If you take people from the 1920s and place them in this century they would probably have a minor cardiac arrest just by watching "Transformers" in 3D. And knowing the mindset, they would think it is a form of witchcraft and try to burn everyone at the stake. Movies, just like other art forms, have been continuously and consistently changing throughout the years; however, one of the first drastic changes the film industry has experienced was in the late 1920s when there was a transition from silent movies to what was known as talkies. This might not seem that big of a deal to the modern film enthusiast, but back then, the ability to talk in movies was simply astounding. One of the more modern movies, "The Artist" which was released in 2011, pays homage to the silent movie era and depicts the difficult transition some of the actors have faced.
The opening scene in "The Artist:" introduces us to our protagonist, George Valentine. .
He appears to being tortured by scientists sending electric shocks to his brain by the means of electrodes fitted to his skull in order to make him surrender and speak. At the end of this particular clip we find out that George Valentine is starring in his latest movie entitled "A Russian Affair." This might seem like a typical scene of an agent being tortured to give up top secret information or join the enemy lines against his country, but there is more to it than that. In a very, subtle way, it is foreshadowing future events and struggles the protagonist, George Valentine, will face as an actor with the transition from silent movies to talkies by setting the scene for his perverse behavior as well as his fear of the future. In "A Russian Affair," the scientist is yelling "Speak!", as he sends the electric shocks to the protagonist's head which parallels the film industry's pressure to start acting in talkies and give up silent movies.