Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey

Steven Martin's documentary about Leon Theremin and his eponymous does honor to both the man and the machine. The theremin is unique because this electronic instrument is played without touching it.The theremin never achieved the musical respect it deserved, relegated to special effects in science fiction films in the 1950s and 1960s. Indeed one of the great parts of this movie is the extensive footage of Clara Rockmore, theremin player extraordinaire, then in her early 80s demonstrating her virtuosic skills at the time and in a few archival clips from the 1930s. Fortunately there are several albums of her performances available: The Art Of The Theremin and Lost Theremin Album which reveal her music genius.Martin tells the story of Theremin and his musical instrument through performances and a number of interviews, including with Theremin's contemporaries, and with Theremin himself. This is amazing because Theremin was thought to be kidnapped back to the Soviet Union in 1938, and was not heard from again until 1989 when he was permitted to travel to the west again. He passed away the same year this documentary came out, and Rockmore died 5 years later. In addition, there are clips with Robert Moog, of synthesizer fame, who as a young man built and sold theremins. That this film includes these 3 late greats of music make it even more worthwhile to watch. An interesting bit is Brian Wilson talking about the Beach Boys use of the theremin in Good Vibrations.Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey (1993) sheds light on the early era of electronic music. This documentary is fun to watch and brings to light a lot of history that is little known.

I was channel surfing one fine evening when I stumbled across this remarkable film, by luck right from the beginning.Quick synopsis: The Theremin is the original electronic musical instrument, invented by an engineer from early communist Russia. It's a highly unusual instrument, played by waving your hands in the air nearby without touching it. (Yes, really.) As an example of his genius, he created a color television camera and screen in his home in the mid 1930's, some years before black and white television was ever broadcast in the United States.He toured the world with his instrument and landed in New York where for several years he ran a studio experimenting in new musical instruments and techniques and gave concerts at Carnegie Hall, before the day when he was suddenly kidnapped at gunpoint from his studio and vanished without a trace for over 30 years... but his instrument didn't...The documentary is both about Dr. Theremin and his invention, but is told in the context of his life, as viewed from the western world.I was so captivated by the film that I immediately found out when it would be on again and set up to tape it. Once I had it on tape I watched it several more times over the next few weeks, and finally gave into temptation and bought one of the instruments. (Warning: They cost [a lot] plus the cost of an amp and stand, they're hard to find on short notice, and you may be overly-tempted to own one right away after seeing the film.) It's at least as hard to play as everyone says it is, and far harder than it looks. Only one person has ever mastered it, and she is featured promimently in the film.I bought the DVD as soon as I found out about it, I believe as soon as it became available.The DVD is somewhat of a disappointment for two reasons: the film is cropped to fit a TV screen instead of presented in letterbox, and there is no English subtitle track, only French or Spanish. Of the two, the subtitles are the worse disappointment because the film features many people who don't speak English clearly because it's not their native language. Particularly difficult is Dr.Theremin himself, shown in the film in his 90's, then barely able to speak at all. It is also annoying, however, that the film was cropped to fit the screen, because any on-screen titles telling who we're seeing seem to have been cropped away.It's because of the cropped picture and lack of subtitles that I rate this DVD a 4 instead of a 5 - like other reviewers have said, I think the original film is a 5, it's just that this isn't the best presentation of it on video. In all other respects the image is clear and crisp and the sound is fine, and I have no other complaints.If you're interested in the topic, it's a great movie, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Just be prepared to lust to buy the instrument immediately afterward.

THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF LEON THERAMIN, A RUSSIAN IMMIGRANT WHO INVENTED THE FIRST ELECTRONIC MUSIC INSTRUMENT. - MOVIE ALSO INCLUDES THE INFLUENCE THE MUSIC HAD ON OTHER MUSICIANS SUCH AS BRIAN WILSON OF THE BEACH BOYS WHO USED IT ON "GOOD VIBRATIONS". - AMAZING ACCOUNT OF HIS WORK.

Having had theremins since 1960 or 1961 when I built my first one at ten years of age, it was a great surprise when this film first came out. I saw it originally in the theater and for years only the Laserdisc and VHS versions were available so I'm glad that it was released onto DVD.Sadly, all home video releases are missing Someday My Prince Will Come from a Mickey Mouse Club presentation (credited as Someday My PRICE Will Come) but maybe there were licensing issues that prevented its inclusion. My own Laserdisc, VHS tape and DVD are earlier releases with a different cover but I expect this one to be no different in that regard but it does partially correct another problem. The original releases and even the theatrical poster had the negative reversed so Leon Theremin was shown playing it left-handed! His photo has been corrected on this release but the theremin itself is still shown reversed.It always amazes me to hear the references to theremin in The Beach Boys' Good Vibrations when it didn't have one. Good Vibrations had an Electro-Theremin which is a totally different instrument that is not touchless. Maybe a theremin was used in live performances but it is not a theremin on the recording.That said, this is a highly recommended release that is both entertaining and enlightening. The performances of Clara Rockmore alone are reason enough to get this DVD!