Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey

Anyone who has ever seen a horror or science fiction film from the 50s, or heard "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys, has heard a theremin, which was one of the first workable electronic musical instruments. But Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey is more than just the story of a novel noise-making gadget; it's the remarkable tale of Leon Theremin, a electronics wizard whose journey from Russia to America and back again sounds like the stuff of a spy novel -- and it's all true. The strange and fascinating story of Theremin's life is accompanied by newsreel footage of Theremin's career and accomplishments, and interviews with colleagues and musicians discussing the instrument which bears his name, including Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson and Clara Rockmore, who is widely recognized as the instrument's most gifted interpreter (and also Theremin's girlfriend).