Before films had sound, cinema was surprisingly noisy — not because the film itself made a sound, but because musicians often played live in the cinema while the pictures appeared on screen. Pianists, organists and even small ensembles would create music to match what was happening.

Then came the big change. In the late 1920s, films began to include synchronised sound. Suddenly, audiences could hear actors speak, hear doors slam and hear music that was part of the film itself. Movies became a completely different experience.

Music soon became one of the most important parts of a film. A scary scene could feel terrifying with the right music. A funny scene could become even funnier. A hero could have their own musical theme that returned whenever they appeared.

Composers began writing huge pieces of music especially for films — and sometimes the music became almost as famous as the movie itself.