Further Viewing: The Talkies

A deep dive into the world of sound

Last week we looked at the history of the Talkies.

I have to admit it was a big subject to whittle down to a 1000 word newsletter. So I was pleased that I had this Further Viewing follow-up to add some extras!

There are plenty of bits and pieces to watch if this subject caught your eye. There are a selection of documentaries as well as film examples of early Talkies here for you to enjoy.

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Let’s go!

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Listen to This - 1978

The transition to the Talkies is a great example of what I like about movie history. It’s all there! It’s far back enough to be a window to another time, but close enough that everything is recorded, from the surface level news, right down to the cinema bills and old vinyl records. Though I explored different archives, nuggets like this were a joy to watch.

This 16 minute documentary ended up being a good lift off point for me. What I like about it is that it’s its own relic in a way, a voice from the past telling a story from even further back. I like how the archive footage is interspersed with the “modern” editors.

If you want an overview on the history of the time (beyond what I offered up!) then this is a good documentary to stick on. If you’re looking for something a little more in-depth…may I suggest…