I would use Wings (the first and last silent film to win Best picture Academy Award), The Jazz Singer (which was for the most part silent with dubbed songs, inching its way towards talkies but credited with being first "talking picture") and something with John Gilbert -- probably His Glorious Night - whose career was ruined over allegations that his voice couldn't make the transition to talkies. I don't think this was the real reason because I have seen him in "talkies" and there is nothing wrong with his voice that I could tell.
John -----Original Message----- From: Karsten, Eileen <[email protected]> To: videolib <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, Nov 21, 2011 4:57 am Subject: [Videolib] Silent to Talkie Dear CW, I have a patron who wanted to use the new film The Artist as the basis for a paper. The paper was about the transition in Hollywood from silent film to talkies. Of course, the film is not opening in the US until Nov. 23rd as a limited run. I suggested Singin in the Rain as an alternative. Does anybody have any suggestions for other films? Eileen Karsten Head of Technical Services Donnelley & Lee Library Lake Forest College 555 N. Sheridan Road Lake Forest, IL 60045 [email protected] 847-735-5066 VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
