Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey

UPC: 027616864451

Studio: MGM

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:null

Summary: Very few people would recognize the name of Leon Theremin (1896-1993) if it weren't for the electronic musical instrument he invented around 1918. Fans of the first Star Trek series will recognize its sounds, but it was used in orchestral compositions and movies quite extensively for many decades, and even played a role in the Brian Wilson's composition of the Beach Boys' hit Good Vibrations. However, this documentary shows that the inventor of the forerunner instrument in electronic music is a person whose life had a lot more to offer than that. He was called "the Soviet Edison," and was honored by Lenin before he went to work in the United States, where he developed the first electronic security system in the world for Sing-Sing Prison in upstate New York. He also was a pioneer in interracial relations, braving the strong disapproval of his peers to marry a black ballerina. He was kidnapped from the U.S. in 1938 on the orders of the vengeful and ever-paranoid Stalin, brought back to the U.S.S.R., charged with treason, and was sentenced to a gulag (forced-labor camp). However, when World War II rolled around, he was brought back into the mainstream and was put to work for the KGB, for whom he invented the first electronic "bug" for eavesdropping, for which he earned the Stalin Prize. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Category: Music [nf]

Awards: Filmmaker's Trophy: Documentary – Sundance Film Festival

Features: Original theatrical trailer
English: stereo Surround
French & Spanish subtitles

Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey

Format: DVD

Release Date: 07/24/2001

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 2 PCM stereo

Runtime: 82 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Scene Selections
1. Logos/Musical Prophet [:09]
2. "Pitch & Volume" [6:29]
3. Carnegie Hall Concert [2:46]
4. "Very Romantic" [2:30]
5. "Mad Scientist?" [2:19]
6. Black Ballet [6:45]
7. "Not Just A Magic Toy" [3:48]
8. Lost Love [1:46]
9. Hollywood's Instrument [3:15]
10. Theremin Resurfaces [7:08]
11. Fun For Jerry Lewis [6:04]
12. Russian Affiliations [1:52]
13. A Dying Art [6:35]
14. "Good Vibrations" [2:00]
15. An Honored Artist [1:54]
16. Reunion/End Credits [6:24]

Tom Wiener

Though the facts of Leon Theremin's life merit this feature film, director Steven M. Martin chooses to focus on Theremin's eponymous invention, a strange musical instrument which predated the synthesizer in the field of electronic sound. That skews the film toward Theremin as a contributor to the arts and away from his advancements in electronic surveillance and eavesdropping. It also gives Martin a chance to structure part of his film around a reunion of Theremin and his most famous pupil, Clara Rockmore, who almost steals the show from her aging mentor. (He died before the film was released; Rockmore died in 2001.) Bringing electronic music pioneer Robert Moog, plus rock musicians Brian Wilson and Todd Rundgren, into the mix also provides ingratiating touches, but the film never feels like it's dumbing down its subject. Martin is a true proselytizer for Theremin's place in history, and the film makes its case in a wholly convincing and entertaining fashion. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Todd Rundgren  Actor 
Clara Rockmore  Actor 
Brian Wilson  Actor 
Hal Willner  Composer (Music Score) 
Steven M. Martin  Director 
Steven M. Martin  Producer 
Steven M. Martin  Screenwriter 

Country: USA