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Podcasts The Frame
How 'Dunkirk' brought long lost WWII sounds back to life
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The Frame Tile
Feb 21, 2018
Listen • 6:44
How 'Dunkirk' brought long lost WWII sounds back to life
To immerse audiences in the chaos, terror and heroism of war, sound designer Richard King and his team knew they needed the real thing.
"Dunkirk" director Christopher Nolan on set.
"Dunkirk" director Christopher Nolan on set.
(
Warner Bros.
)
"Dunkirk" director Christopher Nolan and crew on set.
"Dunkirk" director Christopher Nolan and crew on set.
(
Warner Brothers
)
"Dunkirk" director Christopher Nolan on set with actors Harry Styles (Left) and Fionn Whitehead (Middle).
"Dunkirk" director Christopher Nolan on set with actors Harry Styles (Left) and Fionn Whitehead (Middle).
(
Warner Brothers
)
Director Christopher Nolan and actor Kenneth Branagh on the set of "Dunkirk."
Director Christopher Nolan and actor Kenneth Branagh on the set of "Dunkirk."
(
Warner Bros.
)

To immerse audiences in the chaos, terror and heroism of war, sound designer Richard King and his team knew they needed the real thing.

If you’ve seen "Dunkirk," you know that director Christopher Nolan pays attention to detail.

Nolan didn't want to make just another World War II movie. He wanted to transport audiences to the battlefront. Shot on 70 mm IMAX film, "Dunkirk's" visuals are stunning and the sound design adds to the intensity, immersing viewers in the chaos, terror and heroism of the war. 

 

No wonder "Dunkirk" has earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. It's the favorite to win in those two categories. 

The Frame producer Michelle Lanz talked to sound editor Richard King, the man tasked with creating the aural landscape to match Nolan's vision.