SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 21

SCREENLAND JOTTINGS

No less an authority than Mr Alexander Watson, the celebrated English elocutionist, has come to tho defence of the talkies, so far as the charge that they are having a detrimental effect on popular speech is concerned. Mr Watson points out that in speaking for thv. talkies great distinctness is necessary In England in talking pictures is being closely studied, and producers have in some cases procured the services of some of tho men who controlled the speaking side of the British Broadcasting Company. Mr Stuart F. Doyle, of Union Theatres, Sydney, has made up his mind that the picture-going public arc tiring of jazz and want more classical music faro. It was only recently that tho State Theatre Orchestra, under Mr Hamilton Webber, got something approaching an ovation from a crowded audience for its playing of a series of excerpts from favourite old operas. John Garrick has been replaced by Kenneth M 4 Kenna in the Bulldog Drummond role in 4 Temple Tower,’ which Fox is now producing. Another player added to tho cast is Henry B. Walthall. Donald Gallaher is directing, and Miss Marguerite Churchill has the leading feminine role. Charles Mack, tho lazy-voiced member of the Two Black Crows, wrote the original story from which Moran and Mack’s next Paramount talkie, ' The Two Black Crows in the A.E.F.,’ is adapted. Tho new comedy is in production at Hollywood under the direction ot Richard Wallace. Joan Peer and Henry Wadsworth play the principal supporting roles. Everything from 4 Du Barry’ and ‘ Raffles ' to 1 Young Man from Manhattan ’ and 4 Ex-Wife ’ will be offered as picture fare during the coming season. Indeed, glancing over the producers’ schedules for 1930, there appears to be greater variety than ever in productions planned, running from extravaganzas such as 4 Follow Through,’ 4 Hit tho Deck,’ Golden Dawn,’ to grim tragedies like O’Neill s 4 Amin Christie and Horr Remarque s 4 All Quiet on the Western Front. Mystery murders, as for example 4 The Bishop Murder Case,’ 4 Remote Control,’ and 4 Murder on the Second Floor,’ will compete for the public’s fancy with A 1 Jolson’s 4 Mammy,’ D. W. Griffith’s 4 Abraham Lincoln,’ and ‘ Bride of the Regiment,’ an international operetta. At an early date Fox Films will launch into operation a new laboratory estimated to cost more than £200,000, and which has beet in the process of construction, quite secretly, for several months. Tho laboratory will bn devoted exclusively to the production of Fox nature-colour, which is now perfected after three years of experiment and research One of tho first productions listed to bo made in Fox colour is 4 The London Bevue,’ which will bring famous stars from every country ard will be staged by Hazzard Short, producer of several Tush Box Revues ii. New York 4 Hell Harbour. Lupe Velez’s first ill-talking picture, has been completed at Tampa and St. Petersburg locations in Florida. More than 200,000 feet of film were 4 shot” on this first talking

picture. Even interior scenes were made in Tampa, not on sets, but actually inside the interiors of tho houses that appear in the (Uni. Much of tho recording was done uudei difficulties, because sound equipment had to bo strung out to boats a thousand feet distant, and wrds and waves endangered connections. When the ship Elsie was blown on tho rocks it was necessary to go over to tho nearest place where °uch ships could bo had (St. Petersburg). Lupe Velez, Joan Hersbolt, John Holland, Al. St. John, Gibson Gowland, Harry Allen, and Paul Burns aro in the cast.