FILM WORLD EXCITED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 9

FILM WORLD EXCITED.

ADVENT OF THE "TALKIES." EFFECT ON BRITISH STUDIOS. (Vustrnlinn Press Association —United Service (Received October 6, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 5. Tho owners of tho large, flourishing studios built at Elstree, 15 miles' from | London with a flare of Crumpets, have been shocked by the sudden publicity accorded tho "talkie" films and their effect, and by the dramatic announcement of prominent playwrights, notably Mr.* Frederick Lonsdale, that "silent" films are 3ead. It has been like a barrage of machineg;uns. Directors, artists, electricians, carpenters, decorators, musicians and all the myriad inhabitants of the studios are wondering whether Elstree, in which hundreds of thousands of pounds have been uink, is ready to collapse like a pack of cards. Mr Cosmo Hamilton, a famous dramatist, de lares that even perfect j "talkies" will never kill the silent film. • After the fust flush of novelty they will take second place in the programmes of tho cinemas, and be placed among the news reels and comic pictures. Their only purpose will be to reproduce brief remarks of some famous person or an operatic solo, duet, or chorus. The vast majority of cinema patrons, he says, do not want, nerve-wracking sounds. However perfect, the "talkie movies" may become, their very perfection will render them less acceptable to a public eagei for story, movement, thrills and surprises, says Mr. Hamilton. These must not be made subservient to talk aud the elaborate reproduction of sounds. Tho dramatist says he can conceive nothing more frightful than to be asked to sit for two hours without music in order to listen to a play spoken in half-a-dozen different and probably hideous gramophone accents of the most famous film stars, who must be used for the " talkies " until the new school has been turned out. Nothing could be more hideous to the film lover than to be compelled to listen to the sounds oi tramping feet, the roar of traffic, jangling keys, knocks on doors, harsh nasal vo ; ces of sheiks, gunmen, cowboys, blonde "'vamps" and bathing belles, to ugly noises, ugly voices, and illiteracy. Noise is the curse of life. '1 he silent film will never die. The "talkies" are childish and have come ten years too late. A message from New York says "talkiemovies" are to be installed in 21 cinemas in the principal cities of Australia early next year.