Douglas Shearer
Biography
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.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Sound
Known Credits
543
Gender
Male
Birthday
1899-11-17 (125 years old)
Place of Birth
Westmount, Québec, Canada
Acting
1945
The Great Morgan as Douglas Shearer (uncredited)1940
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound as SelfCrew
1954
Tennessee Champ Sound1954
The Great Diamond Robbery Recording Supervision1954
Rose Marie Recording Supervision1954
M-G-M Jubilee Overture Sound Recordist1954
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Sound1954
Executive Suite Recording Supervision1954
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Recording Supervision1954
Her Twelve Men Recording Supervision1954
Valley of the Kings Recording Supervision1953
The Story of Three Loves Recording Supervision1953
Lili Sound1953
Confidentially Connie Recording Supervision1953
Battle Circus Recording Supervision1953
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis Recording Supervision1953
Julius Caesar Recording Supervision1953
Take the High Ground! Recording Supervision1953
All the Brothers Were Valiant Recording Supervision1953
The Naked Spur Recording Supervision1953
Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor Music Supervisor1953
Jeopardy Recording Supervision1953
The Naked Spur Sound1953
Dangerous When Wet Recording Supervision1953
Give a Girl a Break Recording Supervision1953
Remains to Be Seen Recording Supervision1953
The Girl Who Had Everything Recording Supervision1953
Small Town Girl Recording Supervision1953
Capriccio Italien Recording Supervision1953
Easy to Love Recording Supervision1953
The Actress Recording Supervision1953
The Band Wagon Recording Supervision1953
Dream Wife Recording Supervision1953
Young Bess Recording Supervision1953
Scandal at Scourie Recording Supervision1953
I Love Melvin Recording Supervision1953
Kiss Me Kate Recording Supervision1953
Big Leaguer Recording Supervision1953
Ride, Vaquero! Recording Supervision1952
Skirts Ahoy! Recording Supervision1952
Desperate Search Recording Supervision1952
Fearless Fagan Recording Supervision1952
Carbine Williams Recording Supervision1952
Holiday for Sinners Sound1952
The Bad and the Beautiful Recording Supervision1952
Glory Alley Recording Supervision1952
The Wild North Sound1952
Invitation Recording Supervision1952
Young Man with Ideas Recording Supervision1952
Pat and Mike Sound Recordist1952
Shadow in the Sky Recording Supervision1952
Love Is Better Than Ever Recording Supervision1952
Talk About a Stranger Sound Director1952
The Belle of New York Recording Supervision1952
Everything I Have Is Yours Recording Supervision1952
Million Dollar Mermaid Recording Supervision1952
The Merry Widow Recording Supervision1952
The Girl in White Sound1952
Scaramouche Recording Supervision1952
Singin' in the Rain Recording Supervision1951
Father's Little Dividend Recording Supervision1951
Show Boat Recording Supervision1951
Kind Lady Recording Supervision1951
The Strip Recording Supervision1951
Texas Carnival Sound1951
The Tall Target Recording Supervision1951
Callaway Went Thataway Recording Supervision1951
The Painted Hills Sound1951
Quo Vadis Sound Recordist1951
Father's Little Dividend Sound Recordist1951
Grounds for Marriage Recording Supervision1951
Three Guys Named Mike Recording Supervision1951
Soldiers Three Recording Supervision1951
The Red Badge of Courage Sound Recordist1951
The Great Caruso Recording Supervision1951
Angels in the Outfield Recording Supervision1951
Too Young to Kiss Recording Supervision1951
Westward the Women Recording Supervision1951
Cause for Alarm! Recording Supervision1951
The Red Badge of Courage Recording Supervision1951
The Law and the Lady Recording Supervision1951
Royal Wedding Recording Supervision1951
An American in Paris Recording Supervision1950
Duchess of Idaho Recording Supervision1950
Kim Recording Supervision1950
The Outriders Sound Designer1950
To Please a Lady Recording Supervision1950
Father of the Bride Recording Supervision1950
Nancy Goes to Rio Sound1950
The Reformer and the Redhead Recording Supervision1950
Annie Get Your Gun Recording Supervision1950
The Magnificent Yankee Recording Supervision1950
Two Weeks with Love Sound1950
The Yellow Cab Man Recording Supervision1950
Black Hand Recording Supervision1950
Please Believe Me Recording Supervision1950
Shadow on the Wall Recording Supervision1950
The Big Hangover Recording Supervision1950
Stars in My Crown Recording Supervision1950
Stars in My Crown Sound Recordist1950
Right Cross Recording Supervision1950
Summer Stock Recording Supervision1950
The Asphalt Jungle Recording Supervision1950
Pagan Love Song Recording Supervision1950
Three Little Words Recording Supervision1950
King Solomon's Mines Recording Supervision1950
Crisis Recording Supervision1950
The Outriders Sound Recordist1949
Battleground Recording Supervision1949
That Forsyte Woman Recording Supervision1949
Challenge to Lassie Recording Supervision1949
In the Good Old Summertime Recording Supervision1949
The Great Sinner Recording Supervision1949
Adam's Rib Recording Supervision1949
Adam's Rib Sound Recordist1949
Take Me Out to the Ball Game Sound Director1949
On the Town Sound Director1949
Tension Recording Supervision1949
Madame Bovary Recording Supervision1949
Neptune's Daughter Recording Supervision1949
The Barkleys of Broadway Recording Supervision1949
The Stratton Story Recording Supervision1949
The Secret Garden Sound Director1949
On the Town Recording Supervision1948
Big City Sound1948
Julia Misbehaves Sound1948
Summer Holiday Sound1948
The Pirate Recording Supervision1948
Easter Parade Sound Director1948
A Date with Judy Recording Supervision1948
The Three Musketeers Recording Supervision1948
Easter Parade Sound Recordist1947
Good News Recording Supervision1947
The Arnelo Affair Sound1947
Living in a Big Way Sound1947
The Unfinished Dance Sound Director1947
Desire Me Sound Director1947
The Hucksters Sound Director1947
Killer McCoy Sound Director1947
The Romance of Rosy Ridge Sound Director1947
The Sea of Grass Sound1947
Dark Delusion Sound Director1947
Cynthia Sound1947
Song of Love Sound Director1947
Song of the Thin Man Recording Supervision1947
Green Dolphin Street Recording Supervision1947
Undercover Maisie Sound Director1946
Lady in the Lake Sound Director1946
Up Goes Maisie Sound Director1946
The Harvey Girls Recording Supervision1946
The Hoodlum Saint Recording Supervision1946
Bad Bascomb Recording Supervision1946
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy Sound Director1946
Two Smart People Sound Director1946
Courage of Lassie Recording Supervision1946
The Postman Always Rings Twice Sound Director1946
The Postman Always Rings Twice Recording Supervision1946
Two Sisters from Boston Recording Supervision1946
Undercurrent Sound Director1946
The Secret Heart Sound Director1946
The Yearling Recording Supervision1946
Till the Clouds Roll By Sound Director1945
Main Street After Dark Recording Supervision1945
Week-End at the Waldorf Recording Supervision1945
Twice Blessed Sound Director1945
Son of Lassie Recording Supervision1945
Dangerous Partners Recording Supervision1945
She Went to the Races Recording Supervision1945
The Hidden Eye Recording Supervision1945
The Picture of Dorian Gray Recording Supervision1945
Thrill of a Romance Recording Supervision1945
Ziegfeld Follies Recording Supervision1944
Mrs. Parkington Sound Director1944
Kismet Sound Director1944
Rationing Recording Supervision1944
Gentle Annie Recording Supervision1944
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble Sound Director1944
An American Romance Recording Supervision1944
Bathing Beauty Recording Supervision1944
See Here, Private Hargrove Sound Director1944
Music for Millions Sound Director1944
Gaslight Sound Designer1944
The Canterville Ghost Sound Director1944
The White Cliffs of Dover Sound Director1944
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Recording Supervision1944
Meet Me in St. Louis Recording Supervision1944
The Thin Man Goes Home Recording Supervision1944
Maisie Goes to Reno Sound Director1943
The Human Comedy Recording Supervision1943
Thousands Cheer Recording Supervision1943
A Guy Named Joe Sound1943
The Man from Down Under Recording Supervision1943
Swing Fever Sound Director1943
Cabin in the Sky Sound Director1943
Bataan Recording Supervision1943
Above Suspicion Sound Director1943
Swing Shift Maisie Sound Director1942
Mokey Sound Director1942
Cairo Sound Director1942
The Courtship of Andy Hardy Sound Director1942
Andy Hardy's Double Life Sound Director1942
Kid Glove Killer Sound Director1942
Tarzan's New York Adventure Recording Supervision1942
Tortilla Flat Sound1942
Calling Dr. Gillespie Recording Supervision1942
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant Recording Supervision1942
Dr. Kildare's Victory Recording Supervision1942
Panama Hattie Camera Operator1942
Nazi Agent Sound Director1942
Mrs. Miniver Recording Supervision1942
Grand Central Murder Recording Supervision1942
Fingers at the Window Sound Director1942
Eyes in the Night Sound Director1942
Her Cardboard Lover Recording Supervision1942
For Me and My Gal Sound Director1942
Maisie Gets Her Man Sound Director1941
Lady Be Good Sound Director1941
The Feminine Touch Recording Supervision1941
Johnny Eager Recording Supervision1941
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary Sound Director1941
Life Begins for Andy Hardy Sound Director1941
When Ladies Meet Sound Director1941
Married Bachelor Sound Director1941
I'll Wait for You Sound Director1941
Tarzan's Secret Treasure Recording Supervision1941
Blonde Inspiration Sound Director1941
Washington Melodrama Recording Supervision1941
Kathleen Sound Director1941
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare Sound Director1941
A Woman's Face Sound1941
Love Crazy Sound Director1941
Whistling in the Dark Recording Supervision1941
Two-Faced Woman Sound1941
Blossoms in the Dust Sound Director1941
Shadow of the Thin Man Recording Supervision1941
Maisie Was a Lady Sound Director1941
Love Crazy Recording Supervision1941
Rage in Heaven Recording Supervision1941
Come Live with Me Recording Supervision1941
Ziegfeld Girl Recording Supervision1940
Pride and Prejudice Recording Supervision1940
Congo Maisie Sound Director1940
We Who Are Young Recording Supervision1940
Dulcy Recording Supervision1940
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante Sound Director1940
A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound Director1940
The Golden Fleecing Sound Director1940
Sporting Blood Recording Supervision1940
Dr. Kildare Goes Home Recording Supervision1940
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case Recording Supervision1940
The Earl of Chicago Recording Supervision1940
Strange Cargo Sound Director1940
Waterloo Bridge Sound Director1940
Northwest Passage Sound Director1940
The Shop Around the Corner Sound Director1940
The Philadelphia Story Recording Supervision1940
Boom Town Sound Recordist1940
Comrade X Sound Director1940
Susan and God Sound Director1940
I Love You Again Recording Supervision1940
Go West Recording Supervision1940
Gold Rush Maisie Sound Director1939
Thunder Afloat Sound Director1939
The Hardys Ride High Sound Director1939
Fast and Furious Sound Director1939
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever Sound Director1939
Judge Hardy and Son Sound Director1939
Tell No Tales Sound Director1939
Calling Dr. Kildare Sound Director1939
Henry Goes Arizona Sound Director1939
Tarzan Finds a Son! Recording Supervision1939
Honolulu Sound Re-Recording Mixer1939
Babes in Arms Sound1939
Nick Carter, Master Detective Sound1939
Miracles for Sale Sound Recordist1939
Broadway Serenade Sound Recordist1939
The Kid From Texas Recording Supervision1939
Ninotchka Recording Supervision1939
Ninotchka Sound Director1939
The Secret of Dr. Kildare Recording Supervision1939
6,000 Enemies Recording Supervision1939
Stronger Than Desire Recording Supervision1939
They All Come Out Sound Director1939
The Women Sound Director1939
On Borrowed Time Recording Supervision1939
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President Recording Supervision1939
The Ice Follies of 1939 Sound Director1939
Another Thin Man Sound Director1939
At the Circus Recording Supervision1939
Idiot's Delight Recording Supervision1939
Maisie Sound Director1939
Fast and Loose Sound Director1939
The Wizard of Oz Sound Director1938
Sweethearts Sound Director1938
Fast Company Sound Director1938
Vacation from Love Sound Director1938
Judge Hardy's Children Sound Director1938
Love Finds Andy Hardy Sound Director1938
Out West with the Hardys Sound Director1938
Paradise for Three Sound Director1938
Three Loves Has Nancy Sound Director1938
The Girl Downstairs Sound Director1938
Test Pilot Sound Director1938
The Great Waltz Sound Director1938
Arsène Lupin Returns Sound Director1938
Man-Proof Sound1938
Boys Town Recording Supervision1938
Young Dr. Kildare Recording Supervision1938
Marie Antoinette Sound1938
Love Is a Headache Recording Supervision1938
The First Hundred Years Recording Supervision1938
Of Human Hearts Sound Director1938
Too Hot to Handle Recording Supervision1938
Three Comrades Sound Director1938
Dramatic School Sound Recordist1938
The Chaser Sound Director1938
The Shining Hour Sound Director1938
Mannequin Sound Director1938
Spring Madness Recording Supervision1937
Married Before Breakfast Sound Director1937
Beg, Borrow or Steal Sound Director1937
A Family Affair Sound Director1937
You're Only Young Once Sound Director1937
My Dear Miss Aldrich Sound Director1937
The Women Men Marry Recording Supervision1937
Captains Courageous Sound1937
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney Sound1937
The Romance of Celluloid Director1937
The Good Earth Recording Supervision1937
Navy Blue and Gold Recording Supervision1937
They Gave Him a Gun Sound Director1937
Night Must Fall Recording Supervision1937
Madame X Sound Director1937
Conquest Sound Director1937
The Bride Wore Red Sound Director1937
Double Wedding Sound Director1937
Broadway Melody of 1938 Recording Supervision1937
The Thirteenth Chair Sound Director1937
A Day at the Races Sound Director1937
Parnell Sound Recordist1936
The Devil-Doll Recording Supervision1936
The Longest Night Recording Supervision1936
Sinner Take All Sound Director1936
Sworn Enemy Recording Supervision1936
Three Live Ghosts Sound Director1936
Mad Holiday Recording Supervision1936
Suzy Sound Director1936
Tarzan Escapes Recording Supervision1936
Three Godfathers Recording Supervision1936
Fury Sound Recordist1936
Libeled Lady Recording Supervision1936
Rose Marie Sound Recordist1936
Riffraff Sound Recordist1936
Tough Guy Sound Recordist1936
Petticoat Fever Sound Recordist1936
Moonlight Murder Sound Recordist1936
Robin Hood of El Dorado Sound Recordist1936
Wife vs. Secretary Sound Recordist1936
The Voice of Bugle Ann Sound Recordist1936
Libeled Lady Sound Director1936
Trouble for Two Recording Supervision1936
The Unguarded Hour Sound Director1936
After the Thin Man Recording Supervision1936
Born to Dance Sound1936
Absolute Quiet Sound Director1936
Camille Sound Director1936
Romeo and Juliet Sound Director1936
San Francisco Sound Director1936
Fury Sound Director1936
The Great Ziegfeld Sound Director1936
The Garden Murder Case Sound Director1935
Naughty Marietta Sound Director1935
A Tale of Two Cities Sound Director1935
The Winning Ticket Recording Supervision1935
Sequoia Recording Supervision1935
Calm Yourself Sound Director1935
The Night Is Young Sound Recordist1935
The Bishop Misbehaves Sound Director1935
Woman Wanted Sound Director1935
Biography of a Bachelor Girl Sound Recordist1935
Rendezvous Sound Recordist1935
Whipsaw Recording Supervision1935
China Seas Sound1935
Last of the Pagans Sound Recordist1935
Whipsaw Sound Director1935
David Copperfield Sound Director1935
Age of Indiscretion Sound Recordist1935
The Casino Murder Case Recording Supervision1935
Times Square Lady Sound Director1935
A Night at the Opera Sound Director1935
Mutiny on the Bounty Sound Director1935
Kind Lady Recording Supervision1935
Broadway Melody of 1936 Recording Supervision1935
No More Ladies Sound Director1935
I Live My Life Sound Director1935
Public Hero Number 1 Sound1935
Murder in the Fleet Sound Director1935
Reckless Recording Supervision1935
Mad Love Sound Director1935
Baby Face Harrington Recording Supervision1934
Hide-Out Sound Director1934
The Cat and the Fiddle Sound Director1934
The Mystery of Mr. X Sound Director1934
Men in White Sound Director1934
Riptide Sound Director1934
Sadie McKee Sound Director1934
Hollywood Party Sound Director1934
Operator 13 Sound Director1934
Paris Interlude Sound Director1934
The Girl from Missouri Sound Director1934
The Barretts of Wimpole Street Sound Director1934
Treasure Island Sound Director1934
Tarzan and His Mate Recording Supervision1934
Manhattan Melodrama Sound Director1934
The Gay Bride Recording Supervision1934
The Thin Man Sound Director1934
Chained Sound Director1934
What Every Woman Knows Recording Supervision1934
Forsaking All Others Sound Director1934
The Show-Off Sound Director1933
Men Must Fight Sound Director1933
Today We Live Sound Director1933
The White Sister Sound Director1933
Gabriel Over the White House Sound Director1933
Looking Forward Sound Director1933
The Barbarian Sound Director1933
Peg o' My Heart Sound Director1933
Made on Broadway Sound Director1933
When Ladies Meet Sound Director1933
Midnight Mary Sound Director1933
Hold Your Man Sound Director1933
Storm at Daybreak Sound Director1933
The Stranger's Return Sound Director1933
Another Language Sound Director1933
Dinner at Eight Sound Director1933
Turn Back the Clock Sound Director1933
Beauty for Sale Sound Director1933
Penthouse Sound Director1933
Stage Mother Sound Director1933
The Solitaire Man Sound Director1933
Bombshell Sound Director1933
Dancing Lady Sound Director1933
Should Ladies Behave Sound Director1933
The Women in His Life Sound Director1933
Going Hollywood Sound Director1933
Queen Christina Sound Director1933
Reunion in Vienna Sound1933
The Secret of Madame Blanche Sound Director1933
The Nuisance Recording Supervision1933
Night Flight Sound1933
Whistling in the Dark Sound Director1933
Fast Workers Sound Director1932
Emma Sound Director1932
Lovers Courageous Sound Director1932
Arsène Lupin Sound Director1932
The Wet Parade Sound Director1932
But the Flesh Is Weak Sound Director1932
Grand Hotel Sound Director1932
Letty Lynton Sound Director1932
Huddle Sound Director1932
As You Desire Me Sound Director1932
Red-Headed Woman Sound Director1932
Unashamed Sound Director1932
The Washington Masquerade Sound Director1932
Strange Interlude Sound Director1932
Blondie of the Follies Sound Director1932
Smilin' Through Sound Director1932
Red Dust Sound Director1932
The Mask of Fu Manchu Sound Director1932
Payment Deferred Sound Director1932
The Son-Daughter Sound Director1932
Rasputin and the Empress Sound Director1932
Downstairs Sound1932
Tarzan the Ape Man Sound1932
Hell Divers Sound1932
Flesh Sound1932
Polly of the Circus Sound1932
New Morals for Old Recording Supervision1932
Night Court Sound Recordist1932
Faithless Sound Director1932
Kongo Sound Recordist1932
The Passionate Plumber Recording Supervision1932
Freaks Recording Supervision1931
The Champ Recording Supervision1931
The Cuban Love Song Recording Supervision1931
Guilty Hands Sound Director1931
The Bachelor Father Sound Director1931
Dance, Fools, Dance Sound Director1931
Strangers May Kiss Sound Director1931
Laughing Sinners Sound Director1931
A Free Soul Sound Director1931
Five and Ten Sound Director1931
The Man in Possession Sound Director1931
This Modern Age Sound Director1931
The Squaw Man Sound Director1931
Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) Sound Director1931
The Sin of Madelon Claudet Sound Director1931
The Guardsman Sound Director1931
The Great Lover Sound Director1931
Flying High Sound Director1931
Possessed Sound Director1931
Private Lives Sound Director1931
Mata Hari Sound Director1931
Parlor, Bedroom and Bath Recording Supervision1931
The bitter fruit Sound Recordist1931
Sporting Blood Sound Recordist1931
Reducing Recording Supervision1931
Politics Recording Supervision1931
Trader Horn Recording Supervision1930
Children of Pleasure Sound Director1930
Anna Christie Sound Recordist1930
Not So Dumb Sound Recordist1930
This Mad World Sound Engineer1930
The Lady of Scandal Sound Director1930
The Florodora Girl Sound Director1930
Let Us Be Gay Sound Director1930
Our Blushing Brides Sound Director1930
Romance Sound Director1930
A Lady's Morals Sound Director1930
New Moon Sound Director1930
Paid Sound Director1930
Anna Christie Sound Engineer1930
Lord Byron of Broadway Sound Recordist1930
Min and Bill Sound1930
The Big House Sound1930
Passion Flower Sound Director1930
The Big House Sound1930
The Ship from Shanghai Sound Engineer1930
War Nurse Sound Director1930
They Learned About Women Sound Director1930
Madam Satan Sound Recordist1930
The Divorcee Sound Director1930
Si l'empereur savait ça Sound Engineer1929
The Voice of the City Sound Engineer1929
The Idle Rich Sound Engineer1929
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney Sound Recordist1929
The Thirteenth Chair Sound Recordist1929
Dynamite Sound Recordist1929
Their Own Desire Sound Recordist1929
The Broadway Melody Sound Recordist1929
The Broadway Melody Recording Supervision1929
The Unholy Night Sound Recordist1929
So This Is College Sound Engineer