Clip Joint: microphones

[Nick Dando]

From the Guardian

Clip joint: microphones | Film | guardian.co.uk

Nick



Clip joint: microphones

Clip joint takes a sip of water and checks its vocal range before selecting the most scintillating microphones scenes in cinema







Rally drivers � Tom Hanks (right) and friend in Forrest Gump (1994)

Microphones are powerful devices. As soon as you step behind one of these silvery beacons of communication, it's suddenly your duty to enlighten and entertain the crowd. Under this kind of pressure most people wilt, but some are able to pull out stunning speeches that connect with everyone in earshot.
Of course, cinema was designed for grandstanding scenarios such as this, and for any serious actor it's the perfect opportunity to show off. Centre of attention? Check. Everyone listening? Check. A chance to weep uncontrollably? Double check. Via the microphone, the big screen has offered up a deluge of scenes in which characters have either sung, proclaimed or bawled their way into cinematic folklore.
Below are some of the greatest uses of a microphone in film. If you think we've got it wrong or missed a humdinger, delve into your movie knowledge and show us the error of our ways. Just make sure you've turned your keyboard up to eleven �


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...;v=lKx3MUqzCcQ
1) Sit back and appreciate the verbal skills of the late, great Pete Postlethwaite. Simply put, a genius at work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5IvPIWzQcUY
2) Chaplin is widely remembered for keeping stumm, but on the rare occasions he decided to open his mouth he spouted out some impressive words of wisdom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBy3wAEOn8
3) Dustin Hoffman went all out for his portrayal of the candid comic legend Lenny Bruce, even growing a ridiculous beard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HbNrCxqxzgo
4) Here's Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig proclaiming himself "the luckiest man in the world". Just in shot, Babe Ruth makes his cinematic debut. A face for radio if ever there was one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8zkzpoWEAwI
5) Ian Curtis's illness meant that every time he stepped behind a microphone he put himself in serious jeopardy � thus bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase "stage fright".

[GRAEME]

I like Burt Kwouk's microphone style in You Only Live Twice.

[Mr Sloane]

Singing in the Rain has two memorable microphone scenes.

http://youtu.be/OTFCctdiS04

and

http://youtu.be/-wI4jJq98tU

[GRAEME]

Frank Thornton wields a cool mic as "The BBC" in The Bed Sitting Room...

[Mr Sloane]

An emotive microphone moment - the My name is scene from A Star is Born.