The sound has been found in the form of an old Edisonian recording cylinder. The cylinder was repaired, then Walter Murch ACE MPSE synced the film to the correct music in (I believe) 2002. Total running time is approximately 17 seconds.
The debate is whether or not this was the first sound film or not. And there are two factors to take into account: one, whether this film came out before any other with sound. And two, what does it mean to be a film with "sound"? Seemingly, what we have here are a few seconds of a man playing the violin while two other men dance. The violin was recorded to an Edison cylinder. It was likely then played at the same time as the short film, thus having sound. But does that count?
The debate is whether or not this was the first sound film or not. And there are two factors to take into account: one, whether this film came out before any other with sound. And two, what does it mean to be a film with "sound"? Seemingly, what we have here are a few seconds of a man playing the violin while two other men dance. The violin was recorded to an Edison cylinder. It was likely then played at the same time as the short film, thus having sound. But does that count?
