“ TALKING FILMS.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18554, 29 April 1930, Page 2

“ TALKING FILMS.”

CHINA’S ANCIENT ART. SHADOW PLAYS FOR 2000 YEARS. A forrii of talking moving picture play originated in China more than a hundred years before the Christian era, and has continued in popularity to the present day. This is the ancient Chinese shadow-play, which anticipated talking pictures by having readers to produce voice effects. Collections of the figures used in the action of those early moving pictures, obtained by expeditions into China, form an interesting part of the exhibits illustrating various types of Oriental theatricals at Field Museum of Natural History. The museum also has examples of the screen and other equipment used for the projection of shadow-play^ 1 The history and details of the production of shadow-plays have been traced by Dr. Berthold Laufer, curator of anthropology at the museum and leader of the museum’s Chinese expeditions.

Actors Really Behind Scenes. “The scenarios used in shadow-plays are derived from the literary drama of the legitimate stage, and they, with marionette shows, constitute the most popular theatrical pastimes of the Chinese,” says Dr. Laufer. “The shadow-plays are an early form of talking moving picture, with a reader reciting the words of the plot as the figures perform the action. Their appeal to popular taste lies in the fact that the words are recited in the living vernacular, while the repertoire of the legitimate stage of China adopts the literary language of the classics, which is intelligible to only a limited group. “ The acting figures in the shadowpjays are fit and ingeniously cut out of parchment, usually ox or sheep skin, evenly coloured and varnished on both sides. When held against the light they are transparent. A screen of white gauze lighted by means of oil lamps from behind, is stretched between two poles. The figures, held by wires stuck into bamboo or reed handles, are skilfully manipulated behind the screen, upon which their shadows are cast. Head, arms and legs are cut out separately and hinged to the body, so that great agility of motion is assured.

“The performance always is accompanied by a small orchestra, while the various roles are recited by the operator seated behind the curtain. The plots are taken from Buddhist and Taoist lore or incidents in the history of China. The shadow-plays excel in comic or satiric subjects, their wit is aimed at human weaknesses, official corruption and social and political evils.

Originally Religious in Character. “The shadow-play was originally of a religious character, and gradually assumed the function of mere entertainment. It is without doubt, indigenous to China; whence it spread to the Persians, Arabs, Turks and other peoples, finally reaching Europe. The first mention is made of it in histcrical annals relating to 121 B.C. The historian relates an anecdote of Wu-ti, an emperor, who lost one of his favourite wives, and was obsessed by a great desire to see her again. “A magician appeared at court who was able to throw her shadow on a transparent screen. The story is symbolic of the general idea underlying the early shadow performances— the shadow figures were regarded as souls of the departed, summoned back into the world by professional magicians.”