TALKING AT THE PICTURES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21970, 19 December 1936, Page 20

TALKING AT THE PICTURES

TO THE KDITOII OP TUB TRESS. Sir,—While we are on the subject of talking at the pictures, I would suggest another "don't." Don't start screaming with laughter the moment you see the comedian's face, and be- , fore he starts saying funny things; and don't keep on laughing like a hyena long after he has ceased being funny. Some people wish to hear what is being said afterwards. It is quite easy to enjoy humour silently.— Yours, etc., HARD OF HEARING. December 18, 193 G.

TO THE EDITOH OF THE PRESS. | Sir,— Heartily I wish to endorse the remarks made by your correspondents about talking at the pictures. Talking is a constant source of annoyance to the regular theatre patron, which has always been gently tolerated. But it is time something was done by those in authority. The most outstanding feature is that it is nearly all done by females, both young and old. From the gay young thing who converses with her friend about the latest thing in hats, to the old lady who spends her time condemning each and every scene as it appears on the screen, they are intolerable.—Yours, etc., NOT OF THE GOSSIPING SEX. December 18, 1936.

TO THB RDITOB Of TH« PBBSS. Sir.— l heartily endorse "Regular Patron's" remarks in to-day's issue of your paper. I go to the pictures about once a week, and it is very seldom that I sit through a film in uninterrupted quiet. I am speaking about the main feature on the programme of .course —one has to resign oneself to the talking that goes on during the news items and featurettes. . . There are several species of picture pests: (1) The person who repeats the words spoken by the' actors. (The advent of the talkies has cut down the number of these pests, but there are still a few left.) (2) The one who has read the book and can tell you what is going to happen next, and why. ("Generally the companion with this pest is very dense and has to have things repeated.) (3) The one who likes to deduct the murder mystery for you cut loud. (This pest is generally a man.) (4) I have a grudge against the one who tells the whole theatre the names of the actors and actresses as they appear on the screen, together with a little remark—"lsn't she sweet? "Do you like him?" "I believe she is married again." (This one is always a woman; men don't read movie magazines, and therefore can't compete.) (i) \ This one is a woman, too. You must have had one behind you at some time or other. She brings her family troubles and her gossip to the theatre with her, and proceeds to unburden herself all the way through the film. (6) Not forgetting the "Tut-Tutter." There are always plenty of these. It is the protest from the pure-minded who apparently didn't notice the sign, "For adults only." As "Regular Patron" suggests, it might be a good idea to have a sign flashed on the screen asking the audience to refrain from talking during the main picture. Even if this were done, however, the picture pests would never dream that it was intended for them. I think the only solution to the problem would be to have bands of contra-pests to sit behind pests (1) to (6) to show them what they sound like to other people.—Yours, etc., ANTI-GABBLE. December 18, 1936.