A Century of Sound I DVD

About the Project

The History of Sound in Motion Pictures: The Beginning: 1876-1932 offers an in-depth look at early sound recording technologies, based on an illustrated lecture presented by former UCLA Preservation Officer Robert Gitt.  Beginning in the 19th century with the invention of the telephone and the phonograph, the film chronicles the development of motion picture sound recording, production and exhibition technology through 1932.  It features many rarely-seen film excerpts showing the progress of recording methods as varied as Vitaphone and Movietone sound of film.  The documentary is supplemented by a timeline of events, an oral history by pioneer sound engineer George Groves, and other special features.

Written, Produced and Directed by: Robert Gitt.  Total Runtime: 183 min.  Year: 2007.  Color: Color/B&W.  Audio: Dolby Digital.  Language: English.  Region Code:  NTSC Region Free.  Format: DVD.

How to order a DVD

A Century of Sound was created as an educational tool, intended for classroom and individual study use only.  This DVD is available for free to archives, libraries, educational institutions and other non-profit organizations — and to qualified educators, researchers and scholars — with a shipping fee applying.

To request a copy, please download and complete this order form (PDF).  Then, email the form to centuryofsound@cinema.ucla.edu.  Please specify whether or not a Blu-ray of the second installment, The History of Sound in Motion Pictures: The Sound of Movies 1933-1975, is desired.

Special Thanks

Funding for A Century of Sound generously provided by: The Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Association of Moving Image Archivists, The Rick Chace Foundation, UCLA Film & Television Archive.

The producers gratefully acknowledge the donation of services by:  Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Academy Film Archive, Chace Audio, Crest Digital, Film Technology Company, Inc., FotoKem, Phase Three Productions.