“TALKY” FILMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 October 1928, Page 6

“TALKY” FILMS

NEW INVENTION’S PROSPECTS. (United Serviced (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, September 27. Cinema kings, theatrical magnates, authors, variety artists, and musicians are discussing the first “Talkies” exhibition in London, consisting of a whole evening’s entertainment, all of which was mechanical. The films were accompanied by dialogues and songs, and even by orchestral accompaniments. According to the “Evening News,” .all are puzzled concerning the effect of the “Talkies” upon the incalculable public, and refuse to predict the extent to which the novelty will 'catch on. Thousands of cinema owners in England are awaiting a lead from the Exhibitors’ Association, whose Secretary expresses the opinion that there is no fear that “talkies” will completely drive out the silent drama. Nevertheless the exhibitors are disposed to wait and see the public’s attitude before spending the £4OOO necessary to instal the “Talkies” mechanism. They also refuse again to deliver themselves into American hands, as no English “Talkies” are at present available. Five to six hundred musical artists are earning their living interspersing with firms. The cinema halls are afraid that the “Talkies” will prejudice their future. The musicians are not panicky. They point out that the advent of gramophones and of broadcasting were both accompanied by predictions of the disappearance of orchestras. They admit that the “Talkies” arc a menace to the orchestras consisting of a piano and a violin in the small cinema halls. The dramatist, Mr Frederick Lonsdale, is convinced that the “Talkies” are the greatest discovery that the entertainment business has ever made. He says: “Although the theatrical stars appearing at the. films need not fear appearing in the “Talkies,” many purely .film actors will find their pretty profile and their shapely legs no longer will atone for the “Bowery” accent and for an unreproducable voice, resulting in the upsetting of the scale of cinema values at which Hollywood is panic-stricken.” He believes that the “Talkies” will become one of the greatest of England’s industries. FILMS IMPROVEMENT. LONDON, September 30. Lords Claredon, Denbigh. Londonderry and Melchett, and ‘Ladies Bide and Sydenham are among the signatories to appeal throughout the Empire to support the movement for an exhibition of films showing only what is desirable of social and economic life in the Empire and foreign, countries. In connection with the movement a British I’ilms ' Service Board has been formed, composed of writers. historians, sociologists, and educationalists of influence, for the selection of firms, project envisages, and the interchange of programmes from a selection of films.