The Coming of Sound
A compilation of early sound experiments including: Shaw Talks for Movietone News (1927, with George Bernard Shaw); excerpts from The Jazz Singer (1927, directed by Alan Crosland, with Al Jolson); excerpt from The Lights of New York (1928, directed by Bryan Foy); Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie (1928), with Mickey Mouse; and The Sex Life of the Polyp, with Robert Benchley (1928). “This program illustrates the various uses (and misuses) of early film sound. The novelty of sound far outweighed such faults as puerile dialogue mouthed by self conscious actors standing under fixed microphones. With Benchley one sees a more straightforward use of sound; with Mickey Mouse one experiences a world of exuberant fantasy made possible by the addition of sound (later to be known simply as “Mickey Mousing"--ed.).” (Museum of Modern Art)