Silent films disappeared from the big screen due to the arrival of sound cinema in the late 1920s, with the first talking film, 'The Jazz Singer'. This new technology revolutionized the film industry by integrating sound with images, relegating silent films to the background.
In the 1920s, sound technology suddenly burst into cinema with films like The Jazz Singer in 1927, the first major public success that combined dialogue, music, and songs. This new style marks a decisive turning point: being able to hear actors speak on screen becomes a revolution. The audience immediately connects with this lively and realistic aspect that was completely unprecedented before. Studios quickly understand that betting on talkies is essential to remain competitive. In just a few years, around the early 1930s, sound cinema becomes the norm, leading to the near-total disappearance of silent films.
During the 1920s, several technological inventions completely transformed the way films are produced and projected. Before that, silent films were accompanied live by musicians or pianists. But with the arrival of systems like the famous Vitaphone, invented by Warner Bros, it was now possible to synchronize a sound disc with images: this created an unprecedented immersive experience for the audience. Meanwhile, Fox's Movietone process introduced a sound track directly printed on film, making distribution easier and eliminating synchronization issues. These technologies were quickly adopted everywhere because the sound quality and immersion were incomparably better. Soon, movie theaters were equipped to offer this spectacular new sound experience to the public: silent films quickly became outdated.
The public quickly took to the talking cinema, which offered a more immersive and realistic experience. Hearing the voices of the actors and the ambient sounds gave films a much more immediate and convincing emotional dimension. Viewers found it easier to identify with characters when they actually spoke, laughed, or screamed on screen. As a result, interest in the mimes and exaggerated expressions typical of silent cinema quickly faded. Sound cinema then represented modernity, a form of entertainment that was both more sophisticated and accessible. Gradually, silent films seemed outdated, associated with a bygone era and techniques perceived as anachronistic.
As soon as sound film emerged, studios quickly realized that adding dialogue represented a major financial opportunity. Naturally, sound draws in more crowds: it’s new, intriguing, it sells. But it’s expensive too. The cinemas equipped themselves thoroughly with sophisticated audio systems, a big investment that was quickly recouped thanks to the explosive success of talking films. Consequently, producing silent films became less attractive for studios: too economically risky, not profitable enough against the massive public demand for sound films. The silent era no longer really had a place in a market that had become highly competitive, dominated by Hollywood giants betting everything on the novelty of sound.
When sound films appeared in the United States in the late 1920s, Hollywood quickly established itself internationally and set the trend. Sound cinema brought spoken dialogue, music, and songs perfectly synchronized with the image. Naturally, this largely captivated audiences. In contrast, silent films, which relied mostly on images and intertitles, were often easier to understand across cultures. Now, with the arrival of sound, clear linguistic barriers were imposed. As a result, international producers were compelled to massively opt for dubbing or subtitling American films to keep up with the wave. Hollywood gained enormous cultural influence across the globe, rapidly establishing its stars, stories, and style as universal models. Gradually, all markets followed this American influence, leading to the near-total disappearance of silent cinema from the international stage.
To distribute talking films internationally, Hollywood studios would sometimes shoot multiple versions of the same movie simultaneously, featuring different actors speaking various languages, before dubbing became a common practice.
Charlie Chaplin, the iconic star of silent cinema, was initially skeptical about the arrival of talking films. In fact, he continued to make silent movies long after the advent of sound films, including 'City Lights' (1931) and 'Modern Times' (1936).
To compensate for the absence of sound, cinemas during the silent film era regularly employed live musicians or orchestras during screenings to enhance the emotions felt by the audience.
The transition to sound cinema caused significant difficulties for some silent film actors, as their voice or accent did not match their image or the expectations of the audience.
Yes, some contemporary filmmakers pay homage to silent cinema by creating films without spoken dialogue. For example, 'The Artist' (2011), directed by Michel Hazanavicius, achieved great international success while being essentially silent.
With the advent of sound cinema, voice and diction became important, which negatively impacted some actors whose voices or accents did not meet the public's expectations or the aesthetic criteria of sound film producers. This led to the downfall of many actors who were previously famous in the silent film era.
Sound cinema has significantly changed film-making techniques, reducing the importance of body language and increasing the significance of dialogue and auditory narration. It has also encouraged the widespread use of more dynamic editing and new creative approaches to integrate sound, voices, and music with filmed images.
Absolutely. Even today, there are enthusiasts and film lovers who have a particular appreciation for silent cinema, attending dedicated festivals such as the Pordenone Silent Film Days, or following with interest the digital restorations of great classics from that era.
Among the last very popular silent films are 'Sunrise' (1927) by F.W. Murnau and 'Metropolis' (1927) by Fritz Lang. These iconic works represented an artistic peak before sound productions became dominant.
No one has answered this quiz yet, be the first!' :-)
Question 1/4
