What seemed just like Warner Bros. touting their pioneering of sound in movies 20 years earlier, suddenly developed into a wonderful enlightenment of the events of August 6, 1926. That was the night they released Don Juan (1926), the first feature film with a soundtrack. But other short films were shown that night, collectively called "Vitaphone Preludes," and a program distributed to the audience listing those films is shown, along with snippets of those films. First, Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers Association (MPPA), gives a short speech of appreciation for the contribution of Warner Bros. for bringing sound to motion pictures. Then, in quick succession, the program reads, and we see parts of: "Overture from Tannhauser" played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Mischa Elman in a violin solo playing "Gavotte," Roy Smeck playing a guitar solo, Marion Talley singing "Caro Nome" from "Rigoletto," Efram Zimbalist on violin and Harold Bauer on piano playing variations from Beethoven's "Kreutzer Sonata," Giovanni Martinelli singing "Vesti La Guibba" from "I Pagliacci" and Anna Case singing "La Fiesta." You can also read on the program some of the music credits for Don Juan (which are not on the print). I was filled with an awesome sense of film history. Some of these short films are already in the IMDb database. It would really be a treat if Turner Classic Movies would show the entire "Vitaphone Preludes" as a package.
Review of Okay for Sound
