GREY’S FIRST TALKIE

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1929, Page 9

GREY’S FIRST TALKIE

SUCCESSFUL INNOVATION.

Another chapter in district entertainment history was opened last evening when at the Opera House, the first “talkie” film was screened. Much discussion has taken place on the merits of the talkies v.’ silent films, in other centres, and interest was aroused to a high pitch, locally, as to whether the former would prove worth while. It can be said straight away that the innovation made good, and that with further research, the talkies will be as superior to tlie silent film, as the latter is to the old-time magic lantern. It would be unreasonable to expect perfection at this early stage, but alreally a good standard has been attained, and future potentialities seem almost boundless. Last evening, the talkies had a comprehensive try-out, with music, song and speech. An overture by a massed orchestra was the opening item, and was well rendered, if some of the finer points were missed. The accompanying music throughout the screening was effective, but, here again, it is doubtful if so good a result was obtained as would be forthcoming from an efficient orchestra, actually present. The songs wdre clearly heard, the quality, of course, depending largely upon the singers’ powers and abilities. Regarding human speech, the masculine voices, for the most part, were excellent, whereas the women’s voices were not so successful. In “A Singing Fool”—incidentally an inappropriate title —the women had very little to do. Probably, with more scope, the sex would* uphold the proverbial attribute of the sweetness of woman’s voice. Taken as a whole/ the talkie proved an agreeable surprise to any hitherto sceptical. Messrs A. Beban and E. Moss are to be congratulated on their enterprise, and deserve support for giving Grey mouth the opportunity to keep pace with the latest in film entertainment.

Last evening’s programme, following the overture, presented two banjoists with humorous songs, the happy effect making a good start for the new entertainment. This was followed by “Between the Acts of the Opera, ’ ’ a really clever vaudeville turn by two patter artists. Their dialogue witty, and their imitation of operatic stars was delightful. The turn was as good as the “cream of Fuller’s,” and such performers will be welcomed wholeheartedly by those picture patrons tiring of silent “comics.” Had the actual performers been present last evening, their reception must have been most demonstrative with encores numerous. Then followed ‘‘A Singing Fool,” which continued without interval until well after 10 o’clock. Quantity as well as quality. The play itself was intensely human, and somewhat pathetic. The story was slight, outlining the troubles of a jazz singer, who had married unwisely, and whose .heart was wrapped np in his wife and only son. He lost both, and some touching scenes were portrayed. It would have been easy for the play to have descended to bellowdrama and blither, but the “sob. stuff” was kept well controlled. Quite apart from its talkie interest, “A Singing Fool” is one of the best photo-stories yet screened. Al Jolson as the distressed hero was practically all the play, and he was well supported by Davie Lee as the young son. As before mentioned, the women had little to; do. The photography was good,, particularly the ( cabaret scenes. Summed up, Greymouth’s first talkie was a brilliant success, and can be sincerely recommended to all in search of real entertainment. The programme will be repeated this evening, to-mor-row afternoon and evening, and on Monday. The Opera House was packed last evening, and should attract similarly-sized audiences at each talkie performance.

HOW IT IS DONE. ENGINEER INTERVIEWED. Evolution from the cinematograph to the latest development of the movies, “the Talkies,” naturally gives rise to enquiry as to how the synchronisation of movement in the picture and of sound is effected. During an interview with Mr F. R. Husband, engineer for the Cutone Talking Equipment, it was explained to a “Star” representative how the speech side and the projection side of the machine are operated simultaneously. The e d ment, which is of British manufacture, assembled in New Zealand, is an expensive plant which enables sound to be kept in step with projection by. means of synchronous motors. There are two systems, the disc and the soundhead. The latter, which is for reproduction of sound on the film, is to be installed in Greymouth in about two months, and meanwhile the production is by a Vitaphone disc equipment. In the soundhead system the film has a strip, alongside the actual photographs, of numerous little bars of varying density. The light which is projected through the film sends the picture to the screen and at the same time that projected between the bars at the side of the film operates a photo-electric cell. The latter* is something like an electric light globe, but under varying intensity of light which pass through the strip of bars, a varying electric current is created. From either the electric pick-up on the disc instrument, or from the photo-electric cell on the sound-head system, the sound is in. tlie form of electrical vibrations. These are taken-through an amplifier in the region of four or five million times magnitude, and, still in the form of electrical vibrations, are then carried to the speakers near the picture screen. The speakers respond to the real sound waves, thus reproducing the original voice of the actor, or music of an orchestra which is being recorded at the time.