“TOO ENGLISH FOR U.S.”

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 34, 3 November 1933, Page 10

“TOO ENGLISH FOR U.S.”

Talide Actors’ Speech

There may be sornething in the contention that English as spoken by Herbert Marshall, the London actor, is not understandable to many people in the rural parts of the United States, ap reported in a cable message published yesterday.. That, however, does not prevent hint from being one of the most popular screen actors in that country. He speaks the same English as John Barrymore and Clive Brook, and does it beautifully. Of course it is West End London English, but-it is devoid of any affectation, and every syllable in every word is given its proper value..

The story of the difficulty many Americans have in understanding Mr. Marshall is reminiscent of one told by Mr. Harry Plimmer, who some two years ago toured the States of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, with Miss Ethel Barrymore. They were appearing in an extremely beautiful and aitisjic performance of “The School for Scandal.” “You could see from their faces and the laughs that missed that the people in the audience had not the faintest Idea of what we were talkyi" about,” wrote Mr. Plimmer. “To them the language of Sheridan was as incomprehensible as ancient Greek. They simply came to see Miss Barrymore, but as to what she said or meant as Lady Teagle I am sure they bad not the foggiest notion. These people out West grow foreign to the English.” A curious commentary on “talkie", talk is that as soon as sound pictures began to be established 60 per cent, of the' actors and actresses in Hollywood wont to school again to learn to speak correct English. London actors have always been welcomed in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago.