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In the documentary accompanying the Universal release there is mention (by Donald Glut, IIRC) of the "original sound disc" for Frankenstein '31. He speaks of the fact that in the early days, instead of optical soundtracks, he sound was played back on a disc in sync with the projectors. Well, this I knew, but thought that by the time of Frankenstein in 1931, sound-on-film was up and truly running.
No?

At this stage most, if not all studios had abandoned sound-on-disc as their primary method of sound recording. However, there were many theaters that were wired for the Vitaphone system (heck, there were theaters without sound systems at all, still playing silents) and some companies continued to produce sound-on-disc versions of their movies until 1936.

Bob

That is interesting. Well, we learn something every day I'm told
Would anyone happen to know what the last sound-on-disc production was?

It's known that disc dubs were being made into '36. Since Universal used Western Electric, their system for recording was almost always Sound-on-Film, variable density (exceptions being very early when they utilized WE Sound-on-Disc).

I know that discs survive for the Astaire-Rogers musical ROBERTA (1935), but I think there are some even later. I'm thinking GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937 for some reason, but I'm not completely sure . . .

ROBERTA is the latest set of disks we've seen at The Vitaphone Project.

Jack Theakston wrote:It's known that disc dubs were being made into '36. Since Universal used Western Electric, their system for recording was almost always Sound-on-Film, variable density (exceptions being very early when they utilized WE Sound-on-Disc).

So, would Frankenstein possibly have used sound-on-disc, in your opinion?

FRANKENSTEIN and most other features from major studios at least through 1931 were issued both in sound-on-film and sound-on-disc versions. There were still over 3500 theatres in the US that could only show talkies in the disk format. Our database shows some disks, including alternate censor versions for specific states (IE a line or scene was cut, necessitating making a new disk). By mid-1930, all studios, including WB were filming sound on film, none directly to disk.

vitaphone wrote: By mid-1930, all studios, including WB were filming sound on film, none directly to disk.

So, FRANKENSTEIN, for example, would've been recorded sound-on-film with the disc being manufactured afterward?

Correct.

Thanks for the information.

I guess the obvious question would be, considering that the sound was originally recorded on film, then a disc master was cut from the mixed optical sound master. Today, which would offer the "best" sound for making a blu-ray or DVD master? One would think the Optical track would be better, but not necessarily so. Film stocks shrink, and it would depend on how close to the original mix-down track you can get to, to extract your new material, I would think.

I realize Frankenstein is mostly a dialog film (sound wise) so perhaps this is not the best example to ask this question about.

The optical track all the way. Disc dubs were not done with particular care, and you're adding the drawbacks of a shellac disc on TOP of the pitfalls of optical tracks.