PAGE TWO
MOVIE "DOUBLES."
NOW ESSENTIAL IN THE TALKIES.
Ever since the inception of the motion pletures, "doubles have been employed. In the earliest che-roolers of 15 and 20 years ago "doubles" were called upon to per- form stunts too difficult for the featured players.
As the business grow, so did the demand for "doubles." The thrill- ing serials in which the heroine dived into swirling waters or leap- ed from an automobile to a fast- moving train offered a regular paradise for this aggregation of daredevils. Producers, ever afraid of losing a big box office name, refused to let their stars do anything perilous-and few of them wanted to."
Lots of Voice Doubles.
With the influx of speaking Alma a new, class of "doubles" Was Introduced the voice "dou ble." As fur back as a year ago
n. "double" was used for Barry
Norton in the singing sequences of "Mother Knows Best," Fol-
lowing that other players had their voices doubled when they were supposed to sing. Among them were Richard Barthelmess in "Weur; River," Laura La Plante in "Show Boat." Marian Nixon In Headline." Louise Brooks in "The Canary Murder Cases," and Corinne Griffith in "The Divine "Lady."
At fit the doubling proved rather unsatisfactory. It seemed like an impossible task perfectly to synchronize the double's voice with the player's lips. Producers were in a quandary as to whether it would be better to let à picture go with a poor singing voice or let the public know a double was being used. However, that diff eulty has been overcome until to- day it is almost impossible to de- tect a double if the recording is done properly.
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH NOVEMBER 23rd, 1929,
Here are two popular movie stars whose early ventures in talking films were made easier by having voice "doubles" do their singing for them-Laura La Plante and
Marian Nixon.
(inset)
employed for natural sounds. 1speed boat. After much experi- There was a scene in "The menting it was discovered that the Locked Door" in which it was desired sound could be obtained While there was a rush for voice found necessary to reproduce the by disconnecting the muffler of an doubles right at the start, it was popping of champagne corks. automobile and piping the exhaust
asked of the into a barrel of water. not until recently that mechanical Permission was "doubles". were used for other government to import some rea! Eight attempts to record the sounds. Natural sounds were re-champagne for this. scene, but it Jelfcking of train wheels for a rail- corded whether they sounded right was refused. Cider, and home road scene in "New York Nights" or not and no attempt was made brew were tried, but the result resulted in failure. The rumbling to improve upon them. And was anything but satisfactory of the train, the puffing of the there are some sounds which the Finally a man was found who engine and other noises so do- miérophone just naturally refuses could make a noise with his mouth minated the "mike" that neither to pick up in a realistic manner. which, when recorded, sounded the clicking of the wheels nor the
Now "doubles" are used for exactly right.
desired conversation could these sounds after it has been de-
Problem. picked up. Finally sound finitely determined that a natural Another problem confronted gineers solved the preciem br. effect is impossible to obtain at technicians when it was found im-dropping pennies down Its source. Several examples may possible to record correctly the stairway. That gave be cited as to how "doubles" are engine and exhaust noises of a sound desired.
Engines were
be
ei-
a steep
the exact
MAURETANIA'S RELIC VALUE.
U.S. Syndicate to Buy Mementoes.
At the age of 22 Britain's fastest liner, the Mauretania, has attained roll value,
A syndicate of American financiers has been formed to purchase all the decorative wood-. work in this ship, delivery not to be taken, of course, until the ship is broken up, which, it is hoped, may be many years hence, ・・・
Generations of travellers have admired the lofty lounge, panelled with polished mahogany, the pillars fluted with gold.
The library, lined in gleaming 'woods, walnut and satinwood and rosewood-the very names are u litany of beautiful words-is n stately room that would adorn a great palace; and the diningroom, all in unpolished and hand-carved oak, would make any baronial castle distinguished.
Where Are Our Men?
The American millionaires". pro- pose to have these beautiful things re-erected in a New York yachting club, where it will be an addest thrill to lunch in the Mauretania dining-hall or to read in comfort
in the Mauretania lounge.
One wonders why no English millionaires have come forward to save these things of beauty, for the country. The truth seems to be that Americans are prouder of this fast and beautiful ship than
even we are.
This is particularly so among Scandinavians from the Middle. West who went out, many of them as immigrants, in the Mauretania 20 years ago. They come back now as anloon passengers, proudly showing their children over the ship that holds so dear a place in their memories and associations.
They speak of the Mauretania is an old shellback would of the Cutty Sark. To them she is 3 living and a friendly thing, as well as a thing of beauty.
IMPORTANT FINDS IN
MACEDONIA.
Theatre Which Saw Plays
of Euripides.
Professor Sotenades, the well-. known archeologist, hos, sent a correspondent in Athens the re- sults of this, the second season of his excavations at Dion, the famous Macedonian fortress and sanctuary of Zeus.
Mentioned by Thucydides, Polybius and Livy, and situated be- tween the river Haliakmon and the Vale of Tempe, Dion, although destroyed by the Etolians in 220 B., was so completely rebuilt that half a century later it was "well fortified and adorned with public buildings and a multitude of statues.". Later it became A Roman Colony, Colonia Julia
PICTORIAL SUPPLEMENT
A NEW
44
TALKIE
STAR.
Irene Bordoni, the international singing comedienne, who makes hor screen debut in the. "First National-Vitaphone talking and singing version of her own stage success, "Paris," was born on the Island of Corsica in Ajaccio, the same town where Napoleon frst saw the light of day. Her great grandmother was, the sister of Millet, the artist.
*
Diensis, and is mentioned as late his tragedies, and has followed the and an early Christian basilica, as 346. A.D., when Palladios, its "straight road," mentioned by which must be earlier than the Bishop, signed the proceedings of Thucydides, right across the site Sixth Century, because the mosaic the ecclesiastical synod held at of the ancient city from the (still floor is adorned with crosses, Sofia,
standing) northern gateway to the which were prohibited as a decora.. tion for pavements by the Church Following in the footsteps of the southern exit.
at that period, famous British traveller of the A Buried Civilisation
A fine Roman tomb has also beginning of the last century, Colonel William Martin Leake, The finds so far include the re- come to light, but Professor Professor Sotenades has traced the mains of a small Greek temple, Sotenades' object is rather to lay line of the walls, which are, in two marble heads, one Roman, the bare from beneath the Roman perhaps that of a stratum the remains of the buried places 10 feet thick, has found the other theatre in which Euripides was Macedonian prince; fragments of Macedonian civilisation and to find invited by Archelaos to present an inscription of the reign of relics of Dion in the days of Philip II. of Macedon (350 to 336 Archelaos, Alexander.. and even A.0.); Inscriptions referring to Perdikkas I. (700 A.D.). He hopes the Emperors Tiberius and to continue his work, interrupted Trajan; Roman coins and houses, by the hot weather, next spring.
STEVENSON'S SWANSON HOME: AN INTERESTING PROPOSAL.
"FOOTWEAR
of
CHARM
and
DISTINCTION
An interesting suggestion has been made to the Town Council of Edinburgh that they should acquire as a public park Robert Louis Stevenson's home at Swane ton. The cottage was leased by R.LS's father in 1887 and continue the family's occupation to fourteen years. Our photograph was taken looking across the valley with the Pentland Hills in the background. Swanston Cottage is hidden amongst the trees in the valley to the tight, while the village is in the wood on the left with Twood behind. (Times copyright),
Open till!
6 p.m.
TWO DAINTY HAND SEWN MODELS FOR
SMART WEAR
ΤΟΡ
BEIGE GLACE BADDLE
AND COLLAR PICKED
"
OUT IN DARKER SHADE .COMFORTABLY SHAPED LAST- SPANISH HEEL -
LOWER
A MOST ATTRACTIVE COURT SHOE IN PUTTY GLACE, PIPED WITH FAWN KID
PER FECTLY CUT MODEL.
Many other New Styles Now Displayed by
GORDON'S
The Home of Beautiful Shoes, KAYAMALLY: BUILDINGS.
Page 10Page 11