Writer: Francis Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra
Director: Frank Capra
Major Actors: James Stewart, Donna Reed
Film Release: 1946
The first form of sound that was most apparent was dialogue. Many of the scenes are shot where the only noise the audience can hear is the characters conversing. Dialogue in the film is used to advance the movie (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). For example many of the bank scenes are shown where only the characters are talking and the conversations inform the audience of the trials that the people in the movie are dealing with; mainly to keep the bank running independently from Mr. Potter. Dialogue in the movie during the bank scenes dramatizes or intensifies the seriousness of the conversations. In a few scenes in particular, Bailey really gives Mr. Potter an earful about what a lousy greedy business man Mr. Potter is. In turn drawing in the audience so that they are cheering on and rooting for George Bailey. Some of the scenes also include dialogue between Mr. Bailey and the angel. Fantasy films break the limitations of the real world (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). For this reason the film is considered a fantasy film as some of the dialogue is between the angels or between Bailey and the angel named Clarence.
Sound effects in the film definitely show that the film is dated. In one scene Bailey is at the bar and gets punched in the face. The audience does not see the fist meet Bailey's face but the sound effect used to deliver the punch makes the scene very believable. Shortly after, Bailey is driving drunk and crashes his car into a tree. The sound effect of the car crashing into the tree makes the accident seem worse than it actually was. Each of these examples allows the audience to feel Bailey's somber mood like he has been defeated and the audience can also understand that Bailey has finally hit rock bottom in his troubles. The use of sound effects in the movie certainly make the film more exciting and enjoyable but also shows the audience how far technology has come since 1946.
Music enhances the entire film production. An example of film setting the mood is when George arrives at his house towards the end of the film. At this time, George does not exist and so the family that he would have had does not exist. The music is soft and in the background. It is very eerie and surreal setting the mood that something awful has happened. However, other scenes with music seem cheerful. A great example of music within the scene is the party at the college. Everyone is dancing and the music is loud and upbeat. We can also hear the people on the set cheering as George and Mary fall into the pool. The mood that the music creates is a happy exciting experience.
To view the scene of the party go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rha-6qG4OQ
Sound is very important in film. Even when sound was first introduced to film the audience took to it. Sound offers the mood, sometimes it tells part of the story. It makes for a more interesting story. People want to be entertained. Sound effects offer entertainment for the viewer. Without sound effects, the movies would be less interesting and lose the attention of the audience. For example, if the scene with Bailey crashing into to the tree did not use sound effects perhaps the microphone would not even pick up the sound of the car crashing into the tree. Or maybe it would but not loud enough making the crash seem unrealistic.
References:
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Movie Clips (2011, Oct. 9). Pool Party- It's a Wonderful Life (1/9) Movie CLIP (1946) HD [video file] Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rha-6qG4OQ
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