movietone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / HistoricalHistorical / Specialized / Archival
Quick answer
What does “movietone” mean?
A proprietary name for a system of sound-on-film used for motion pictures, historically significant as an early method of synchronizing recorded sound with film.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proprietary name for a system of sound-on-film used for motion pictures, historically significant as an early method of synchronizing recorded sound with film.
The term has become a proper noun referring specifically to newsreel series (e.g., Fox Movietone News) produced using this system in the mid-20th century. It is now a historical term associated with early sound film technology and newsreel archives.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both regions used the term for the same technology and newsreel series. The Fox Movietone News was distributed internationally.
Connotations
Connotes vintage newsreels, black-and-white footage, and the dawn of 'talking pictures'. Has a nostalgic, historical feel in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low and historical in both British and American English. Its use is confined to film history contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “movietone” in a Sentence
Proper Noun (Movietone + Noun)Historical Subject + (was/were) recorded on MovietoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “movietone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The event was movietoned for the newsreel. (extremely rare/archaic)
American English
- They planned to movietone the ceremony. (extremely rare/archaic)
adverb
British English
- The report was presented Movietone-style. (rare)
American English
- It was filmed Movietone-fast. (rare/inventive)
adjective
British English
- The Movietone camera operator captured the scene.
- It had a distinct Movietone quality.
American English
- The Movietone news crew arrived.
- We watched Movietone-era footage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in film history, media studies, and archival science to refer to specific technology and newsreel collections.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern conversation except in nostalgic or historical references by older generations or film enthusiasts.
Technical
Refers precisely to the variable-density sound-on-film system developed by Fox Film Corporation in the late 1920s.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “movietone”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “movietone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “movietone”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'I watched a movietone' instead of 'a Movietone newsreel').
- Misspelling as 'Movie Tone' or 'Movie-tone'. It is typically one word or a hyphenated trademark (Movie-tone).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Movietone system is historically significant but obsolete. The term survives mainly in references to historical archives like the Fox Movietone News collection.
It is not recommended. 'Movietone' is a proper noun tied to a specific company and technology. Use 'newsreel' for the general concept.
Movietone recorded sound directly onto the film strip (sound-on-film), while Vitaphone used separate synchronized phonograph discs (sound-on-disc).
Movietone, along with other systems, marked the transition from silent films to 'talkies', revolutionizing the cinema industry and how news was visually reported.
A proprietary name for a system of sound-on-film used for motion pictures, historically significant as an early method of synchronizing recorded sound with film.
Movietone is usually historical / specialized / archival in register.
Movietone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmuːvɪtəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmuːvitoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Straight out of a Movietone newsreel (used to describe something stylistically old-fashioned or dramatically presented).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MOVIE + TONE. A movie with a 'tone' (sound) added. It was the system that gave movies their tone of voice.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PAST IS A FILM REEL / HISTORY IS A NEWSREEL.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'Movietone' most specifically refer to?