What was one of the criticisms against the transition to sound in films?

One of the criticisms against the transition to sound in films was that actors were not trained for sound. When "talkies" began to emerge in the late 1920s, many actors who had previously excelled in silent films found themselves at a disadvantage. Silent film actors relied heavily on physical expressions and visual storytelling, and the introduction of dialogue required a completely different set of skills, including vocal projection and diction. This sudden shift caught many performers off guard, leading to a period of adjustment in which not all silent stars successfully transitioned to sound films. Consequently, some talented actors who were beloved by audiences found their careers stalled or ended as studios sought performers with the skills necessary for the new format, raising concerns about how sound would affect the quality of performances in cinema.

While factors such as subtitle popularity, filmmaking costs, and audience engagement did play roles during the transition, they are not as directly related to the immediate challenges faced by actors and their performances in the context of this transition.