Talking In The Rain

Yes its the talkies ladies and gentlemen.  The amazing introduction of sound which brought cinema to what it is today.....or did it?

Sound was a fantastic revolutionary feature back in the day.  With films like the Kid and Sunrise all being completely silent, this new type of cinema would out do them completely.  The film The Jazz Singer was the true hit with the new technology, having a full song being played in the middle of the film.  

The question we have to ask though is, if sound had not been created would films be as sophisticated as they are today, or maybe even more?  

I have a personal opinion which is not very defined, in fact can almost argue both points.  First of all i believe sound was a fantastic device which has really brought a new phase of performance into the acting, and has revolutionised the emotions that a film can emit to its audience.  Such film as Sunrise, strained under the no sound limitation.  

My other outlook, is that cinema could have done without sound and could have been much more sophistocated than it has ever been.  For example with the moving times and the invention of special effects these new kind of silent films could convey phenominal emotions that could have never been achieved with sound.