BRITISH TALKING FILMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 11 (Supplement)

BRITISH TALKING FILMS.

I INCREASE !IN PRODUCTION. Last year was a period of great difficulty for the film producing industry of the United Kingdom. When the year -started some 90 new silent pictures had been announced for production and the producing industiy were anticipating a period of steady production and progress. The advent of /talking pictures, for the production of which no' British studio was equipped at the beginning of 1929, entirely upset all schedules of production. During the past year British producing firms have made great tfforts to equip {heir studios for the making of talking films and have had to overcome immense difficulties in : /y the training of thentechnical staffs and in the adaptation of their studios to new methods of production. With the close of the year practically all the leading British studios are in a position to produce talking films and many of them have made considerable progress and achieved success in this direction.

Jho process ,of adding dialogue and talking sequences to completed silent pictures, in order to make them marketable has been almost finished and with the New Year producing firms can devote their full attention to new work. The past year has been one of considerable financial difficulty and a few of the weaker producing concerns have had to out of business, .with the result that the industiy is now in fewer but more experienced hands. A great deal is being heard from the United-States about the use of colour in films and other pew developments such as stereoscopic pictures and wide films. Because British firms aro not seeking as much publicity, as some of their competitors, it raiist not bo imagined that the possibilities of these new developments in the art of cinematography are being overlooked, and it is known that the leading British film concerns are devoting attention to experiments on the lines mentioned The industry as a whole would, however, prefer a period of recuperation, if possible, befoie entering on new periods qf transition such as that 1 which has been caused by. the use of sound in films. With • the close of the year the trade showings in London ■1 of two new /British talking pictures "Splinters" and Juno and the Paycock" gave/ise to a feeling of optimism in trade circles, as these productions are regarded as two excellent pictures. Following earlier successes, such as " Blackmail" and " Atlantic," they serve to show that first-rate British talking films can now be produced in the United Kingdom.'?'- Another factor which may help' the industry is that in more recent pictures an endeavour has been made to get away from sombre and depressing themes, which some people have thought to be too- much in evidence in British pictures.-. . - - v ; No less than 51 Bntish pictures are in process of production, about to be produced, or already completed. I his number doe« .not, of. course, comprise the entire programme of British film production for the year. /The figure, however, may serve to indicate that the supply of British films ;is being well maintained.