THE MIGHTY FOREIGNERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 13 (Supplement)

THE MIGHTY FOREIGNERS.

GENERAL FAILURE IN "TALKIES

BY D. WINTER HALL.

' Hollywood's foreign colony is rapidly diminishing. Somo of tho greatest work in American, silent pictures was done by imported stars, but to most of these, the " talkies " have come in tho nature of a death-blow. For a while tho outcome was dubious foreign picture stars with foreign accents had many champions in Hollywood, among whom were not a few of tho largest producers. |t was declared that the talking picture would not endanger tho popularity of such as Emil Jannings, Miss Greta fiarbo, Baelanova, Miss Vilma Banky, Nils Astlier, Miss Maria Corda, Miss Pola. Negri ind, more recently Miss Lili Damita. Their interpretations of "the English speech would prove fascinating, and would win for them still 11101:0 enthusiastic admirers. Just lo show 'that this opinion was not merely empty publicity, Paramount featured the Russian ' Baelanova in two "talkies"— "The Wolf of Wall Street," and " The Man I Love." It was rumoured that she was to bo offered a highly flattering new contract, carrying with it tho full title of star. But that new contract never materi-

aliscd. Miss Banky, of United Artists, had somewhat the same experience in her first talking film, " This is Heaven." Although she fared better than her contemporary at Paramount, the sound machinery gave her some very unfortunate moments. Her future career is now, I believe, an unsettled problem. Her contract has some time to run yet, her treatment of the standard American's idea of tho English language is- not entertaining enough to warrant, flier name in electric lights, and the public will only pay money to see '/.talkies." It is the opinion of many that she, too, will bo released. Miss Garbo might be called Pola Negri's successor. She is a bigger attraction than Miss Negri ever was, and every one of her film?", so far, has been an overwhelming box-office success. As yet Metro-Gold-wyn-Maver has not risked her in tho new, realm, her/ last, " The Singlo Standard," being all-silent. Frenzied search for an adequate vehicle in which she could make her talking debut resulted in the choice of the time-proven hit, " Anna Christie 4-once portrayed by Miss Blanche Sweat — and whether or not Miss Garbo will return to Sweden will bo definitely decided by this production. It will be sure to aiaw well, for tho simple reason that people will want to hear Miss Garbo talk) iast as they wanted to hear Miss Mary lick ford tail; in " Coquette." jftMiss Garbo, it is said, limits herself Strictly to two sentences around tho studio, eacli of which is in tho nature of a frank and simplo dictum, for tho benefit of irksomo producers and directors. _ They each carry a world of plain meaning, imjjossil:lo to mis-interpret—" Garbo like " and " Garbo 110 like." If Miss Garbo delivers herself of tho opinion that , " Garbo lip Tike," and some other thoughtless in<lividur.l persists in liking, Miss Garbo cud proceedings in tho picture-making line for the day, and retires to her residence, clocked in heavy Whether her two utterances will retain their simple majesty and power now depends on the public. Will Miss Garbo's followers " like ", or "no ifiko " ? Again wo are forced to leave it to the future. The masculine section of tho once large Xpreign colony in Hollywood has found the sailing equally rough and disastrous. In the first place, Paramount's biggest star, Emil Jannings, was released immediately, his departuro marked by the poorest iilin that ho has yet had the misfortuuo to play in. And Conrad Veidt, who pave one the best performances yet seen jn " The Man Who Laughs," found that i T ni versal no longer wanted him. Nils Astlier is studying English night and day in an effort to keep one jump ahead of the growing list of foreign stars who have returned to Europe. Tho only accent to make an instant " hit " belongs to Maurice Chevalier, whose personality would shino through triumphantly even were 110 -commanded to use Chinese. Not. onlv have the actors and actresses .been hard hit. Fully half of Hollywood's foreign colony was onco made up of liighlypaid" directors, such men _as Ernst Lubitsrh, Paul Leni, Paul Stein, F. W. Mur"nau, DimitVi Buchowetzki, and others. Of "those but one remains—Lubitsch; the others have been banished by the talkie!" But why should tho directors havo- to* go ? Their voices aro never recorded—they arc never seen; only their .names appear 011 tho finished film. Evidently isuch men as Laemmle, Fox and Laskv considered the foreign technique incapable of coping with tho new conditions introduced by sound. _ At any rate, Lubitsch is the solo survivor, guiding Chevalier through tho intricacies of a production tentatively titled " Tho Lovo Parade."

Europe, is regaining some of her lost sons nnd daughters, and the foreign film industry should have good reason to be elated ■over the return of the personalities I have mentioned. For long their greatest obstacle has been the lack of competent and interesting featured players and stars. As a prominent critic hero remarks, " Tliero are few-good actresses in European films, ;"rnd none in English films " —and lie is not fiir from lieirig correct. The "talkies" might supply them, and the Hollywood training will prove to be invaluable.