THE TALKING PICTURE AND THE DRAMA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10302, 6 November 1911, Page 1

THE TALKING PICTURE AND THE DRAMA.

An interesting article by Robert Gran on." The 'Talking' Picture and the Drama," appears in the last issue of tho " Scieutiiic American." In tho course of this tho writor says" For several years efforts have been mado to create a perfect synchronism between the moving picture and the phonograph, in order that stage presentations of plays and operas could be produced. The spectacle has already been presented of a famous stage idol appearing in a theatre of high prices of admission, while but a stone's throw away a perfect counterfeit presentation both as to voice and action could bo seen for five cents. Three of the greatest factors of the field of mot-ion photography, including Thomas A. Edison, who invented also tho phonograph, have announced recently that nil of the problems for an absolute synchronism woro either solved, or near solution. Mr Edison has prophesied that the day is near when the working man will present himself in front of a moving picture theatre, deposit his dime, and witness a reproduction of scenes from grand opera, such as are presented at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. I have already been privileged to hear and see almost an entire act of Doniaefcti's ' Lucia de Lammevmoor,' including; tho famous ,?exefcte, as sung by Caruso, Sembrick, Plancon, and others. Although perfection lias not yet been achieved, no great wrench of the imagination is necessary ia order to pro-diet that another year or two at tho most will witness tho attainment of absolute synchronism. " The serious tide of this situation lies in the. ultimate fate of the player and singer, and by the same token of the manager and producer. We know that Caruso has earned almost a" much money from the preservation of his vocal records as in grand opera. Yet, there are those who have deplored the fact that tho penalty is being paid in a slight deterioration in the illustrious Italian's voice. I yield to no one in ray appreciatienn of the benefit.; to lie derived from the phonograph, and have often wished that it had come into being in time to have preserved the voices of JVlalibran, Jenny Lind, and Adelina Patti, in her prime. But if even one year less of Caruso is the penalty which music lovers will have to pay m order that future generations may have preserved for them his vocal records, this price is hard to yield to.

" The possibilities of a- perfect synchronism in effect of the two great Edison devices (for it must bo understood that it was Edison who nnado possible the motion picture of t-o-dlay) nro beyond nil conception. Through this great advancement, the ' Passion Play,' as presented at Obwrammorgan, could bo brought to our doors, and that, too, at a not very distant date, it is already on the cards to present before American anciienccs 'scenes from prand opera, as presented, at the Grand Opera House, in Paris, Covent Garden, in London, a,ml la Scaly, in Milan. Thus grand opera novelties, which won Id probably not be beard in this country for years, will! have preKentaticns within tho year of their European premieres; alw> the great Kiralfy spectacles are now being reproduced, in order that thp tremendous barrier of transporting l to America over 10(10 persons may be overcome.

"The great problem which' presents itself is the effect that mode no ism may have on the. actual player amd singer, hut alter all, it is the latter element which has made possible the great P'-of;rets in the moving pietuire industry, for they are induced iir> accept the liberal payments offered."