Where Does the Music Come From?

Abstract

The dawn of sound film has been mythologized and misreported (for example, The Jazz Singer was not the first movie with sound). This chapter offers an extensively researched look at Hollywood’s approach to sound and music between 1929 and 1931. During this period, most filmmakers were reluctant to include any music in movies, unless it was clearly motivated by an onscreen performance (by a singer, jazz band, etc.). Contrary to this approach, Max Steiner believed that underscoring would not only be accepted by audiences but could improve a film’s emotion and pacing. Using much previously unpublished material, this chapter follows Steiner’s swift rise from RKO staff orchestrator to studio musical director, and his first attempts to include music that was not always tied to onscreen action—including his work on 1931’s Best Picture winner, Cimarron.