The Effect of Music In Film

Sound in films is such an important aspect of the production as a whole. Sound was first introduced in 1927 with the release of the feature length film ‘The Jazz Singer’. And ever since then sound has been an immensely important tool in storytelling from dictating the feeling of a scene to displaying the emotion a certain character is feeling to the creation of many iconic opening scenes. Without effective soundtracks some movies just wouldn't be what they are today.

The difference music has on a scene is in some ways the same as the Kuleshov effect. Different genres of music have a different effect on the audience. This video from Film Riot perfectly explains it. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW9g8aMdmio&t=532s&ab_channel=FilmRiot)

Soundtracks can often impact many scenes turning them front great screens to absolutely iconic scenes. Such an example is the shower scene in ‘Psycho’. Without the soundtrack the scene just wouldn’t be what it is. The composer of the soundtrack Bernard Herrmann composed the soundtrack in such a way that would instil sheer horror and uneasiness into the audience. Hermann’s biographer Steven Smith quoted "It's interesting to watch that sequence without the music, because it's still a very disturbing sequence, but you're watching it as an outsider. You're watching a terrible thing happen, but you're watching it from the viewpoint of someone outside of it. With Herrmann's cue, you are Janet Leigh. You are feeling the absolute terror and panic and loss of control that she is feeling in trying to fend off this sudden attacker.

Another instance where music makes the scene is ‘Jaws’ the constant heavy hitting pursuit like theme instils fear in the audience. We as audience members know there is something in the water but we can’t see it… yet. It creates a fight or flight reaction in us. We want to keep watching to find out what is there exactly but at the same time we want to get the hell out of the water. Accompany the opening scene with this soundtrack and a POV angle from the position of the shark and you have one of the best opening sequences of all time

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg-HlHMhthY&ab_channel=UniversalPicturesAll-Access)

Overall Music and Sound is such an important part of film. It sparks creation for writers and directors. While being highly memorable in some circumstances. It can also create mystical and iconic worlds in such cases as Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings and Dune. Overall Music is one of the most important factors in film and is a tool that has created masterpieces