Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In a world…
Sound familiar? The opening refrain of many a movie trailer was spoken by one man, Hal Douglas, who has died at the age of 89.
Ah yes, I can hear it now.
No wonder. Douglas was one of a holy trinity of voiceover artists – along with the late Don LaFontaine and Don Morrow, voice of the Titanic trailer - who have virtually monopolised the industry with their distinctive vocal vibrations.
Hard work, is it?
It sounds like a pretty cushy gig to us. Douglas often recorded in his own home and could command around $2,000 (£1,200) a trailer. Best of all, he often did it without even taking off his pyjamas.
Where do we sign?
Hold up, you have to have the voice first. Hal took a job doing voiceover work to supplement his income while acting in New York in the late 1940s. His deep, husky tones soon set him apart from the crowd. “I never thought of it as a great voice,” he said, adding that it was in fact “throaty, chesty: a voice in need of clearing”.
We can still almost hear him…
Douglas, whose daughter confirmed yesterday that he had died last Friday from pancreatic cancer, will be remembered in a unique way. In providing the voiceover for a generation of movie-goers, he growled his way into our cinematic subconscious. In 2009 he told The New York Times that, when he went to the cinema, he often found that he was on “three out of four trailers”.
“The fact is, my voice has been out there. And it hangs out there.” Gone but not forgotten seems most fitting.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments