Douglas Shearer

Douglas Shearer

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.

Sound

1954

Her Twelve Men

Recording Supervision

1954

M-G-M Jubilee Overture

Sound Recordist

1954

1954

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Recording Supervision

1954

Valley of the Kings

Recording Supervision

1954

Executive Suite

Recording Supervision

1954

1954

Rose Marie

Recording Supervision

1953

Kiss Me Kate

Recording Supervision

1953

Easy to Love

Recording Supervision

1953

All the Brothers Were Valiant

Recording Supervision

1953

Give a Girl a Break

Recording Supervision

1953

Take the High Ground!

Recording Supervision

1953

The Actress

Recording Supervision

1953

Big Leaguer

Recording Supervision

1953

The Affairs of Dobie Gillis

Recording Supervision

1953

The Band Wagon

Recording Supervision

1953

Ride, Vaquero!

Recording Supervision

1953

Dream Wife

Recording Supervision

1953

Dangerous When Wet

Recording Supervision

1953

Julius Caesar

Recording Supervision

1953

Young Bess

Recording Supervision

1953

Scandal at Scourie

Recording Supervision

1953

Small Town Girl

Recording Supervision

1953

Jeopardy

Recording Supervision

1953

The Girl Who Had Everything

Recording Supervision

1953

The Story of Three Loves

Recording Supervision

1953

I Love Melvin

Recording Supervision

1953

Lili

Sound

1953

Battle Circus

Recording Supervision

1953

1953

The Naked Spur

Recording Supervision

1952

The Bad and the Beautiful

Recording Supervision

1952

Million Dollar Mermaid

Recording Supervision

1952

Everything I Have Is Yours

Recording Supervision

1952

The Merry Widow

Recording Supervision

1952

Fearless Fagan

Recording Supervision

1952

Pat and Mike

Sound Recordist

1952

Skirts Ahoy!

Recording Supervision

1952

1952

Scaramouche

Recording Supervision

1952

Talk About a Stranger

Sound Director

1952

Singin' in the Rain

Recording Supervision

1952

Love Is Better Than Ever

Recording Supervision

1952

The Belle of New York

Recording Supervision

1952

Invitation

Recording Supervision

1952

1951

Westward the Women

Recording Supervision

1951

Too Young to Kiss

Recording Supervision

1951

Callaway Went Thataway

Recording Supervision

1951

Quo Vadis

Sound Recordist

1951

Angels in the Outfield

Recording Supervision

1951

1951

The Red Badge of Courage

Recording Supervision

1951

An American in Paris

Recording Supervision

1951

The Strip

Recording Supervision

1951

The Tall Target

Recording Supervision

1951

The Law and the Lady

Recording Supervision

1951

Show Boat

Recording Supervision

1951

Kind Lady

Recording Supervision

1951

1951

The Great Caruso

Recording Supervision

1951

1951

Father's Little Dividend

Recording Supervision

1951

Cause for Alarm!

Recording Supervision

1951

Royal Wedding

Recording Supervision

1951

Three Guys Named Mike

Recording Supervision

1950

Pagan Love Song

Recording Supervision

1950

The Magnificent Yankee

Recording Supervision

1950

Kim

Recording Supervision

1950

1950

King Solomon's Mines

Recording Supervision

1950

To Please a Lady

Recording Supervision

1950

Right Cross

Recording Supervision

1950

Summer Stock

Recording Supervision

1950

Devil's Doorway

Sound Supervisor

1950

Duchess of Idaho

Recording Supervision

1950

Three Little Words

Recording Supervision

1950

Mystery Street

Recording Supervision

1950

Shadow on the Wall

Recording Supervision

1950

Father of the Bride

Recording Supervision

1950

Annie Get Your Gun

Recording Supervision

1950

The Asphalt Jungle

Recording Supervision

1950

Stars in My Crown

Recording Supervision

1950

Black Hand

Recording Supervision

1950

1950

The Outriders

Sound Recordist

1950

The Outriders

Sound Designer

1949

On the Town

Recording Supervision

1949

On the Town

Sound Director

1949

Tension

Recording Supervision

1949

Intruder in the Dust

Sound Recordist

1949

Adam's Rib

Recording Supervision

1949

Adam's Rib

Sound Recordist

1949

Battleground

Recording Supervision

1949

That Forsyte Woman

Recording Supervision

1949

Challenge to Lassie

Recording Supervision

1949

Border Incident

Sound Supervisor

1949

Madame Bovary

Recording Supervision

1949

In the Good Old Summertime

Recording Supervision

1949

The Great Sinner

Recording Supervision

1949

Neptune's Daughter

Recording Supervision

1949

The Stratton Story

Recording Supervision

1949

The Barkleys of Broadway

Recording Supervision

1949

The Secret Garden

Sound Director

1949

1949

Act of Violence

Sound Director

1949

1948

The Three Musketeers

Recording Supervision

1948

1948

A Date with Judy

Recording Supervision

1948

Easter Parade

Sound Director

1948

Easter Parade

Sound Recordist

1948

The Pirate

Recording Supervision

1948

1947

Good News

Recording Supervision

1947

Killer McCoy

Sound Director

1947

Desire Me

Sound Director

1947

Song of Love

Sound Director

1947

The Unfinished Dance

Sound Director

1947

Cynthia

Sound

1947

Song of the Thin Man

Recording Supervision

1947

1947

1947

Undercover Maisie

Sound Director

1947

Green Dolphin Street

Recording Supervision

1946

The Secret Heart

Sound Director

1946

Lady in the Lake

Sound Director

1946

The Yearling

Recording Supervision

1946

1946

Undercurrent

Sound Director

1946

Bad Bascomb

Recording Supervision

1946

1946

The Postman Always Rings Twice

Recording Supervision

1946

The Hoodlum Saint

Recording Supervision

1946

Up Goes Maisie

Sound Director

1946

The Harvey Girls

Recording Supervision

1945

She Went to the Races

Recording Supervision

1945

The Hidden Eye

Recording Supervision

1945

Ziegfeld Follies

Recording Supervision

1945

Thrill of a Romance

Recording Supervision

1945

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Recording Supervision

1945

Main Street After Dark

Recording Supervision

1944

The Thin Man Goes Home

Recording Supervision

1944

Music for Millions

Sound Director

1944

Gentle Annie

Recording Supervision

1944

Meet Me in St. Louis

Recording Supervision

1944

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

Recording Supervision

1944

Mrs. Parkington

Sound Director

1944

Kismet

Sound Director

1944

Maisie Goes to Reno

Sound Director

1944

The Canterville Ghost

Sound Director

1944

Bathing Beauty

Recording Supervision

1944

1944

1944

1943

Swing Fever

Sound Director

1943

Thousands Cheer

Recording Supervision

1943

Bataan

Recording Supervision

1943

Above Suspicion

Sound Director

1943

Cabin in the Sky

Sound Director

1943

The Human Comedy

Recording Supervision

1942

For Me and My Gal

Sound Director

1942

Eyes in the Night

Sound Director

1942

Cairo

Sound Director

1942

Her Cardboard Lover

Recording Supervision

1942

Mrs. Miniver

Recording Supervision

1942

1942

Tarzan's New York Adventure

Recording Supervision

1942

Grand Central Murder

Recording Supervision

1942

Fingers at the Window

Sound Director

1942

Kid Glove Killer

Sound Director

1942

Mokey

Sound Director

1942

Nazi Agent

Sound Director

1941

1941

Johnny Eager

Recording Supervision

1941

Tarzan's Secret Treasure

Recording Supervision

1941

Shadow of the Thin Man

Recording Supervision

1941

The Feminine Touch

Recording Supervision

1941

Honky Tonk

Recording Supervision

1941

Lady Be Good

Sound Director

1941

When Ladies Meet

Sound Director

1941

Blossoms in the Dust

Sound Director

1941

Love Crazy

Sound Director

1941

Love Crazy

Recording Supervision

1941

1941

1941

Ziegfeld Girl

Recording Supervision

1941

Washington Melodrama

Recording Supervision

1941

Rage in Heaven

Recording Supervision

1941

Come Live with Me

Recording Supervision

1940

Comrade X

Sound Director

1940

Go West

Recording Supervision

1940

The Philadelphia Story

Recording Supervision

1940

Boom Town

Sound Recordist

1940

I Love You Again

Recording Supervision

1940

Pride and Prejudice

Recording Supervision

1940

We Who Are Young

Recording Supervision

1940

1940

Susan and God

Sound Director

1940

Waterloo Bridge

Sound Director

1940

Northwest Passage

Sound Director

1940

1940

The Earl of Chicago

Recording Supervision

1939

Ninotchka

Recording Supervision

1939

Ninotchka

Sound Director

1939

Another Thin Man

Sound Director

1939

At the Circus

Recording Supervision

1939

1939

Fast and Furious

Sound Director

1939

Thunder Afloat

Sound Director

1939

The Women

Sound Director

1939

The Wizard of Oz

Sound Director

1939

On Borrowed Time

Recording Supervision

1939

Stronger Than Desire

Recording Supervision

1939

Tarzan Finds a Son!

Recording Supervision

1939

Tell No Tales

Sound Director

1939

The Hardys Ride High

Sound Director

1939

The Kid From Texas

Recording Supervision

1939

Fast and Loose

Sound Director

1939

Idiot's Delight

Recording Supervision

1938

Sweethearts

Sound Director

1938

The Girl Downstairs

Sound Director

1938

Dramatic School

Sound Recordist

1938

The Shining Hour

Sound Director

1938

The Great Waltz

Sound Director

1938

Too Hot to Handle

Recording Supervision

1938

Boys Town

Recording Supervision

1938

1938

Three Comrades

Sound Director

1938

Test Pilot

Sound Director

1938

1938

Of Human Hearts

Sound Director

1937

Beg, Borrow or Steal

Sound Director

1937

Conquest

Sound Director

1937

Double Wedding

Sound Director

1937

The Bride Wore Red

Sound Director

1937

Madame X

Sound Director

1937

Broadway Melody of 1938

Recording Supervision

1937

1937

A Day at the Races

Sound Director

1937

The Good Earth

Recording Supervision

1937

They Gave Him a Gun

Sound Director

1937

Night Must Fall

Recording Supervision

1937

A Family Affair

Sound Director

1937

1936

Camille

Sound Director

1936

After the Thin Man

Recording Supervision

1936

1936

Tarzan Escapes

Recording Supervision

1936

Libeled Lady

Sound Director

1936

Libeled Lady

Recording Supervision

1936

Romeo and Juliet

Sound Director

1936

Suzy

Sound Director

1936

The Devil-Doll

Recording Supervision

1936

San Francisco

Sound Director

1936

Fury

Sound Director

1936

Trouble for Two

Recording Supervision

1936

The Unguarded Hour

Sound Director

1936

The Great Ziegfeld

Sound Director

1936

Three Godfathers

Recording Supervision

1936

1935

A Tale of Two Cities

Sound Director

1935

Whipsaw

Sound Director

1935

Whipsaw

Recording Supervision

1935

Mutiny on the Bounty

Sound Director

1935

A Night at the Opera

Sound Director

1935

I Live My Life

Sound Director

1935

Broadway Melody of 1936

Recording Supervision

1935

1935

Mad Love

Sound Director

1935

No More Ladies

Sound Director

1935

Murder in the Fleet

Sound Director

1935

Reckless

Recording Supervision

1935

Naughty Marietta

Sound Director

1935

The Casino Murder Case

Recording Supervision

1935

Times Square Lady

Sound Director

1935

David Copperfield

Sound Director

1934

1934

Hide-Out

Sound Director

1934

Treasure Island

Sound Director

1934

1934

Operator 13

Sound Director

1934

The Thin Man

Sound Director

1934

Hollywood Party

Sound Director

1934

Sadie McKee

Sound Director

1934

Manhattan Melodrama

Sound Director

1934

Tarzan and His Mate

Recording Supervision

1934

Men in White

Sound Director

1934

The Mystery of Mr. X

Sound Director

1934

1934

Queen Christina

Sound Director

1933

Going Hollywood

Sound Director

1933

Should Ladies Behave

Sound Director

1933

Dancing Lady

Sound Director

1933

Bombshell

Sound Director

1933

1933

Beauty for Sale

Sound Director

1933

Midnight Mary

Sound Director

1933

The Barbarian

Sound Director

1933

1933

Fast Workers

Sound Director

1933

Today We Live

Sound Director

1933

1933

Whistling in the Dark

Sound Director

1932

The Son-Daughter

Sound Director

1932

1932

The Mask of Fu Manchu

Sound Director

1932

Red Dust

Sound Director

1932

Faithless

Sound Director

1932

Smilin' Through

Sound Director

1932

1932

Unashamed

Sound Director

1932

Red-Headed Woman

Sound Director

1932

As You Desire Me

Sound Director

1932

Grand Hotel

Sound Director

1932

Letty Lynton

Sound Director

1932

1932

The Wet Parade

Sound Director

1932

Arsène Lupin

Sound Director

1932

The Passionate Plumber

Recording Supervision

1932

Emma

Sound Director

1932

Freaks

Recording Supervision

1931

Mata Hari

Sound Director

1931

Private Lives

Sound Director

1931

West of Broadway

Sound Director

1931

The Champ

Recording Supervision

1931

Possessed

Sound Director

1931

1931

1931

1931

This Modern Age

Sound Director

1931

Guilty Hands

Sound Director

1931

The Squaw Man

Sound Director

1931

The Man in Possession

Sound Director

1931

A Free Soul

Sound Director

1931

Laughing Sinners

Sound Director

1931

Strangers May Kiss

Sound Director

1931

Parlor, Bedroom and Bath

Recording Supervision

1931

Trader Horn

Recording Supervision

1930

Passion Flower

Sound Director

1930

1930

War Nurse

Sound Director

1930

1930

Madam Satan

Sound Recordist

1930

Romance

Sound Director

1930

Our Blushing Brides

Sound Director

1930

1930

The Lady of Scandal

Sound Director

1930

The Divorcee

Sound Director

1930

Montana Moon

Sound Director

1930

1929

So This Is College

Sound Engineer

1929

The Unholy Night

Sound Recordist

1929

Wonder of Women

Sound Engineer

1929

The Idle Rich

Sound Engineer

1929

The Broadway Melody

Sound Recordist

1929

The Broadway Melody

Recording Supervision

Crew

1936

Fury

Sound Recordist

1936

1936

Wife vs. Secretary

Sound Recordist

1936

Rose Marie

Sound Recordist

1936

Riffraff

Sound Recordist

1935

Rendezvous

Sound Recordist

1935

The Night Is Young

Sound Recordist

1931

Sporting Blood

Sound Recordist

1930

Lord Byron of Broadway

Sound Recordist

1930

Anna Christie

Sound Recordist

1929

Their Own Desire

Sound Recordist

1929

Dynamite

Sound Recordist

1929

Infos

Full Name
Douglas Shearer
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
11/17/1899
Date of Death
1/6/1971
Also Known As

Douglas Graham Shearer

Douglas G. Shearer