'talkies' was certainly a landmark step in film entertainment, but it was a gradual and laborious process that didn't just 'happen' overnight.
This is in contrast to the idea represented in films like Singing in the Rain (1952) and The Artist (2011), where the transition between the two forms is portrayed as a major culture shock.
The Transition Between Silent Movies and Talkies
Although the shift between silent movies and talkies did cause considerable upheaval, it was by no means a quick process. The technology that allowed speech to become an integral part of movies wasn't widely available, and the first 'talkies' used methods that were ineffective and expensive.
It's also worth noting that, even when the technology to record films was available, it took a while for the cinemas around the country to catch up with the advances and to have their facilities upgraded.
The end of silent movies
The first thing to remember is that the term 'silent movie' is something of a misnomer. The best silent movie houses had live orchestras playing scores to accompany films. In smaller venues a piano or organ provided music.
Initially, the period of transition into talkies would have seen something known as the 'hybrid' film, where only parts of the movie included the spoken word. The Jazz Singer is a classic example of a hybrid film.
However these types of films didn't prove as popular and, until the majority of cinema houses were able to screen talkies, silent movies often had sound added to versions that were to be screened at venues that had the capability to play them.
It is thought that until the 1930s, most talkies had silent versions released concurrently, dispelling the myth that the transition between the two forms was in any way tumultuous.
This is in contrast to the idea represented in films like Singing in the Rain (1952) and The Artist (2011), where the transition between the two forms is portrayed as a major culture shock.
The Transition Between Silent Movies and Talkies
Although the shift between silent movies and talkies did cause considerable upheaval, it was by no means a quick process. The technology that allowed speech to become an integral part of movies wasn't widely available, and the first 'talkies' used methods that were ineffective and expensive.
It's also worth noting that, even when the technology to record films was available, it took a while for the cinemas around the country to catch up with the advances and to have their facilities upgraded.
The end of silent movies
The first thing to remember is that the term 'silent movie' is something of a misnomer. The best silent movie houses had live orchestras playing scores to accompany films. In smaller venues a piano or organ provided music.
Initially, the period of transition into talkies would have seen something known as the 'hybrid' film, where only parts of the movie included the spoken word. The Jazz Singer is a classic example of a hybrid film.
However these types of films didn't prove as popular and, until the majority of cinema houses were able to screen talkies, silent movies often had sound added to versions that were to be screened at venues that had the capability to play them.
It is thought that until the 1930s, most talkies had silent versions released concurrently, dispelling the myth that the transition between the two forms was in any way tumultuous.
