IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 60, 12 March 1926, Page 12

IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

i • i THE DE FOREST PHONOFILM. • j It has long been the aim of inventors ■ . throughout the wide world to reproduce J sound as well as movement on the 11 screen , of the picture theatre, to give c J voice to the hitherto "silent drama.*' A -■■■ private demonstration to representatives of the cinema business and mem- - j bers of the Press was given at the Tivoli s j Theatre this morning, when those who J j witnessed and heard the "Phonofilm"— * the New Zealand rights of which have r been acquired by a syndicate—the invention of .-Djv-De Forest, an American, famous for his radio inventions, realised what great strides have, been made recently towards complete success, opening up to' the imagination -wide possibilities for the near future.; -In a brief address, in which ..the',invention "was explained, Mr. Scott Gandy, the New Zealand agent, stated that the films which -were shown and heard were not ■ ! quite as good as some -of the talking pictures in America at the present time, , as they had been put through the pro- [ jecting machine some thousands of times in demonstrations. However, . despite this, the pictures screened this ' morning were excellent. Voices could be heard very, distinctly, also music and > vocal numbers. One thing is-most nbtice- .' able—the perfect synchronism that has been established. This is recorded on the film, •which is made simultaneously 'with the movement. The movements of the artist,-whether "business" or in the '.playing of" an instrument, absolutely coincide end become part of the sound emitted. The'-Tholafilra offer*, irresistible ; attractions" and its possibilities by way of reproducing the higher vocal "drama seem to be limitless. It is yet in the "childhood" stage, and the full scope of its "adulthood" can only be guessed at.