Evening Star Newspaper, May 4, 1930, Page 101

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €., MAY 4, 1930. 11 What the “Talkies” Are Doing Abroad BY JAMES NEVIN MILLER. LL the world- is going “talkie.” Bebe Daniels’ charming voice, Maurice Chevalier’s -ingratiating smile, Billy Dove's cloying sweetness, William Haines’ boyish conceit and Bill Powell’s suave villainy are just about as popu- lar on the sound screens of London, Paris and Melbourne as they are in America. So we are told by Mr. C. J. North, chief of the division of motion pictures, Department of Commerce. From all portions of the globe American consular officers and trade commis- sioners keep him and his assistant, Mr. N. D. Golden, informed of the latest movie develop- ments, Off to a flying start in the new art of sound pictures, Hollywood, of course, will continue, for several years to come, to go unchallenged as the rightful center of things cinema. Neverthe- less, virtually all the leading countries, with Ger- many and England at the top of the heap, have launched ambitious plans for producing their own particular brands of canned tragedy and comedy. In pointing out the situation in Great Britain during 1929, Assistant Trade Commissioner Martin H. Kennedy, London, says: “Owing to the advent of the sound film, there was at first quite an upheaval in the British industry; but after the first few months, when it became evident that the public was taking kindly to this new form ofentertainment, there graduaily came about a more organized state of affairs, until today the business is in an exceptionally good condition. “The early chaos resulted when British film companies suffered from the fact that they were utterly unprepared for the talkies and yet had to relegate to their shelves a number of silent films upon which a great deal of money had been spent. However, those exhibitors who were fortunate enough to get their houses wired immediately-reaped a golden harvest, and their example was very quickly foliowed by others. “The new type of entertainment hasactedasa tonic and there is not the slightest doubt that it is going strong, not so much on the grounds 3:1 novelty as on worthwhile entertainment ue. “In this connection a few important figures, many of them showing the strength of Ameri- can craftsmanship in the talkie, will not be amiss; while it is difficult to estimate the exact number of British sound features completed during the year 1929, the best figure is in the neighborhood of 40. “Ten studios have thus far been equipped for Vlc! CONSUL WALLACE E. MOESSNER, : Manchester, brings out these interesting facts: “It is claimed that there are more than 4,000 movie theaters in the United Kingdom, and that of this number nearly 10 per cent are in the Manchester district. “The Manchester motion picture houses may therefore be taken as typical of the British in- dustry. A majority of the theaters offer a con- tinuous program pretty much on the lines of those shown in America; a feature, a short comedy and a news reel. Orchestral music is usually provided even in” the smallest suburban houses, although in some cases it may consist of nothing more thay a violin and piano; while most of the larger houscs have very good and complete orchestras, One or two of the theaters equipped for talkies still provide a small or- chestra during the intervals between pictures. “It is said that the attendance at motion picture houses in this district is good at all seasons of the year, and that the average house is filled at least cight times a week. If this be correct, then it indicates a weekly attend- ance of around two million persons at an aver- age admission charge of 9 pence (18 cents). “The Oxford Theater, Manchester, was one of the first houses in Great Britain, outside London, to install the necessary equipment for the reproduction of sound films. At the pres- ent time it appears that five theaters in Man- chester are equipped to show talkies, and, ac- cording to announcement in the press, one of the largest syndicates in this district intends to equip between 20 and 40 of the houses under its control with sound apparatus at an early date. All five houses are understood to be provided with American equipment.” asked to summarize the chief defects ’ of the English sound films a distinguished American critic recently replied: “In a word, quently is marred by lack cf expert direction. Particularly is this true in the matter of care in developing a good technical procedure. Al- most invariably the photography leaves much to be desired, and apparently no way has been found to speed up plot construction. Whereas this is achieved in admirable fashion by the Americans by ineans of suggesting action via deft little touches, in England the director spends yards and yards of footage on inconsequential happenings. Let us suppose, for instance, that a leading character is to visit a friend in the latter’s office. The chances are that in the finished film you'll hear the that fact, and then watch every step he has and even the entrance to the office. “Moreover, the British don't seem to have & very keen sense of verisimilitude. They have fallen prey to ths easy but vicious habit of mak- Yank Sound Films Showing the Way, With Germany and England Off to a Fair Start. Other Interesting World-Wide Movie Matters Told by Division of Motion P‘icturés of the United States Department of Commerce. g A modern way of advertising the somewhat ancient “Ben Hur” in Spain. proved results. But the British continue to present films in which the main actors are usuelly stage stars with little or no movie training, and who give almost as much declama- tion and posturing as your dyed-in-the-wool grand opera star.” ‘This same critic goes on to say: “Certainly these critics cannot be made in all justice to the German directors of sound pictures. They tend to carry the technical procedure to the opposite extreme. Virtually all the megaphone wielders are masters of unique camera angles, artfully worked out. But un- fortunately, to the American way of thinking, the Germans will not let weil enough alone in this connection. A veritable maze of weird ‘shots’ tends to obscure whatever plot may have existed originally, and the Yankee spectator is ‘left almost gasping in confusion. “Then, too, the German mentality seems to favor themes that are heavy and sordid. To feel properly entertained the Teuton must suf- fer. So much so that even in the comedies presented for his approval he demands, and gets, a type of humor that is, if anything, more heartrending than the straight dramas.” Concerning the present state of the talkies in Germany, Assistant Commercial Attache Douglas Miller says: “During the first nine months of 1929 about 90 sound pictures were produced. Toward the close of the year the big production company, UFA, brought out five sound features with dialogue and foreign language versions. “The last few months have seen a period of change and uncertainty in German film circles. At this time there are certain main facts which stand out clearly and which the American dis- tributor must bear in mind when considering future business in Germany. “While it is true that Germany has been making more sound pictures than her nearest European rival, Great Britain, nevertheless the Government is not particularly receptive to American talkies for the reason that Germany wants a chance to be virtually self-sufficient in the new form of entertainment. “In this connection”it is important to note that not so long ago the big German industrial concern, Tobis-Klangfilm, manufacturers of German sound apparatus, secured an injunction, based on alleged patent infringements on the part of American manufacturers, which for- bids the projection of pictures by American ap- paratus without the permission of the German sound film interests. This means in effect that Is a far cry from the Yank “Cocked-Eyed World” to Budapest, Hungary. But here’s the way the Kamara Theater arranged its curtain for that record-break- ing feature, the German market is virtually barred to American talking films unless these are proe jected on German machines.” This is indesd a discouraging situation for the American producers, because for some years Germany has been one of the greatest Euro- pean markets for our silent films. FRANCE is far behind Germany and Great Britaip in the matter of making talkies. Last year, of some 52 films produced, only four were sound films. It will be many months, we are told by Trade Commissioner George R. Conty, Paris. before France will be able to produce satisfactory dialogue films in her own studics. However, the wiring of studios for sound recording is well under way, with one important studio already taken care of in this connection and the others apparently ready ? fall in line. So far as American commercial interests are . concerned, the stiuation is not so bad. Besides the American companies, no company seems o have made any great progress in theater instale lation. Of the 165 theaters lately wired for sound. 92 are using Yankee equipment, while most of the others are French. Besides the regulation synchronized sets there are now synchronous sound machines used for production of mechanical music in accompani- ment of silent films. This, incidentally, has given ris> to various abuses, as small exhibitors using such sets endeavor to capitalize the nov- ‘eity of sound pictures and offer their patrons only canned music which, moreover, is often of a low quality. Prices go up at the same time in order to pay for the outlay, with the result that the public is dissatisfied. The importance of this situation may be judged from the fact that, according to certain Prench press state- ments, about 500 cinemas have dismissed their achieved with excellent fidelity, there are far too many reels showing poignan suffering that, to the American viewpoin very much exaggerated.” Spain is casting an interested eye talkies, but thus far very little has achieved in producing them. Of the 20 produced last year, we are told by Trade missioner Julian C. Greenup, Madrid, were synchronized, and these were not o of > e HiTr exhibitors are much on the job in Spain, showing more 100 of ocur talkies in that country during past year, a record far exceeding that of other country. Then, too, of the some like 18 Spanish theaters equipped for mmemchmeryuo(mm acture. i g i ALTBOUGH Japan is the nations in the Far East wi g I H §§E§;!:i§ gaged in domestic production, the facilities for making sound However, word has just completion 3 H 1 i g housz, up to the top of the theater, out. Four projecting cameras have Nor was the necessity of interpreters dome away with when Japanese photoplays