Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey

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Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey is a film biography created in 1993 by Steven M. Martin covers the life of Leon Theremin and his most famous invention, the theremin: a musical instrument, a synthesizer, which responds to the proximity of the player's hands to the two electrical coils emanating from opposite sides of the instrument's casing. This means that the performer does not need to actually touch it in order to play.

After a few years of becoming increasingly famous in the U.S., he was kidnapped around 1930 and taken back to Russia to work on electronic projects for the KGB. He did not see America again until the 1990s. He died shortly afterwards.

His device did not disappear with him. It lived on in the musical hands of Clara Rockmore, in several movies in the 40s and 50s which used its ethereal effects to add spookiness to their soundtracks, and eventually in rock 'n' roll. Bands that used the theremin included the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys in the 60s, and many others in the 90s, such as Portishead.

The film is a series of monologues from Clara, Robert Moog (the famous manufacturer of synthesizers in the 20th century), and Brian Wilson, amongst others including Theremin himself. Collectively, they chronicle his life, the mysterious abduction and the powerful influence he and his magical instrument have had on life ever since.

The film has received very good reviews.