How Hollywood portrayal of speech in the 1920s-60s differs from real life

Introduction

Movies from the 1920s to the 1960s often depict characters with an almost theatrical quality to their speech. Many wonder if this is a true representation of how people spoke in that era or if it is merely a product of the limitations of sound recording technology and the influence of Hollywood's audioscenic choices. This article explores the differences between the speech heard in movies and radio of the 1920s-60s and the actual spoken language of the time, and why we might perceive these differences.

Historical Context and Technology

Before the advent of optical sound technology, early films relied on vaudeville-inspired dialogue, often with exaggerated accents and unusual intonation. The optical sound, which allowed spoken dialogue to be recorded directly onto film soundtrack, marked a significant technological advancement. However, the actual quality and clarity of this early sound technology could vary widely, influenced by the recording equipment and the playback settings in theaters.

Magnetic tape recording, like the Nigra sync recorders, further improved sound quality. Yet, digital sound in the era of post-production brought an even more refined and naturalistic auditory experience, representing a significant leap from the primitiveness of early recordings.

Accent and Idiom: The Mid-Atlantic Accent

One noticeable trend in 1920s-60s media is the "mid-Atlantic" accent, characterized by a blend of American and British tones. This accent was often employed by actors in both film and radio to convey a sense of sophistication and breeding. The use of this accent was not natural to most speakers; it was more an affectation that gained popularity through the stage-trained actors who transitioned to film and radio.

According to Eric Barnouw in his History of Broadcasting, this stylized speech was used to associate films and broadcasts with the ideals of sophistication and good taste. As this period evolved, people began to reject this artificial style in favor of more natural and regional accents. The mid-30s saw a shift towards a more naturalistic way of speaking, and this trend continued to solidify through the 1940s, though remnants of the mid-Atlantic accent can still be heard until the late 1970s.

Real-Life Accents and Idioms in Media

Modern media can sometimes obscure the regional and class-based differences in speech patterns that were prominent in earlier decades. In contrast to the mid-Atlantic accent, regional accents and idioms in both radio and film were representations of real speech patterns. Surviving radio programs from the 1930s and 1940s that featured ordinary citizens provide a window into the true accents and phrases of the era.

For instance, the phrase "I’m like a bad penny—I always turn up" from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, set in 1930s, was likely a throwback to a phrase not commonly used for several decades. Such phrases provide evidence of the linguistic evolution and the way that people spoke in the past, offering a glimpse into the cultural context and societal norms of earlier times.

Conclusion

The cinematic representation of speech from the 1920s to 1960s is a product of technological limitations and Hollywood's style choices. While it may not accurately represent the real speech patterns of the period, it nonetheless offers valuable insights into the cultural values and social norms of the era. Listening to surviving recordings and programs from the 1930s and 1940s can provide a more authentic representation of how people spoke, highlighting the differences between portrayal and reality.