ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT RESTORATION

[g***@hotmail.com]

After watching the restored 'silent' version of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT,I noticed that it wasn't really the silent version that I had expected.There were numerous instances of people talking in the background as well as gun fire and music.This would not have been possible if it was truly a 'silent' version. I am assuming that when it was shown in 'silent' cinemas in the old days, it would have been truly silent but it may have been too much trouble to remove he soundtrack altogether.Does anyone have an answer for this? It is a pity that the bluray of the 'silent' version is mostly a 'sound' version.Why wasn't the dialogue and background noise (gun fire etc) removed from the bluray? I still wait for the silent version to arrive.

[Jeffry L. Johnson]

Post by g***@hotmail.com
After watching the restored 'silent' version of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT,I noticed that it wasn't really the silent version that I had expected.

The original 1930 release had a synchronized sound track.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/318518/a-few-words-about-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-in-blu-ray

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/67079/All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front/notes.html

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/67079/All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front/alternate-versions.html

[cinemad]

There were two versions made of AQOTWF a sound version and a silent version.
I have heard various stories about using two cameras at the same time to film the two versions but I have doubts about this as Arthur Edeson was using blankets to quiten his camera in most exterior shots. Were blimps available in 1929-30.

Does anybody know what sort of cameras were used for the Photography?

Regards,
Peter mason




http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/318518/a-few-words-about-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-in-blu-ray http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/67079/All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front/notes.html http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/67079/All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front/alternate-versions.html

[cinemad]

According to these websites the original Silent Version had a synchronised
soundtrack. What exactly does this mean? If it had a "syncfhronised Soundtrack" wouldn't it be a sound film not a Silent Film?
What form did this synchronised soundtrack take, was it on the film a record or what.

This is the trailer for the Silent Version of AQOTWF, there doesn't appear to be any soundtrack?

Regards,
Peter Mason

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by cinemad
According to these websites the original Silent Version had a synchronised
soundtrack. What exactly does this mean? If it had a "syncfhronised Soundtr=
ack" wouldn't it be a sound film not a Silent Film?

It's a sound film, but it's not a "talkie" because there is no synch dialogue.

It's best to think of films like this as "transitional" because they have
sound but aren't dialogue-driven. An interesting favorite of mine is White
Zombie, which is a sound film that is photographed and laid out like a silent
film even though it has some dialogue.

Post by cinemad
What form did this synchronised soundtrack take, was it on the film a recor=
d or what.

With that film, I don't know. Look at the credits and see.
--scott

[cinemad]

Universal made a "silent" version because not all th theatres had made the change-over to sound. Universal was one of the last studios to make the change.
Why would they make a sound version that didn't jhave dialogue? It doesn't make sense?\
The silent version was fot those theatres that hadn't made the change.

Regards,
Peter mason







I don't know. Look at the credits and see. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Jeffry L. Johnson]

UCLA will show both the "sync sound" and "full sound" versions on 2013 Janaury 12.

http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2013-01-12/silentsyncsound-multiple-versions-transition-era

http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2013-01-12/all-quiet-western-front-1930-sync

http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2013-01-12/all-quiet-western-front-1930-sound