The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does anyone have an idea why neither period-correct phonographs nor even *decent* machines appear in film and television? The most recent incarnation of "the Great Gatsby" was a complete train wreck. They used the wrong vintage music, wrong cars, wrong telephones, wrong phonographs, wrong clothes, wrong jewelry, wrong radios, wrong electric fans, wrong cameras, need I continue? Worst of all they used a replica outside horn phonograph. If someone is spending $105 million (I actually looked it up) to make a film, why not spend $1,000 and buy a correct set piece?

Even in "Downton Abbey" they used an HMV machine that was years older than what a wealthy family would have purchased that year if it were truly their first phonograph as the episode insisted. Aside from that, I have noticed few mistakes with "Downton Abbey"

Another well-researched show is "Boardwalk Empire"

I have included a photo of a CD album cover that uses a crap-o-phone. If only people would take a little more time and perhaps borrow the correct items for a scene... I'd be happy to lend props to a movie crew instead of seeing somebody use a telephone from 30 years in the future.

I hear you loud and clear. My wife makes fun of me as I pick out every anachronism in every movie we see. Alas, she represents the majority. There aren't many of us who care about the details, but for me a totally inappropriate prop just ruins the illusion. I remember years ago seeing a very forgettable movie supposedly set in the 1920s; prominently featured was a 1930/1931 Model A Ford, covered with dirt to look worn and old. I'm sure I was the only person who noticed; after all, an old car (especially with fake dirt) is an old car. But not to me.

I even had conniptions with Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris", a movie which I otherwise loved, when Dali ordered a bottle of ordinary red wine and was served a post-1958 Chateau Haut-Brion -- an unmistakably unique bottle shape. Aside from the anachronistic bottle design, even in the 1920s no café would serve a top-end wine when someone ordered generic red table wine.

But set designers are not interested in the fine details. Gatsby just happens to be a particularly extravagant example of "old is old" with no regard whatsoever for authenticity. And with so many fake phones, phonos, and other items it's easy for them to grab whatever and throw it into the set.

Well said.

"The Artist" A painfully dull movie, set in 1929, made dull and stupid when the actor is seen playing an electric turntable at 33 1/3rpm made in 1959. In defense of the Gatsby movie, at least it doesn't even pretend to be accurate, just entertaining. The Artist, however, had a misdirected pretention of authenticity and failed at almost every turn: cars, phonographs, posters of long-dead movie stars.

As an old movie buff, I am always looking for old cars or old phonos or radios in old or new period movies. Everyone has seen the commonly shown 1946-48 DeSoto red and yellow taxi cabs in older films. Phonographs are tougher to spot in old movies. They often just used portables in old movies as they are easy to take to the set. I have seen Victrolas and Victors in old movies. There is even a Laurel and Hardy short where they get in trouble breaking records and toppling Victrolas at a music store. And although I have seen some Edison cylinder open horn machines in old movies, I have never seen an Edison Diamond Disc machine in any movie, old or new.

Sometimes they get things wrong "the other way around". I know that horn gramophones existed during WWII, just as they exist today - but I think it's unlikely that the King of England would be playing an acetate disc on one as shown in The King's Speech. Very picturesque, but surely He'd have had a radiogram long before?

(I'm sure other aspects of the film were even less historically accurate!)

Cheers,
David.

Even when the machines are correct often a modern orchestra comes out of the horn - and a disc often plays much longer than 2-3 minutes.

estott wrote:Even when the machines are correct often a modern orchestra comes out of the horn - and a disc often plays much longer than 2-3 minutes.

Yes, and they never change a needle -- well, maybe that part is accurate!

Sometimes they *almost* get it right, like in the final scene from the 1931 movie, "Public Enemy" with James Cagney that I watched on TCM this morning. They don't show the entire Victrola -- just the turntable area, but it looks like a Credenza to me. Note that the auto brake post is disengaged. That's so the record will continue to spin once the selection has ended. The scene shows a Brunswick disk. Probably just a prop.

Earlier, in a scene supposedly set in 1920, Cagney is talking on the phone, and the phone is a regular desk handset, like a WE 202, which was not available in 1920. The prop master should have provided a candlestick phone. Oops ...

Now I'm stuck with "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" playing in my head.

I've seen Credenzas playing in at least three early 30's films. I think they may have been popular for close-up shots because of the large open turntable area.

This 1931 comedy features a very up to date RCA Radiogram immediately after the opening credits - the full machine is seen soon after. What we hear is a very plausible studio orchestra. There's a Columbia record on the turntable, and this film was one of the last productions of the US branch of Pathé before they merged into RKO. Quite a mix of histories here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XBmIe3UPk0[/youtube]