PAGE TWO
44
THE
DESERT SONG" FILMED. TALKING PICTURE NOT A BIG SUCCESS.
(By Dan Thomas.)
One of the greatest talking mo
tion pictures ever filmed.
That's
what they told me out at Warner Brothers studio about "The Desert Song."
Maybe it is--but just the same, some 2700 of Hollywood's elite left the Warner theatre grently disappointed after the world pre- mipre of the film a few nights | ago.
In my opinion only one word of praise can be offered for this pic- ture that is for the singing. It was goed. But even apple pie! loses its lure. If it is' dished up too often. Director Roy Del Ruth (or) perhaps it was Darryl Zanuck, the supervisor) apparently forgot that it is one thing to listen to conald- erable singing from real, live char- acters in the colours setting of the legitimate stage and quite another thing to listen to the same. umount .of winging from mechanical device at the back of
which appear
und white figures. On the stage it is ac reptable and enjoyable. On the
screen
black
screen it is baresome,
On
If dialogue films are to be a sue." cess ilgllywood producers muat learn one thing that primarily they are making motion pictures. That was the factor forgotten in producing "The Desert Song." In-. stead of being a coherent, smooth. running story, it is merely a series of episodes intermingled with fes! much singing.
the neting-well,
for
As throughout the picture it constant- ly reminded me of the amateur the-
Atrienle which I used to see in our! local opera house at home 104 years ago. It was so exaggerated
as to be funny in spots and offers
a perfect example of what happens -when a picture is cast by merely¦
making voi
tests.
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. NOVEMBER 16th, 1929,
Myrna Loy as Azuri in The Desert Song."
We have advanced the theory Miss Loy as Azuri, a native dancer, former light "epera and musical before, that even sound films must conducts herself as one would be fundamentally motion pictures expect a girl of that type to act. if they are to le successful. "The Labise and Johany are mist as Desert Song" bears out that enn- rather simpleminded kids and they tention. Instead of making the carry out their roles beautifully. action the prime factor and the They are the comedy relie! to an voices a supplementary factor, the, otherwise drab musical, order has been reversed.
In our opinion Myrna Loy, Louise Fazenda and Johnny Arthur con, all the honours. Their perfor- manues are natural and sincere. ON. THE TELEPHONE.
Woman's Habit of Time-wasting.
Lo
comedy actor, is just that and His nothing more on the screen. movements are all over dramatic and stagey. Miss King was lured.
radio microphone From portray her role. She sings well. and when that is said, all is said. John Boles and Carlotta King, A year ago "The Desert Song" who play the leading roles, have might truly have been called a in the progress of much to learn about acting or milestone else Del Ruth has much to learn speaking films. But this isn't about directing. Boles, a former year ago.
play bridge. This she then pro- message and every time he rings eceds to do, only to learn that Mrs. up he is greeted with the words C has already an engagement for "number"engaged." that day and earn come. This
Women
!
are not the
only
is after ten minutes futile con- offenders. Many men waste time versation about things that do not on the telephone, but but not to Why is it that the average matter in the least! She then the extent women do. woman talking on the telephone finds that, after all, her bridge One of the best methods of sav- will invariably make the conver-party is not complete and she has ing time is that of a clever busi sation twice the length it need be? to begin all over again with Mrs. ness man. Directly he takes off Most women will tell you that the D. Mrs. D, as likely as not, has the receiver he says dones here." telephone is the bane of their lives just heard some interesting piece This saves endless remarks such and that it is ringing all day of news about a mutual friend and as "Is that 1237" "Can I speak to and they have no time to answer is dying to spread it round. It is Mr. Jones?" Time is money in it. Yet if you happen to be near at least another quarter of an business, but it does not seem to at hand when a conversation is hour before Mrs. B can get the be of any value as far as a woman taking place between two women chance of asking her to play is concerned on the "telephone, you begin to wonder if they ever bridge
There ought to be time limit, to have time for anything eleo.
Sn the good work goes on, and all calls, then the woman who talks For instance, listen to Mrs. R. by the time Mrs. B's bridge party for hours about other people's asking Mrs. C. to bridge. She willis finally acttled, hours of useless business would suddenly find her- chat on every conceivable subject conversations have been gone.self cut off in the middle of her from the weather to baby's new through on the telephone. Often discourse, porsibly to the advant- she has rung up to ask Mrs. Cato an impatient husband is waiting fuage of some other woman whose Lonth and then suddenly remember give his wife some important character was about to suffer!
"BRIGHT" WIVES.
DO NOT MAKE THE BEST OF MATES,
Many a great man has frankly ascribed his success in life to the inspiration of an understanding wife.
сол-
There is, however, a reverse to this picture, and we have ail, at same time or other, had the un- comfortable experience of being in "company with the wife who, heaps unfriendly criticism and ridicule on her husband, belittling his juigment, abilities and achievements.
She is generally a good versationalist, quick-witted and subtle, and attacks her husband's Title faults and foibles with such an air of lively malice that un- discerning persons are provoked to laughter, and wonder "how jolly Hile Mrs. John came to marry dull, old John"!
It may generally be noticed that
the more birbed the sailles of Mrs. John, the quieter and more reserved becomes her husband.
"Why does he not retallate?" one may ask. Because he feels thore is much truth in his wife's remarka He knows that her attitude,
is, in the first place, the outcome
of disappointment-he has not made the worldly advancement of which his early days gave promise.
In the second place, it is born"
of a kind of snobbishness, and is Mrs. John's way of informing the world that she considers herself superior to her surroundings and worthy of a better place than her husband has been able to provide for her.
In these circumstances the wife is as much to bo pitied as the husband. She has failed to realize that in making him appear ridiculous before strangers ahe destroys his self-confidence, and takes from him the very elements that go to make the success she covets. Strip a man of his natural vanity, and he is poor indeed.
BEAUTIFUL KWANGSI
GORGE.
The beautiful Chung Ling Gorge, on the Fu River, between Wuchow and Kweilin, Kwangsl Province.
PICTORIAL SUPPLEMENT
MODERN AIRPORT IDEAS. MUST BE INDEPENDENT CENTRES.
Here's how Roosevelt. Field, one of New York's best known airports, will look when completed according to the plans of Kenneth Franzheim, upper right. Shown in the centre is the passenger terminal with hotel accommodations, swimming pool, clubs, shops and dance pavillon. Parking space for thousands of motor cars is provided nearby, and fur- ther down the lines are hangars, repair shops and flying schools:
Just seven months ago, Mr.velopment costing about $1,500,-"ways at least 25,000 feet in all The airport at Valley Stream Kenneth Franzheim, a New York 000, exclusive of the ground, In- directions." architect, went to a large aviation corporates all the ideas he believes concern and asked:
should make a field practical and has three distinct divisions" con- at Valley nected by motorways and promo- "What place, if any, is there profitable. The one
nudes. In one section is "the for the architect in the develop- Streams, Long Island, his second aviation school with the hangars commission, is the most expensive ment of flying?"
"Whatever he wants to make," project and represents a 36,000,000 for the school planes and quarters for the students and instructors. is enterprise.
the field is was the answer. "The, field
One of the most extensive will At another corner wide open."
He left with a contract for his be the field at San Mateo, Cal, the main group, to accommodate first airport-the St. Louis Air which must meet the combined the public, with the plaza, the Terminal, and two months later problem of constructing an air-club house, hotel, swimming pool, shops and dance pavilion. Nearby actual construction began. To-port and a yacht and seaplane is a large area for automobile day he is building pr has contracts basin. to build sixteen more, ranging from one million to five million dollar jobs, an aggregate of some $40,000,000 worth of work.
parking. In the third group" are Will Land in Luxury. "Every phase of aeronautics is the hangars for planes, the re- pair department, and the building, being developed so fast that it is where tests are made. almost impossible for a builder to Mr. Franzheim is enthusiastic keep up with the expansion," he about his building projects, but
there are 35
very modest..
No Precedents, Outside of several around New said: "Right now York City, Mr. Franzheim is airports within a radius of 40
Plans Far Ahead. In a shorti *། started from scratch," ho working on ports for San Antonio, miles of New York. Fort Worth, Harrisburg, Pa., time there will be more airports laughed, and in a few years Montclair, NJ., Cleveland, Pitt- than country clubs, for that is the I expect to know a lot more about nearest parallel to the modern the business than I do "now. sburgh, Louisville, Baltimore,
Everything now is built by looking Houston, and Berkeley and San conception of a landing field.
"It must have everything that ahead ten or fifteen years when Mateo, Cal.
"There was one advantage in a railroad terminal has, and more, lying will be as common ns motor- being a pioneer in the business." because we are a more luxurious ing, and the family airplane wil! he said. "There were no tradi-people than when railroads first be another Item in the yearly tions---but the other hand were built. It must have facilities budget. Trying to keep up with for at least 350 planes," and park- the present and still build for the there were few precedents." It was an opportunity such as an ing space for many more motor future is a problem in spoed."
He hopes to make a hasty trip architect seldom has. I. had to
"All buildings must be fire to Europe.soon to study the fields.
and proof, and there must be a casino at Croydon, Le Bourget where passengers and guests may Tempelof, not that he expects dine and dance-there must be them to offer much architectural- restaurants, swimming pools, hotel ly, but they have developed large facilities, and other buildinga and interesting passenger facili- must be provided for instruction tics. in flying and for repair depart-
оп
be modern in spirit, because the airport serves the most modern of all modes of transportation."
He had the advantage of having spent his first years out of col lege in the U. S. Air Service, so he knew the field problems of the
·Hier.
$5,000,000. Job.
He tackled his job by visiting the large fields that have grown up, naturally and unscientifically, during the last decade. Then he gathered together a staff of en- gineers and builders who were familiar with planes and with con- struction,
The airport at St. Louis, a de.
BIG IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT TILBURY DOCKS.
cars. i
ments.
Complete Civic Centree,
Mr. Franzheim is a native West Virginian who pince the war has been a prominent architect, first "A modern airport must be in Chicago and now in New York. planned just as a city is planned. He recently planned and con- for it is a miniature city. It must structed the Gulf Building, one of have at least 650, acres and run- Houston's new skyscrapers,
S
TRIKING EXAMPLES
OF GORDON'S
FOOTWEAR FASHIONS.
The Top Picture Illustrates. An Exceptionally Smart Walking Shoe in TAN CALF with Insets- of Genuine LIZARD SKIN Cuban Heel,
A Bective Model.
The Lower Picture Shows. a Charming Evening Court Model in BLACK SATIN with APPLIQUES of GOLD KID.
Hand Turned.
FRESH IDEAS IN MODERN FOOTWEAR ARRIVING CONSTANTLY,
Shoes which faith- fully portray the modern mode,
Hongkong people going Home next year will be surprised at the great improvements carried out at Tilbury Docks... Above Is seen the new floating landing stage. The new entrance lock was recently opened by Lady Ritchie of Dundee, wife of the Chairman of the Port of London Authority. (Times copyright).
GORDON'S
1
THE HOME OF
BEAUTIFUL SHOES,