Why did D.W. Griffith argue that sound would be detrimental to the film industry?

D.W. Griffith's argument that sound would be detrimental to the film industry is closely tied to the concerns about excluding non-English speaking audiences. At that time, films were a universal medium largely because they overcame language barriers through visual storytelling. Silent films relied on expressive visuals, gestures, and intertitles to convey narrative and emotion. Griffith believed that the introduction of synchronized sound would necessitate dialogue delivery in specific languages, thus alienating audiences who did not understand that language, particularly in international markets where silent films had flourished.

The advent of sound could have restricted the appeal of films, making them less accessible to diverse audiences and potentially diminishing the global reach that silent films had achieved. This apprehension was rooted in the belief that films should maintain their ability to speak to a broad demographic through the universal languages of visual imagery and physical performance, rather than being constrained by the limitations of spoken language.

While sound undoubtedly brought new dimensions to filmmaking, Griffith’s perspective offered insight into one of the key challenges that the industry would face with the transition to sound—maintaining the wide accessibility and artistic freedom that had characterized silent cinema.