La Cinémathèque

Plane Crazy

1928

USA

This is the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be produced by Walt Disney Productions. in 1928 and the third to be released. The theatrical short marks the creation of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Clarabelle Cow. A silent version was previewed on May 15, 1928 in Los Angeles, but it failed to pick up a distributor. After producing a second cartoon, The Gallopin’ Gaucho, which also wasn’t released until later the following year, Disney produced a third cartoon, Steamboat Willie, which was released on November 18, 1928. After the success of Steamboat Willie, Disney officially released Plane Crazy with sound on March 17, 1929. This leads to some ambiguity as to which is the first Mickey Mouse cartoon, as Plane Crazy was the first to be produced while Steamboat Willie was the first to be released. The Walt Disney Company considers Steamboat Willie to be the debut of Mickey Mouse.

(Source: lacinemateca)

The eating machine scene from Modern Times.

Modern Times

1936

United States

Directed and written by Charlie Chaplin.

This film is somewhere between the silent movies and talkies. Although Chaplin’s famous Little Tramp (Charlot) was silent, the film has several sound effects, besides music, like ambient sound and voices coming out of the radio. Even Chaplin sings a version of Je cherche après Titine, but with nonsense lyrics.

The evolution of sound in films means the end of The Little Tramp:

“How long will I continue presenting as Little Tramp? … I don’t know. The sound film progresses and if I had to represent a spoken character, I should modify the characteristics of Little Tramp.” Charlie Chaplin.