THE TALKIES IN LONDON.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17750, 29 June 1929, Page 17 (Supplement)

THE TALKIES IN LONDON.

ACTORS AND PRODUCERS. DISPLAY KEEN INTEREST. Leading British actors and actresses, as well as authors, theatre managers and producers, are showing increasing evidence of their desire to take part in the entertainment revolution brought about by the advent of the talking film. Several of them were present at a luncheon at the Savoy Hotel, London in connection with Associated Talking Pictures, Ltd. “This Tidal Wave the Squawkle.” Sir Gerald du Maurier, the actormanager, presided, and the principal speaker was Mr. Basil Dean, the play producer. Sir Gerald du Maurier said that he had Joined the board of directors to try to do his best to help the members of his profession to combat “ this tidal wave, the squawkie." “ Whether it is an art or not, one does not know, and whether, one likes it or not, one does not know.” A

Theatre will Never Die. The theatre, Mr. Basil Dean said, would never die. They knew that drama was eternal, but they had now come to recognise that in the larger theatres the talking picture had got to play a part. Continuing, Mr. Dean said: It has been found that the English voice is the best before the microphone, and we have also found on inquiry that the carefully modulated dialogue of British authors and dramatists is the dialogue that it is most desired to most reproduce for the talking picture. All that we desire to do is to give a sense of direction in the present turmoil, and to indicate to our profession that there is no need for panic, but that there Is at the same time a need to hold fast to the principles under which we grew up. We want British plays of British subjects Written by British authors to be played by British actors and actresses under British direction. English plays.suitable for translation into talking pictures will be put on in a London theatre, and then produced as talking films with the same cast, so far as they are found to have voices suitable for the microphoaa.