Voice of the City

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 762, 7 September 1929, Page 25

Voice of the City

CAPTURED IN NEW TALKIE “Idle Rich” at New Regent WHEN the moving picture was given a voice, it meant more than merely endowing its characters with speech. It has brought to the screen a go9d deal more, for now the screen gives voice to underlying ideas in a plot—conditions, motivation, in fact, the very spirit of a play. A striking case in point is “The Idle Rich,” Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer’s vivid transcription of “White Collars,” the famous stage-play of flat-dwellers and average family life in a busy city, of the clang of street-cars and the hustle and bustle of every day, and of families in cramped quarters in small apartments and flats, which is now at the New Regent Theatre.

Speaking dialogue is no problem to Leila Hyams, who plays one of the leading feminine roles in “The Idle Rich.” This beautiful blonde actress was on the stage almost from birth, playing in vaudeville with her famous parents, John Hyams and Leila McIntyre, for a number of years and later appearing in legitimate productions with William Collier, sen. Miss Hyams had already made her

talkie debut when she was cast as Bessie Love’s sister in this picture. She made her debut when she played opposite William Haines in “Alias Jimmy Valentine.” Miss Love, of course, had her initiation with the microphones in “The Broadway

Melody,” and Conrad Nagel, the leading man, is considered the veteran of the talkies, having been a pioneer in this new acting field. “It is wonderful to be able to work before the microphone with people who have had previous experience,” Miss Hyams said. ‘‘Even though I had been on the stage, I felt timid when I first went up against the ‘mike,’ but this time it felt quite comfortable and natural to be there because it didn’t bother any of the others. “I am certainly glad I had the benefit of stage training before trying pictures, because I realise now how very difficult it must be for a motion picture player nowadays who has had no experience in remembering and speaking lines. At the same time, I do not think a person with stage experience is any better off in the long run than a player who has never seen the footlights from the stage side. They have to accustom themselves to the lights, cameras, and absence of audience stimulation.” William de Mille directed this new talkie feature. It is the story of a “PHANTOM” FILM BRITISH BOYCOTT ANNOYS PICTUREGOERS ASSOCIATION OFFENDED When that successful film, “The Phantom of the Opera,” was. first brought to England an advance publicity man with more imagination than discretion tricked a company of British territorials into acting as escort to the reels of celluloid. Public indignation waxed so strongly that the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association boycotted the production, which are never shown in or out of London. The circumstances of this case are now recalled by the fact that the association, recognising the completeness of its punishment, has lifted the ban. Nevertheless there is no sign of the film being booked for any important English theatre. “I think it is very sensible of the C.E.A. to raise the ban on this classic,” writes a contributor to “Film Weekly.” “I confess it amazes me to see the great offence taken to an, I admit, rather rotten practical joke, which the authors did not think would be taken ili sucli a poor spirit. “I think people should be given a choice whether they want, to see this film or not —not have others choose for them! “People who run down this film are poor-spirited and exceedingly selfish, because they do not like the film themselves and want to stop others from seeing it, like sulking children.”

middle-class American family in average circumstances who dwell in a sec-ond-class flat in a great city. The daughter wins the love of her millionaire employer and marries him. What happens when he meets her family, especially her little flapper sister and her cynical, socialistic cousin is dramatic, pathetic and comic. De Mille has injected a great deal of human interest and deft artistry into this story of everyday reality and made of it capital entertainment.