ApPLAUSE 1929 ROUBEN MAMOULIAN
Mamoulian, born in Tbilisi in 1897, was a reknowned Hollywood and Broadway director known for Queen Christina (1934), The Mark Of Zorro (1940) and for the original staging of Oklahoma! (1943) and Carousel (1945)
Applause at Ciné Lumière intro by Tatevik Ayvazyan
Applause | 80mins | US | English
35mm Print 5 October
A pre-code American drama and musical notable for Mamoulian's innovative sound and camera techniques in early talkies.
The film tells the story of Kitty Darling, a burlesque star, and her attempts to protect her daughter April from the pitfalls of show business and a manipulative lover. Helen Morgan's performance as Kitty shows great emotional depth and realism, capturing the character's pain and despair.
Rouben Mamoulian
Sound Innovation & Visual Style
Mamoulian's first film showed his experimental approach to sound recording and use of mobile cameras. This is one of the first 'talkies' using location shooting. The magnificent scenes in New York, including on Brooklyn Bridge and in Grand Central Station, capture the ambient sounds of New York City, whilst the realistic sets, long tracking shots and unusual camera angles create a uniquely fluid and dynamic cinema experience.
