LANGUAGE AT TALKIES.

Evening Star, Issue 20311, 21 October 1929, Page 7

LANGUAGE AT TALKIES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I am not one of those who have been decrying the talkies. As a matter of fact, I am a keen enthusiast for; this new and wonderful form of enter-'' tainment. It is the enthusiasm I have for the talkies and the pleasure I have always had in the high-class programme presented at the Regent Theatre that compel me to write and enter an emphatic protest against a certain remark used by one of the cast in a talking picture being shown at that theatre this week. , With so much; oublic demand for great care being shown in the dialogue and speech of the talkies it seems to me a great pity that the Regent should present a picture that is marred by the inclusion of a very objectionable swear word. Picture entertainment generally is looked upon as family cn-

tertaimnent, and it is indeed a shame that our children should be allowed to hear this swear word used so plainly in the dialogue of this picture. Ido not know whether it would be possible for the management to cut this word out, as it certainly should never have passed the censor.

1 quite realise that for some rears now the word has been nermitted on the legitimate stage—ever since Bernard Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion ’ was first produced in London. But drama, as presented on the legitimate stage, is quite different from pictures. The class and age of the picture audience * require greater care and discrimination.—l am, c tc;. Disappointed. October 21.