“TALKIE” FILMS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 October 1928, Page 5

“TALKIE” FILMS

EFFECT UPON INDUSTRY. i EXPERTS ARE CAUTIOUS. AWAITING PUBLIC’S VERDICT. 1, (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) —United service). LONDON, Sept. 29. B Cinema- kings, theatrical magnates, s authors-, variety artists. and musieio-us L | are discussing the first '‘talkies” exhibition in London. It consisted oi a j whole evening’s) entertainment by mer elianicai films -in. which the pictures were accompanied by dialogue, songs, ‘ and even orchestral accompaniments. ’ According to the ‘'Evening News,” j all are puzzled concerning the- effect 1 of the “talkies” upon the incalculable public, and refuse to predict the extent 1 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 the “talkies” will completely : drive out .silent dram-a. Neverthoic-ss, • exhibitors are disposed to wait and see 1 the public’s attitude before spending [ ’the £4OOO necessary to install “talkies” 7 mechanism. They also refuse to again 1 deliver themselves into American , hands, -a® no Eirglish “ta-lkies” are-at • present available. i Five to six -hundred musical artists, i who- are earning a living by intenepers- - ing musical items- between films at. the - cinema, -halls are -afraid the “talkies” ; will prejudice their future. Musicians : are not panicky; they point out that ; the advent of gramophones and broad- ! ca-stin-g were both accompanied bv prei diction s of the disappearance of orchestras. but they admit the “talkies” i are a menace to 'orchestra® confer st-insr of a, piano and violin -in the small cinema halls. Mr Frederick Lonsdale, the dramatist, in convinced that the “talkies” ,is the greatest discovery the entertainment business has ever made. He says fin at although theatrical' stars appearing in films need not fear appearing in the “talkies.” m-a-ny nurely film actors will, find- a- pretty profit and 1 ieb apely -legs no longer atone for a Bowery accent and an unreproduca-ble voice. This will result in upsetting the scale of cinema - value®, at which Hollywood is panicstricken. I He bell eves the “talkies” will become one of the greatest of England® industries.