This article questions teleological notions of sound film which emphasize the development of film from a technical point of view. The study begins with the sound projections of 1903 —phonoscenes created by the Gaumont company— and ends with the Warner Vitaphone shows of twenty years hence.
The reasons for the decline of the former and the success of the latter must be contextualized within wider, cultural terms and cannot be attributed merely to advancements in sound technology. The reason why sound projections in France were not as successful as would be expected was due to their connection with the café-concert, a form of entertainment that was in decline. On the other hand, the triumph of Vitaphone shows is attributable to the fact that they were undoubtedly associated with the growing popularity of jazz and abstract the Broadway musical.
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