When Hollywood made the transition to sound after decades of silent films, filmmakers struggled with how to integrate musical accompaniment into the synchronized soundtrack. Live accompaniment to pre-recorded images was one thing; music magically emanating from an unseen source to support the events in a talking picture was another.
As the film score gained a footing in early sound films, a handful of talented composers paved the way through trial and error. With training in classical music and backgrounds in stage productions, three men in particular shaped the cinematic score in the 1930s.
