When talking about the transition from silent films to “talkies,” I can’t help but think of a modern callback film made in 2011 called The Artist. Written and directed by French director Michel Hazanavicius, the story of the film tells of a silent movie star,George Valentin, who is struggling in a time when Hollywood is switching to talking pictures. He meets a young dancer and helps her rise to stardom, but as the talking picture “fad” grows ever more popular, he is slowly met with financial ruin.
The film is especially interesting for two reasons. First, Hazanavicius makes spectacular use of sound throughout the film. There are only 2 times in the film where the audience hears diegetic sound. Once is during a dream sequence when Valentin has a prophetic vision of his downfall. He (and the audience) hears people speaking, but he himself is unable to say anything. The second instance is at the end of the movie, when Valentin has accepted a role in a talkie. The audience hears the movie being filmed, signifying Valentin’s acceptance of a new era of film.
The history of the The Artist is also very interesting. Hazanavicius had been previously successful with comedy spy films, so when he approached producers with the idea of a silent, black and white romance, he was basically laughed away. However, with his growing success, he was eventually taken seriously and went on to win a variety of awards (including 5 Academy Awards and Best Picture for 2011). Additionally, he used the same actor from one of his successful spy movies (OSS 117), as he believed that the overly-expressive nature of the comedy would apply well to silent films.
The main reason producers were reluctant to fund The Artist was their belief that modern audiences did not want a silent, black and white film. However, The Artist’s success goes to show that all the technology and CG in the world is no substitute for a well-made film. Hazanavicius studied the films of the 1920’s and what made them good, and he used similar techniques in his own movie. Movies need heart and artistry. Talking is optional.
More information:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Artist_(film)
IMBD: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655442/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt
Available for rent/purchase on Amazon and iTunes.