Imagine if "Sabotage" had no sound? No, I don't mean a silent film,
because silents were always intended to have sound accompany them.
Sound plays an important role in films.
The music, ambient noise, ambient voices, synchronized voices and
even the 'silence' had to be carefully planned just as much as the
images displayed on the screen. If not, the audience could easily loose
interest. I know that's true because I occasionally see a silent film
where the 'generic' music doesn't fit the action and usually, I have to
turn the sound off.
The list below only covers the music (or lack of it) heard with the
credits and the first eight minutes climaxing with Mr. Verloc examining
a burning light bulb.
Rich
0:00-1:20 Music during title credits ending with symbols.
1:20-1:30 A high pitched sound is heard. (Image dissolves
from a burning light to view of city).
1:30-1:38 Music. (Image dissolves from city back to burning
light & high pitched sound).
1:38-1:44 High pitched noise changes into music as light begins
to flicker and scene switches to a voltmeter.
1:44-1:47 Music builds up and dramatically stops when the city
goes dark.
1:47-1:56 Ambient noise.
1:56-2:12 Silence.
2:12-2:19 Words.
2:19-2:21 Dramatic Music (Mr. Verloc).
2:21-2:58 Ambient voices (gaiety).
2:58-3:48 Ambient voices mixed with voices at box office.
3:48-5:00 Dramatic Music (Mr. Verloc). Music continues at
varying level until it ends with symbols when he turns the light
switch back off.
5:00-5:32 Silence, Ambient sound in bedroom.
5:32-5:55 Ambient voices mixed with dialogue.
5:55-7:10 Ambient sound & dialogue as Mrs. Verloc enters the
theater, and then bedroom to talk to her husband.
7:10-8:10 Produce man's lecture.
8:10-8:55 As Mrs. Verloc confronts man and talks about
refunds, Hitchcock has the crowd turned around several times and then
the lights come on.
9:01-9:10 Ambient sound of traffic and elevated view of street
in front of the theater.
9:10-9:23 Ambient sound and dialogue as patrons enter theater.
9:23-9:25 Silence interrupted by a door closing as Mr. Verloc
looks closely at a burning light bulb.
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