How to Listen To... New Dimensions in Sound (1957)

★★★★★ · Fantastical Wayback Machine For Audiophiles.... · Neon Bozo · 2004-02-18

While watching this I kept thinking to myself....imagine Trent Reznor sitting in his studio listening to Nine Inch Nails 5.1 digital Surround Sound mixes and going "Golly Gee! Doesn't this High Fidelity record sound just swell?" I am going to create my own soundtrack for this...during the silent parts (like the Grand Canyon flyover) I am going to insert the most horrifying death metal known to man. This will be a real hit at parties!! The REALLY hilarious thing, aside from the various Mr. Smiths and their ultimate 3-dimensional cube-ality (meaning to a modern "cool" person these characters…

★★★★ · Sampleriffic · DanAmrich · 2003-04-07

This film was intended to be shown with an accompanying record, to be played at the middle and end of the film as a stereo demonstration; nearly all the dialogue is without bed music, and since most of it explains how recorded audio and hi-fi systems work, it's awesome for anyone looking to drop some golly-gee-audio-is-keen style quote chestnuts into their techno mixes or what have you. And yes, great stock footage of the Grand Canyon in a lengthy flyby at the end!

★★★★ · Mr Smith goes to Stereoland · Spuzz · 2003-08-14

While no doubt people are commenting on the filn from an esthetic and audio viewpoint, I wanna comment on great the film looks. About 5 or 6 Mr Smiths, all of which I believe are played by the same actor are all awed by the wonders of High Fidelity Sound stereos, all of which are in fab late 50's living rooms. Even the stereos themselves look groovy. After much technical talk, One of the Mr Smiths lets us listen to Hi-fi-2, all we here is nothing. But wait! In a novel trick, the audio for this segment was obviously to be heard from an outside source. I would've loved to be in a theater when…

★★★★ · Great aerial shots ! · pablo_altes · 2003-03-19

The last part of this movie presents beautiful color (and quite long) Grand Canyon aerial shots, perfect for editors !

★★★ · Or how not to ... · RoboReview · 2015-07-07

Love the period decor and furnishings, and the outsized enthusiasm for recorded sound by all concerned. The biggest problem I have with this film isn't the multiple-role acting by the talent-challenged Hugh Beaumont wannabe. It's the missing stereo music. Obviously this was meant as a sales demonstration film, with the actual stereo sound provided in the store during the silent sections. It would be great if RCA or UMG or whoever owns all this now could dig up or assemble a stereo-dubbed version, for posterity (and the archive).

★★★ · Smith and Superman · Dodsworth the Cat · 2022-11-18

John Thiele's script is a quirky change from the usual Jam Handy fare, featuring an actor playing several versions of "Smith," explaining RCA HiFi sound to an off-camera voice. It's a shame neither get screen credit, but the narrator is the former radio voice of Superman, Bud Collyer, who had just begun a run as host of "To Tell the Truth." Charles Nasca is responsible for the 1950s modern living room sets. The short ends with aerial footage of the Grand Canyon. Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite was to be heard underneath, but all you can hear on this footage is the sound of the film, with a few…