Sound in Film
Film sound can be divided into three main groups. The first of which is dialogue. Dialogue has not always been part of film. It wasn’t until 1927 when the first true film was release that included dialogue (Goodykoontz, 2014). Over the course of time dialogue changed from that of a theatrical style to a more every day common vocabulary. Dialogue became a popular aspect of film. In fact some films have catch phrases that have been incorporated into everyday conversation. Later I will discuss one phrase that so common, many know it without having seen the film. The purpose of having dialogue in films is to further the characterization, aid in developing the plot, and get important information to the viewer so that they may understand the following action. The second category of sound is side effects. For most actions films sound effects are a major key element. The loud crashing of cars and explosions give viewers the adrenaline rush needed to help put themselves in the movie. In a horror film the screeching of the violin, hooting of an owl, or creaking of the door aid in the scare factor. Sound effects don’t always have to be linked to a certain type of film though. A simple telephone ringing or doorbell bring a sense of reality to the scene. If we were watching the film and the car door shut yet we did not hear it, the view would lose focus on the film itself. The final grouping of sound is the music. There are two elements of music that can be part of a film. The first of which is the score. This is music that is typically written for the film itself, usually play by an orchestra and has not words to the music. Most of the time when a score is play as credits role in the beginning or ending. It can even be heard during scenes of the movie as background sound. Another musical aspect seen in films is the soundtrack. A popular example would be “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz. While score and soundtrack are indeed both music, they are not the same thing.
The Godfather
The Godfather was a great gangster film. I had never watched it until last week. I was amazed by what I already knew about the film before I even watched it. I sure I could have written this blog without having watched this film simply because of the sound elements it has. The first thing you hear when watching this film is the score. This music is so popular that in my 35 years of life I have heard it so many times, that when I watched the film I knew it was coming. The strong. The first initial violin with the tune which I then learned is repeated throughout the film. This same score is play over and over again only at different speeds, volumes, and sometimes with added instruments. I could sense what was coming based on how the score was played. I knew there would soon be blood shed the faster and louder the score got and then when it was slower and softer I knew something sad was coming. Like so many other films the score truly gets the view into the film. The score for this film set the overall mood for the viewer. When thinking of the mob and gangsters, the stereotype of Italians mafia comes to mind. While this is not politically correct, the truth of the matter is that history shows the famous mob bosses were Italian. That being said the choice of instruments for the score and the music written took me to the Italian country side. If the score for this film would have used different instruments or remained the same throughout the film, the mood of the film would have been lost. These musical aspects aid in placing this film in the gangster film genre. The following clip is that of the score from the film.
The following scene is all about the dialogue. The actor, Marlon Brando, is The Godfather and is talking to his god son about making getting him the movie part he wants. Marlon Brando chose an interesting way to speak his dialogue in this film. It was almost as if he was trying to use an Italian accent but it comes out horse and forced. The sound he places on his dialogue in this film has become so famous that around the world people try to repeat this same quality with their voice. As with the sound he depicted the dialogue he was given made one line famous to repeat over and over again. In the clip below you will hear a line, along with the unique sound that “The Godfather” coined into everyday dialogue in society today. This one key phrase in the film let viewers know that he meant business and lead them to believe that action would be taken if things did not go his way. Had this small piece of dialogue been left out the movie would have still be good. With this line though the scene with the horse head gave a bigger punch and then when his son used the same line again, viewers knew what could happen.
References
Goodykoontz, B. & Jacobs, C.P. (2014). Film: From Watching to Seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
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