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International Sound Version

What is international sound version? A clear definition from the recording section of our glossary, with 12 related terms and further reading.

Definition of International Sound Version

International Sound Version (also known as Foreign Sound Version) is a term for a film in which all dialogue is replaced with music and foreign inter-titles. It was a method used by movie studios during the early talkie period (1928–1931) to make sound films for foreign markets. This method was much cheaper than the alternative, the "Foreign Language Version", in which the entire film was re-shot with a cast that was fluent in the appropriate language (e.g. Spanish version of Drácula 1931, Laurel & Hardy shorts in Spanish, French and German).

To make an international version, the studio would simply insert (on the soundtrack) music over any dialogue in the film and splice in intertitles (which would be replaced with the appropriate language of the country). Singing sequences were left intact as well as any sound sequences that did not involve speaking.

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What is International Sound Version?

International Sound Version (also known as Foreign Sound Version) is a term for a film in which all dialogue is replaced with music and foreign inter-titles.

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