Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey (1993) [DVD]

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.

Somehow, I got to be sixty years old before discovering the original electronic instrument, the theremin. Yes, I had heard it on "Good Vibrations" and on old science fiction soundtracks, but I never knew what it was or the story behind it. The Musical Instruments Museum in Phoenix changed all that recently, and I am entranced.This film was released shortly after the instrument's creator, the Russian professor, Leon Theremin, died in 1993 at age 97. We learn of his invention, its development, and of his life and loves. Through very old footage, dating to the 1920s, and newer interviews and performances, we are brought into the musical, romantic, and political drama.There is a romantic thread that weaves Theremin with Clara Rockmore, the instrument's pioneering performer and virtuoso. She and Professor Theremin were close in the 1920s, but never married. The slow motion scene (from the 1920s) of them locking eyes and kissing without touching is heartwarming. They are reunited at the end of the film, both in their eighties, I imagine. Rockmore is the second most interesting character, who is interviewed often in the film.Theremin was abducted by the Russians in America in the 1940s under strange circumstances. Some thought him dead. He spent time in a Russian work camp, but he survived and worked on his music for the rest of his life.Robert Moog gives many interesting insights into the theremin (he made many of them) and the influence of Professor Theremin on his own invention, the Moog synthesizer. The oddest interview is with Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. Their hit song, "Good Vibrations," winningly uses the theremin. Wilson appears a bit deranged, repetitive and overly dramatic. The interview could have been edited down, The same is true for many of the scenes and interviews.I found the cinematography to be mixed in quality. As a whole, the films moves too slowly. The Theremin is an other-worldly and unhurried instrument, so the pace of the film roughly matched the nature of the instrument.Perhaps the most charming and fascinating figure of the film is not Professor Theremin, but its quintessential performer, Clara Rockmore, whose presence is felt throughout the film.

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.

The film itself is fascinating, even to someone like myself with a very limited interest in electronic music.The film itself would be worth five stars of anybody's praise.Unfortunately the technical quality of the DVD is very poor. It appears to be a digital transfer from VHS, and a bad one at that.The video quality is acceptable but the audio is so muffled it is always difficult, and at times impossible, to make any sense of it.I was able to work round this by using the equaliser control on my (pc software) DVD player to sharpen the sound, so I was finally able to understand and enjoy the film.The producers of the DVD should have enhanced the audio before putting it on sale.Other signs that this is a hastily put together product: few subtitle options, no audio options and no background extras. (other that a "theatrical trailer")

To say that I have been fascinated by electronic music for years is perhaps an understatement, and completely beside the point of this review/story. But one day the randomness of chance meant that I happened to be working with a delightful young lady called Sophie who's father is a very well respected satirical cartoonist. and soon the question of "So, What music are you into?" arose and we began to discuss our likes and dislikes."Have you ever heard of the Theremin?" I asked naively."Have you ever heard of Steven Martin?" Sophie countered. I admitted I only knew of Steve Martin, and that was clearly not who she was referring to."He made a documentary about Leon Theremin and Clara Rockmore." Sophie continued.The penny dropped and I exclaimed. "I have that documentary on video that a friend recorded for me from the TV many years ago. I have watched it several times. It's wonderful."We discussed it briefly. Then completely from the left field Sophie asked. "Would you like to meet Steven? He is staying with us at the moment."Now what was the chance of that happening?Trying not to bite off her hand at the elbow I naturally I said "YES!!!!" and the very next day Steven Martin came into my place of work and I spent an all too short lunch break finding out about a lot of the back story of the making of `Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey'Apart from being a wonderful story of an amazing bunch of individuals, The first time I watched this documentary on television in about 1993, I felt I was witnessing the last flickering embers of a bygone era. Captivated by the amazing Clara Rockmore, who appears as an extraordinarily astute and forthright old lady. She welcomes us in to her apartment to hear her play but warns us not to get too close as it will affect the tuning of the instrument. And we begin to hear the tale of Leon Theremin. A Russian inventor part of the `Brain Drain' living in the US during the 20s & 30s Who had turned his talents from the sciences to the arts, He had produced a musical instrument that looked like a small writing desk with aerials protruding from it and sounded like a singing saw, that required nothing more than the proximity of the person playing it.Theremin had gathered together a group of ten to fifteen or so musicians, and was touring the country with what at the time must have seemed like a strange but wonderful novelty show. Among them was the 18 year old Clara Rockmore. A beautiful young lady who quickly became a virtuoso performer in the `Orchestra,' and a focus of affection for the somewhat older Leon Theremin. The story continues with tales of further inventions by Leon Theremin and developments of his already successful technology. It appears he was producing a show involving dancers on a stage set made from one gigantic `Theremin' instrument, on which the dancers effectively created their own music as their body positions and shapes directly affected the sounds made by the instrument. When suddenly and inexplicably he disappears, leaving the distraught young Clara Rockmore and the rest of the ensemble to fend for themselves. Ultimately they disband and go their separate ways. It was assumed that the brilliant young scientist was making just a little too much noise, doing far too much to aid the enemy. What else was he producing for the US that the Russians did not know about? Not willing to take that risk he was spirited away and consequently repatriated to work on missiles and weapons systems.Interviewed at length, Robert Moog comments throughout and gives us a fascinating insight into his own story. Telling how he was influenced by the inventions of Leon Theremin whilst at school and college. Where it appears he did little else but produce a series of his own `Theremins' whilst developing his own knowledge of electronics and music. What a legacy.....It transpired from my conversation with the fascinating and unassuming Steven Martin that during the making of the documentary things took a turn they could not have anticipated, with the discovery of a certain Leon Theremin still alive, then in his eighties. Plans were immediately made to fly him over to the US so he could play a part in his own story, and perhaps be reunited with his love of 50 years ago. The picture of their understated reunion and Clara asking that they now be left alone for a while, with a final scene of them both walking away from camera hand in hand in a sun lit park, had me in tears more than any fictional weepy.Sadly Leon Theremin was to die on November 3rd 1993 shortly after the making of this historical documentary.Clara Rockmore also left us a few years later on May 10 1998Then Robert Moog died, age 71 on August 25 2005.Between them leaving a huge legacy of extraordinary instruments for the world, and Marking the end of an era.If you have any interest in Music (electronic or otherwise) Science, Art or Humanity. I would suggest you watch this Documentary.Having worn out my Video I am now investing in a DVD copy.

Originally shown on Channel 4 (UK). An edge of the seat, concise account of Theremin and his instruments. Contains many interviews with electro-music luminaries such as Bob Moog, Clara Rockmore, Brian Wilson and of course Lev Theremin himself. Shot on film, lots of archive footage, a bit of technical stuff and a bit of romance too!

This man's life and achievements in different fields could be the scenario of a successful blockbuster...

Great story (if a shade skewed from what I have read elsewhere about his life story), thoroughly enjoyable... and even reminded me of the NYC I knew of old :)