Awful Voices!
Should of just stuck to the dancing
The "singing" was terrible
1. Styles change
2. Sound on film deteriorates
MovieChat Forums > Footlight Parade (1933) Discussion > Awful Voices!
1. Movie sound was in its infancy in 1933.
2. People had different tastes in 1933. Dick Powell sold a lot of records.
3. Anyone can sound good today with all the electronic tweaking that can be done.
I agree with both North southand Oldbubblehead. I just don't understand on so many of these old 30s and 40s films reviews and discussion pages, there are so many negative comments about the music, styles, and about everything being so outdated. Of course they're outdated. These films and music are from 70-85 years ago. It was a different time in every way. So many of you reviewers are looking at these films strictly from a 21st century perspective. You're trying to line up everything you see and hear in these films with how films and music are today. It was a different time. To enjoy and appreciate these films, you have to temporarily take your mindset to the 30s and 40s with these films while watching them. I guess not everyone knows how to do that. I love these old films and old music. Remember, none of these films and music were outdated at the time they were made.
shareI typing while it's still on TCM. You may have a point. What the film needed was the much improved recording equipment of later decades. It could make lots of average singers sound stronger. I get the idea from the popularity of many pop singers today that strong, flexible singers aren't any more common than in in Footlight Parade. What's more the songs themselves do not demand the thrilling, powerful belting of later singers.
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