Singin’ In the Rain: Sound in Cinema

Probably the most interesting aspect of Singin’ in the Rain is their attention to the development of sound in cinema, and how they play with and reveal the challenges of this major transition in the industry of film. The movie’s comedy often uses these challenges, like the scene when Lina Lamont just can’t understand where the microphone is and suddenly they are forced with the horribly unsuccessful task of trying to find a place where the microphone might actually work to pick up the dialogue. For a student of this modern, digital film industry that we know and navigate today, I couldn’t help but appreciate the advancements they have made in sound technology while watching this scene—

especially the improvements they have made to the wires that run sound. The wire leaving Lamont’s dress is this massive, probably heavy, and obviously uncomfortable hose of a thing. Today, if I even use wired sound, as wireless is also an option, the cord is a tiny thing, much easier to conceal. My appreciate is, of course, even more pronounced, when I consider the advancements that have been made in microphones themselves. The microphone Lina has to speak into is unmanageably gigantic, and heavy, and probably cold, seeing as it is made of shiny, hard, metal.

Of course, the recording process was not the only challenge of the studio’s transition to sound. The syncing of the sound was obviously a work in progress at the onset of this development as well, which Singin’ In the Rain exemplifies in the hysterical scene where Lina’s “No No Nos” are suddenly coming from the villain’s nodding figure, and his “Yes yes yeses” are coming from her emphatically shaking head. 

The saddest realization, however funny is was portrayed in the film, was the reality that some people who may have been major stars in the industry, were silenced forever basically, because they no longer had the right voice or accent for the part. Though it is sweet justice to see this destroy the horrible and villainous Lina Lamont’s career, the implication of what it meant to actors of films during the time is actually pretty devastating to think about.