Douglas Shearer

Douglas Shearer (1899 - 1971)

sound recording technician
born November 17, 1899, Westmount, Quebec
brother of Norma Shearer
came to Hollywood to visit his sister and was hired by MGM as an assistant in the camera department
during the development of talkies, he was appointed head of the company's sound department
one of the most inventive technicians in this new field
during his more than 40 years with MGM he contributed more than anyone to the perfection of motion picture sound
credited with many technical innovations and with the consistent high quality of sound which distinguished MGM films
won 12 Academy Awards for "best sound recording" and for such achievements as developing an improved recording system and a method for reducing unwanted noise
in 1959 he received an additional Oscar, in the Scientific and Technical category, as the co-developer of MGM's Camera 65 wide-screen system
appointed the company's director of technical research in 1955, a position held until his retirement in 1968
films for which he won Oscars include:
- The Big House (1930)
- Naughty Marietta (1935)
- San Francisco (1936)
- Strike Up the Band (1940)
- 30 Seconds over Tokyo (1944)
- Green Dolphin Street (1947)
- The Great Caruso (1951)
filmography