Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film, Vol. 13 - End of an Era on AllMovie

Silent films were once thought of as a technological wonder, but advances in film science soon followed with "talkies." Movies began being filmed with sound starting with The Jazz Singer in 1927. Many actors and actresses of the time feared that their speaking voices might cause them to lose favor with audiences. A scene from Singin' in the Rain captures this dilemma in a highly comical fashion. Interviews with many stars from the '20s shed light on Hollywood's response to this period of transition. Mary Astor, Janet Gaynor, Frank Capra, George Cukor, and others are featured in interview segments or film clips.