Douglas Shearer
Known for: Sound
Born: November 17, 1899
Died: January 6, 1971
Place of birth: Westmount, Québec, Canada
Douglas Graham Shearer (November 17, 1899 – January 5, 1971) was a Canadian-American pioneering sound designer and recording director who played a key role in the advancement of sound technology for motion pictures. He won seven Academy Awards for his work. In 2008, he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. Douglas began his journey into cinema by studying experimental electricity at Northern Electric Company before joining MGM in 1925. Initially exploring lighting and cameras, he pivoted to sound when the era of sound pictures emerged in 1928. He pioneered synchronizing musical soundtracks with film scenes, notably in the groundbreaking "The Broadway Melody," which won the 1929 Oscar for Best Picture. As head of MGM's sound department until his retirement, Shearer revolutionized sound recording, winning an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording for "The Big House." His groundbreaking work at MGM significantly enhanced the technical aspects of filmmaking. His legacy was recognized even in death, receiving a front-page obituary in The New York Times—an honour typically reserved for industry giants and heads of state.
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Filmography
545 movies · 0 TV shows, newest first
5.9
Her Twelve Men
1954
6.7
M-G-M Jubilee Overture
1954
7.1
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
1954
4.9
Valley of the Kings
1954
7.1
Executive Suite
1954
6.5
Tennessee Champ
1954
4.5
Rose Marie
1954
10.0
The Great Diamond Robbery
1954
5.9
Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor
1953
6.3
Escape from Fort Bravo
1953
6.2
Easy to Love
1953
6.5
Kiss Me Kate
1953
6.1
All the Brothers Were Valiant
1953
5.4
Give a Girl a Break
1953
6.2
Take the High Ground!
1953
6.4
The Actress
1953
7.3
Big Leaguer
1953
6.1
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis
1953
7.2
The Band Wagon
1953
6.1
Ride, Vaquero!
1953
5.4
Dream Wife
1953
6.0
Dangerous When Wet
1953
7.1
Julius Caesar
1953
7.5
Capriccio Italien
1953
5.8
Young Bess
1953
6.9
Scandal at Scourie
1953
6.0
Remains to Be Seen
1953
5.6
Small Town Girl
1953
6.7
Jeopardy
1953
6.2
The Girl Who Had Everything
1953
6.0
The Story of Three Loves
1953
6.2
I Love Melvin
1953
5.8
Confidentially Connie
1953
6.8
Lili
1953
6.0
Battle Circus
1953
7.0
The Naked Spur
1953
7.3
The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
6.5
Million Dollar Mermaid
1952
6.0
Desperate Search
1952
5.8
Everything I Have Is Yours
1952
6.3
The Merry Widow
1952
5.2
Fearless Fagan
1952
6.3
Holiday for Sinners
1952
7.0
Shadow in the Sky
1952
6.4
Pat and Mike
1952
5.9
Glory Alley
1952
5.8
Skirts Ahoy!
1952
7.1
The Girl in White
1952
7.0
Scaramouche
1952
5.2
Young Man with Ideas
1952
6.6
Carbine Williams
1952
6.2
Talk About a Stranger
1952
8.1
Singin' in the Rain
1952
6.6
Love Is Better Than Ever
1952
5.7
The Belle of New York
1952
6.7
Invitation
1952
6.9
The Wild North
1952
7.0
Westward the Women
1951
5.1
Too Young to Kiss
1951
5.6
Callaway Went Thataway
1951
7.1
Quo Vadis
1951
7.0
Angels in the Outfield
1951
5.4
Texas Carnival
1951
6.5
The Red Badge of Courage
1951
7.0
An American in Paris
1951
5.9
The Strip
1951
6.9
The Tall Target
1951
6.4
The Law and the Lady
1951
6.2
Show Boat
1951
7.0
Kind Lady
1951
4.2
The Painted Hills
1951
5.9
The Great Caruso
1951
6.5
Father's Little Dividend
1951
4.5
Soldiers Three
1951
5.9
Cause for Alarm!
1951
6.4
Royal Wedding
1951
5.8
Three Guys Named Mike
1951
5.0
Grounds for Marriage
1951
5.2
Pagan Love Song
1950
5.9
The Magnificent Yankee
1950
5.5
Watch the Birdie
1950
6.5
Kim
1950
6.4
Two Weeks with Love
1950
6.5
King Solomon's Mines
1950
6.5
To Please a Lady
1950
7.3
Right Cross
1950
6.7
Summer Stock
1950
6.9
Devil's Doorway
1950
4.9
Duchess of Idaho
1950
6.3
Three Little Words
1950
6.6
Crisis
1950
6.8
Mystery Street
1950
6.4
The Big Hangover
1950
6.7
Shadow on the Wall
1950
7.0
Father of the Bride
1950
6.7
Annie Get Your Gun
1950
5.1
Please Believe Me
1950
7.5
The Asphalt Jungle
1950
7.0
Stars in My Crown
1950
7.6
The Reformer and the Redhead
1950
6.9
The Yellow Cab Man
1950
6.2
Black Hand
1950
6.0
Nancy Goes to Rio
1950
7.2
The Outriders
1950
7.0
On the Town
1949
6.8
Tension
1949
7.3
Intruder in the Dust
1949
7.1
Adam's Rib
1949
6.7
Battleground
1949
6.0
That Forsyte Woman
1949
5.5
Challenge to Lassie
1949
6.9
Border Incident
1949
6.8
Madame Bovary
1949
6.8
In the Good Old Summertime
1949
6.8
The Great Sinner
1949
6.1
Neptune's Daughter
1949
6.7
The Stratton Story
1949
6.9
The Barkleys of Broadway
1949
7.1
The Secret Garden
1949
7.4
Little Women
1949
6.7
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
1949
6.9
Act of Violence
1949
6.8
The Three Musketeers
1948
6.7
Julia Misbehaves
1948
6.1
A Date with Judy
1948
7.0
Easter Parade
1948
6.5
The Pirate
1948
5.2
Summer Holiday
1948
7.8
Big City
1948
6.5
Good News
1947
6.3
Killer McCoy
1947
6.5
Desire Me
1947
6.8
Song of Love
1947
6.4
The Unfinished Dance
1947
6.2
Cynthia
1947
6.7
Song of the Thin Man
1947
6.7
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947
7.0
The Hucksters
1947
6.8
Dark Delusion
1947
6.0
Living in a Big Way
1947
6.1
The Sea of Grass
1947
8.0
Undercover Maisie
1947
5.2
The Arnelo Affair
1947
6.3
Green Dolphin Street
1947
5.9
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
1946
6.5
The Secret Heart
1946
6.1
Lady in the Lake
1946
6.7
The Yearling
1946
5.8
Till the Clouds Roll By
1946
5.9
Undercurrent
1946
5.9
Courage of Lassie
1946
6.9
A Letter for Evie
1946
6.3
Two Sisters from Boston
1946
6.6
Two Smart People
1946
7.3
Bad Bascomb
1946
7.1
The Postman Always Rings Twice
1946
5.5
The Hoodlum Saint
1946
6.8
Up Goes Maisie
1946
6.6
The Harvey Girls
1946
6.0
She Went to the Races
1945
6.4
Week-End at the Waldorf
1945
7.9
The Hidden Eye
1945
6.0
Ziegfeld Follies
1945
6.8
Dangerous Partners
1945
7.5
Twice Blessed
1945
6.6
Thrill of a Romance
1945
6.2
Son of Lassie
1945
7.1
The Picture of Dorian Gray
1945
4.5
Main Street After Dark
1945
6.0
The Great Morgan
1945
7.1
The Thin Man Goes Home
1944
6.7
Music for Millions
1944
5.7
Gentle Annie
1944
7.0
Meet Me in St. Louis
1944
6.7
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
1944
6.0
Mrs. Parkington
1944
5.5
Kismet
1944
6.6
Maisie Goes to Reno
1944
6.9
The Canterville Ghost
1944
5.9
Bathing Beauty
1944
6.7
The White Cliffs of Dover
1944
6.3
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
1944
7.5
Gaslight
1944
6.1
An American Romance
1944
4.0
Rationing
1944
6.5
See Here, Private Hargrove
1944
6.7
A Guy Named Joe
1944
6.0
Swing Fever
1943
6.8
Swing Shift Maisie
1943
6.4
Thousands Cheer
1943
7.0
The Man from Down Under
1943
6.4
Bataan
1943
6.2
Above Suspicion
1943
6.5
Cabin in the Sky
1943
6.2
The Human Comedy
1943
5.0
Andy Hardy's Double Life
1942
6.5
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
1942
6.5
For Me and My Gal
1942
6.1
Eyes in the Night
1942
5.7
Panama Hattie
1942
6.3
Cairo
1942
7.0
Calling Dr. Gillespie
1942
4.9
Her Cardboard Lover
1942
7.1
Mrs. Miniver
1942
6.7
Maisie Gets Her Man
1942
5.8
Tortilla Flat
1942
6.4
Tarzan's New York Adventure
1942
5.7
Grand Central Murder
1942
5.7
Fingers at the Window
1942
6.4
Kid Glove Killer
1942
6.7
Mokey
1942
6.2
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
1942
6.6
Nazi Agent
1942
6.2
Dr. Kildare's Victory
1942
6.4
Two-Faced Woman
1941
6.0
Kathleen
1941
6.2
Johnny Eager
1941
5.9
Tarzan's Secret Treasure
1941
7.0
Shadow of the Thin Man
1941
6.4
Married Bachelor
1941
5.1
The Feminine Touch
1941
6.4
Honky Tonk
1941
5.5
Lady Be Good
1941
6.9
When Ladies Meet
1941
6.0
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
1941
6.6
Blossoms in the Dust
1941
5.9
Whistling in the Dark
1941
6.8
Love Crazy
1941
6.8
I'll Wait for You
1941
6.8
A Woman's Face
1941
7.0
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
1941
6.6
Ziegfeld Girl
1941
6.0
Washington Melodrama
1941
6.4
Rage in Heaven
1941
5.7
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
1941
5.8
Blonde Inspiration
1941
6.8
Come Live with Me
1941
6.7
The Wild Man of Borneo
1941
7.0
Maisie Was a Lady
1941
6.1
Comrade X
1940
6.6
Go West
1940
7.5
The Philadelphia Story
1940
6.8
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
1940
6.4
Dulcy
1940
6.8
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
1940
7.0
Boom Town
1940
5.9
The Golden Fleecing
1940
7.2
I Love You Again
1940
6.9
Pride and Prejudice
1940
6.8
Gold Rush Maisie
1940
6.3
We Who Are Young
1940
4.2
Sporting Blood
1940
5.7
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
1940
6.5
Susan and God
1940
7.5
Waterloo Bridge
1940
4.8
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case
1940
7.0
Strange Cargo
1940
6.6
Northwest Passage
1940
4.4
Congo Maisie
1940
8.1
The Shop Around the Corner
1940
6.3
The Earl of Chicago
1940
5.9
Judge Hardy and Son
1939
6.0
Nick Carter, Master Detective
1939
6.2
Henry Goes Arizona
1939
5.0
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
1939
6.1
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
1939
7.1
Another Thin Man
1939
7.5
Ninotchka
1939
6.4
At the Circus
1939
6.4
Babes in Arms
1939
5.2
Fast and Furious
1939
6.1
Thunder Afloat
1939
7.2
The Women
1939
7.6
The Wizard of Oz
1939
6.5
Miracles for Sale
1939
5.9
They All Come Out
1939
5.7
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
1939
7.6
On Borrowed Time
1939
5.5
Stronger Than Desire
1939
4.8
Maisie
1939
6.1
Tarzan Finds a Son!
1939
5.4
Tell No Tales
1939
6.1
6,000 Enemies
1939
6.6
Calling Dr. Kildare
1939
6.5
The Hardys Ride High
1939
7.0
The Kid From Texas
1939
6.6
Broadway Serenade
1939
5.6
The Ice Follies of 1939
1939
5.9
Fast and Loose
1939
6.5
Honolulu
1939
6.1
Idiot's Delight
1939
5.8
Sweethearts
1938
4.7
The Girl Downstairs
1938
6.5
Dramatic School
1938
6.7
Out West with the Hardys
1938
6.7
The Shining Hour
1938
4.9
Spring Madness
1938
5.9
The Great Waltz
1938
6.7
Young Dr. Kildare
1938
10.0
Vacation from Love
1938
6.0
Too Hot to Handle
1938
6.8
Boys Town
1938
4.2
Three Loves Has Nancy
1938
6.6
Marie Antoinette
1938
8.0
The Chaser
1938
6.2
Love Finds Andy Hardy
1938
5.4
Fast Company
1938
7.4
Paradise for Three
1938
7.3
Three Comrades
1938
6.1
Test Pilot
1938
6.8
Judge Hardy's Children
1938
7.3
The First Hundred Years
1938
6.3
Arsène Lupin Returns
1938
6.0
Of Human Hearts
1938
6.0
Mannequin
1938
6.5
Love Is a Headache
1938
5.2
Man-Proof
1938
5.7
You're Only Young Once
1937
6.0
Beg, Borrow or Steal
1937
5.7
Navy Blue and Gold
1937
6.6
Conquest
1937
6.4
Double Wedding
1937
6.7
The Bride Wore Red
1937
6.1
Madame X
1937
6.3
My Dear Miss Aldrich
1937
6.3
The Women Men Marry
1937
7.0
The Romance of Celluloid
1937
6.6
Broadway Melody of 1938
1937
7.4
Captains Courageous
1937
7.0
Married Before Breakfast
1937
7.1
A Day at the Races
1937
4.6
Parnell
1937
6.3
The Good Earth
1937
6.7
They Gave Him a Gun
1937
6.5
The Thirteenth Chair
1937
7.0
Night Must Fall
1937
6.8
Maytime
1937
5.9
A Family Affair
1937
5.9
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
1937
7.0
Camille
1936
7.3
After the Thin Man
1936
4.9
Sinner Take All
1936
6.1
Born to Dance
1936
6.4
Mad Holiday
1936
6.9
Tarzan Escapes
1936
6.3
The Longest Night
1936
5.8
Sworn Enemy
1936
6.3
Romeo and Juliet
1936
5.9
Suzy
1936
6.8
The Devil-Doll
1936
6.6
San Francisco
1936
7.5
Fury
1936
6.5
Trouble for Two
1936
5.6
Absolute Quiet
1936
6.4
The Unguarded Hour
1936
6.3
The Great Ziegfeld
1936
4.8
Moonlight Murder
1936
6.1
Petticoat Fever
1936
5.2
Robin Hood of El Dorado
1936
6.9
Three Godfathers
1936
6.7
Wife vs. Secretary
1936
5.7
The Garden Murder Case
1936
5.5
The Voice of Bugle Ann
1936
6.1
Rose Marie
1936
5.1
Tough Guy
1936
6.0
Three Live Ghosts
1936
5.4
Riffraff
1936
6.8
A Tale of Two Cities
1935
6.7
Last of the Pagans
1935
6.4
Whipsaw
1935
6.8
Kind Lady
1935
7.4
Mutiny on the Bounty
1935
7.4
A Night at the Opera
1935
4.9
Rendezvous
1935
6.6
I Live My Life
1935
6.5
Broadway Melody of 1936
1935
6.0
The Bishop Misbehaves
1935
6.6
Anna Karenina
1935
6.3
China Seas
1935
6.8
Woman Wanted
1935
7.0
Mad Love
1935
6.0
Calm Yourself
1935
5.0
No More Ladies
1935
6.3
Public Hero Number 1
1935
6.6
Murder in the Fleet
1935
4.9
Age of Indiscretion
1935
5.1
Reckless
1935
5.4
Baby Face Harrington
1935
5.5
Naughty Marietta
1935
6.8
The Casino Murder Case
1935
7.0
Times Square Lady
1935
6.7
Shadow of Doubt
1935
4.3
The Winning Ticket
1935
6.7
David Copperfield
1935
6.5
Sequoia
1935
6.0
The Night Is Young
1935
6.8
Biography of a Bachelor Girl
1935
6.0
Forsaking All Others
1934
6.0
The Gay Bride
1934
7.6
What Every Woman Knows
1934
6.2
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
1934
7.0
Chained
1934
7.3
Hide-Out
1934
6.5
Treasure Island
1934
7.4
The Girl from Missouri
1934
4.0
Paris Interlude
1934
5.9
Operator 13
1934
7.5
The Thin Man
1934
5.6
Hollywood Party
1934
7.0
Sadie McKee
1934
7.0
Manhattan Melodrama
1934
6.2
Viva Villa!
1934
6.6
Tarzan and His Mate
1934
6.3
Men in White
1934
6.7
Riptide
1934
6.3
The Show-Off
1934
6.8
The Mystery of Mr. X
1934
7.1
The Cat and the Fiddle
1934
6.9
Queen Christina
1934
6.8
Dinner at Eight
1933
5.5
Going Hollywood
1933
4.3
The Women in His Life
1933
4.8
Should Ladies Behave
1933
6.9
Dancing Lady
1933
6.5
Bombshell
1933
5.6
Night Flight
1933
6.3
Stage Mother
1933
7.0
The Solitaire Man
1933
6.9
Penthouse
1933
7.2
Beauty for Sale
1933
5.4
Turn Back the Clock
1933
6.8
Another Language
1933
6.2
The Stranger's Return
1933
6.3
Hold Your Man
1933
6.8
Midnight Mary
1933
5.7
When Ladies Meet
1933
7.2
Reunion in Vienna
1933
6.6
Storm at Daybreak
1933
6.0
The Nuisance
1933
5.0
Peg o' My Heart
1933
7.0
Made on Broadway
1933
5.1
The Barbarian
1933
6.6
Looking Forward
1933
6.9
Gabriel Over the White House
1933
5.4
The White Sister
1933
5.0
Fast Workers
1933
6.3
Today We Live
1933
6.2
Men Must Fight
1933
4.2
The Secret of Madame Blanche
1933
6.0
Whistling in the Dark
1933
5.6
Strange Interlude
1932
5.5
Rasputin and the Empress
1932
6.5
The Son-Daughter
1932
5.8
Flesh
1932
5.4
The Mask of Fu Manchu
1932
5.7
Payment Deferred
1932
6.9
Red Dust
1932
7.0
Faithless
1932
6.4
Kongo
1932
6.0
Smilin' Through
1932
7.0
Grand Hotel
1932
6.3
Blondie of the Follies
1932
6.6
Downstairs
1932
6.8
The Washington Masquerade
1932
7.3
Unashamed
1932
6.6
Red-Headed Woman
1932
4.5
New Morals for Old
1932
6.5
Night Court
1932
6.4
As You Desire Me
1932
7.0
Huddle
1932
7.0
Letty Lynton
1932
6.3
But the Flesh Is Weak
1932
6.2
The Wet Parade
1932
6.6
Tarzan the Ape Man
1932
5.6
Polly of the Circus
1932
7.0
Arsène Lupin
1932
6.0
The Passionate Plumber
1932
6.0
Lovers Courageous
1932
6.7
Hell Divers
1932
6.6
Emma
1932
7.8
Freaks
1932
6.2
Mata Hari
1931
6.5
Private Lives
1931
6.8
West of Broadway
1931
7.1
The Champ
1931
7.0
Possessed
1931
4.8
The Cuban Love Song
1931
5.8
Flying High
1931
5.9
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
1931
5.2
The Guardsman
1931
6.7
Casanova Against His Will
1931
6.1
Susan Lenox
1931
5.9
This Modern Age
1931
5.9
Guilty Hands
1931
5.4
Sporting Blood
1931
5.4
The Squaw Man
1931
6.4
The Great Lover
1931
6.7
The Man in Possession
1931
8.0
Buster se marie
1931
6.1
Five and Ten
1931
6.2
A Free Soul
1931
5.3
Laughing Sinners
1931
5.2
Strangers May Kiss
1931
6.5
The bitter fruit
1931
5.4
Parlor, Bedroom and Bath
1931
6.9
Politics
1931
6.5
Dance, Fools, Dance
1931
5.4
Trader Horn
1931
6.5
The Bachelor Father
1931
5.1
Reducing
1931
6.7
Paid
1930
5.8
New Moon
1930
7.8
Anna Christie
1930
5.4
Passion Flower
1930
6.2
Min and Bill
1930
5.2
War Nurse
1930
6.7
The Big House
1930
5.0
A Lady's Morals
1930
10.0
Si l'empereur savait ça
1930
5.9
Madam Satan
1930
6.5
Romance
1930
5.6
Our Blushing Brides
1930
4.1
Let Us Be Gay
1930
6.6
The Big House
1930
5.5
The Florodora Girl
1930
5.5
The Lady of Scandal
1930
5.5
Children of Pleasure
1930
6.2
The Divorcee
1930
7.5
This Mad World
1930
4.7
Montana Moon
1930
4.7
Lord Byron of Broadway
1930
6.0
Anna Christie
1930
5.4
Not So Dumb
1930
6.8
The Ship from Shanghai
1930
4.8
They Learned About Women
1930
5.1
Their Own Desire
1929
6.4
Dynamite
1929
4.7
So This Is College
1929
5.5
The Thirteenth Chair
1929
5.7
The Unholy Night
1929
4.0
Wonder of Women
1929
6.0
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
1929
6.6
The Idle Rich
1929
6.3
The Voice of the City
1929
5.1
The Broadway Melody
1929