Gaumont Sound News

Dates

1929 - 1933

History

The first issue of Gaumont Sound News was released on 11th November 1929 with coverage of Armistice Day forming the main focus. This sound version of Gaumont Graphic had originally been scheduled for release in June but it took Gaumont several months to overcome a series of technical problems, particularly regarding synchronisation. By January 1930 the production of Gaumont Sound News was increased from a weekly to bi-weekly release with an extended ‘super sound’ edition to keep up with increasing demand. The only other regular sound newsreel released at this time was British Movietone News which was first issued in June 1929.

In April 1930 E.V.H. Emmett delivered his first commentary and over the next couple of years would become the voice of Gaumont Sound News as it developed its own style and identity in the face of rising competition from other sound newsreels released by Pathe and Paramount. The last edition was released in December 1933 with a tighter, more competitive Gaumont British News emerging in January 1934 under the formidable Castleton Knight

Provenance

The data for this series has been compiled from the following sources: Gaumont Sound News ledgers (copies at BUFVC); BFI records; film copies (ITN Source) and The Bioscope.

Other Information

More information on the history of Gaumont Sound News can be found on the David Lean and Gaumont Sound News website within the News on Screen website.

Films in this series can be obtained from:

Film Archive

Name

Reuters Archive Licensing: Screen Ocean

Email

info@screenocean.com

Web

http://reuters.screenocean.com/

Phone

+44(0)1954 262052

Address

124 Horseferry Road,
London
SW1P 2TX

Notes

British Pathe Ltd (qv) also handles the Reuters Historical Collection, which includes the British Paramount, Empire British, Gaumont Graphic and Gaumont British newsreels.

Series held

View all series held by Reuters Archive Licensing: Screen Ocean

Name

British Film Institute (BFI)

Email

For BFI National Archive enquiries: nonfictioncurators@bfi.org.uk For commercial/footage reuse enquiries: footage.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7580 7503

Address

21 Stephen Street
London W1T 1LN

Notes

The BFI National Archive also preserves the original nitrate film copies of British Movietone News, British Paramount News, Empire News Bulletin, Gaumont British News, Gaumont Graphic, Gaumont Sound News and Universal News (the World War II years are covered by the Imperial War Museum).

Series held

View all series held by British Film Institute (BFI)