NEWS OF THE TALKIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18004, 26 April 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

NEWS OF THE TALKIES.

Mabel Normand Left £260,000,

The estate of the late film star Miss Mabel Normand, who died last month, is valued at £260,000. Miss Normand left it in its entirety to her mother, Mrs Mary Normand. Chaplin Will Not Make Talkie.

Mr Charles Chaplin announced lasi month that he was forming a company, to be called Charles Chaplin Picture Productions, Incorporated, for making silent films. It will spend from £1,000,000 to £2,000,000 annually on productions in which, besides himself, four or five well-known actors will take part. Mr Chaplin reiterated that he would never appear in a talking film. The silent film “City Lights,” in which he has been working, will soon be completed. When it is finished he will start on a four months’ tour of the world. Mae Murray Sues for £350,000.

Mae Murray, the film star, is seeking £350,000 damages in the Superior Court at Los Angeles from the Tiffany

Productions Company on the ground that incompetence in the production of a film featuring her has injured her reputation. In her complaint Miss Murray alleges that the firm has broken a contract to produce eight pictures starring herself. The only film produced, “Peacock Alley,” js described by her as an artistic failure. In defence, Mr P. Goldstone,. the general manager, says that everything possible has been done to “make a woman of 40 look ‘sweet sixteen,’ ” Talkie Doesn’t Satisfy. The day has dawned (says the Sydney Sun) when the talkies themselves plead for the stage. In no uncertain voice “The Vagabond King,” now being shown in Sydney, is pleading for the lifesize, throbbing, human, vital stage presentation, and all who saw the stage version should go to the talkie one to compare them. Watching the film of it is like looking at a postage stamp in motion. The virility of those stirring choruses cannot be captured on the small, flat sheet. The ensembles, where the moving camera has to be hurried so as to give the effect of a great many people surging up behind the few that the tiny screen can present at a time, has the effect of an express train rushing through an

interesting country, whereas you, who sit in the train, are thinking, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we could stop over and have a good look at that plaoe?" The film a worm’s-eye view of one of the most enchanting stories ever told.

The same thing was obvious In “ Rio Rita’ ’and “Desert Song,” seen in Hamilton recently. Entertaining as these films were, and allowing as they did for finer settings, they lacked the appeal of the living, breathing stage shows. Not only was the “ personal ’’ element missing, but when crowds were used on the screen they were far less convincing than a stage crowd. The “ close-up ” showing a head and shoulders singing, also does not make illusion.

“The Vagabond King” Breaks Records.

By smashing every record held by the Criterion Theatre, New' York, in receipts and attendances during its world premiere at that theatre last month, Paramount’s all-colour operetta, "The Vagabond King,” has probably established a world’s record for motion picture success.

Although the Criterion Theatre is more than 35 years old, and has presented such international successes as “The Covered Wagon," “The Ten Commandments,” “Wings,” “Innocents of Paris,” “The Virginian,” “The Love Parade,” and others, “The Vagabond King” has considerably lopped them ail.