1929-11-09 — Page 10

PAGE TWO.

EFFECT OF THE TALKIES.”

REVOLUTIONISING THE CINEMA INDUSTRY.

Never before in the history of motion pictures has the industry seen such a change as that which It has undergone since the advent of the "talkies."

Not only has the heretofore silent drama been given a voice. but the methods of producing the speaking pictures have been con- stantly changing. Scarcely a week passes but what somo new device is perfected for improve- ment or simplification of produc tion.

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Even the personnel of the busi- ness has undergone & decided change. New faces are seen on the silver sheet. And there are an infinite number of new faces which the public never sees-stage directors, singing teachers, elocu- tionists, electric wizards, song) writers, musiclans, playwrights, artists and a host of others.

Industry is Made Over. This change has been so gradual. yet so rupid that few realise what the industry has gone through, If one stops to analyse, what has happened he will realise what a truly remarkable feat has been performed.

Compare the movies with the automobile industry. When Henry Ford thanked the style of his car, his entire factory, considered one of the most efficiently operated in the world, was closed down for a full year at a loss of many millions of dollars. Yet when motion pictures underwent just as radical a change they did so without a single studio closing its doors. Theatres the world over had to be supplied with films and the pictures were produced to meet the demand, Sound and silent films were måde on adjoin ing stages until sufficient equip- ment could be installed to make them all with sound and dialogue. Natural Colour.

To-day the articulate Alm is be- ing made almost as efficiently as and in some enses more so than

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. NOVEMBER 9th, 1929,

Just as they appear to have pushed some favourites from the screen, the talkies are bringing others back. No. 1 is Betty Compson, whose popularity was fading until it was discovered that she could sing, her most recent feature role having been in "On With the Show." No. 2 is Florence Vidor, who starred with,, Emil Jannings in "The Patriot" but whose volee seems unequal" to the talkies. Practically the same applies to May McAvoy, No. 3, whose voice also fails to "register." But Bessie Love, No. 4, zeems to have recovered much of her fading glory in the oral films, as evidenced by her excellent work in "The Broadway Melody."

the old silent picture. But the in-values do not necessarily add in- dustry has not stopped at that. terest to a film. As a result few Natural colour has been added, pictures nów pass the $500,000 and very successfully. Soon we mark and most of thom are kept

far below that.

will have pictures giving the im- pression of having three dimen- sions. And after knows what will come.

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"Talkie's" Run Limited. that who

In keeping with their costs, the returns of the "talkies" are less.

The old silent productions used to

A

That is be-

From a financial standpoint the production, of pictures to-day is about the same as it was a year or run two or three years before they two ago. It costs about the same were finally put on the shelf. to make the average talking film talking film does good business if that it did to produce the general it runs six months. run of silent films. But the cause the "talkies" constantly are "talkies" practically have elimi- being improved and even the nated the million and two million small-town theatres that are wired dollar specials. Producers have for using them insist upon having learned that huge production, up-to-date filas,

THE OLD, OLD WAY.

PICTORIAL SUPPLEMENT

VILLAGE CAGE AT LINGFIELD.

An interesting survival of the village lock-ups of past generations is the cage at Lingfield, Surrey. It stands close by an old oak, and of recent years has been restored. Local history talls how some 70 years ago à party of poachers rescued during the night eleven of their comrades by removing the roof of the cage with picks and crowbars. The cage was last used as a lock-up in 1882. (Times copyright).

PLAN

TO OVERCOME WATER SHORTAGE.

Following the methods of centuries ago, the farmers in China rely on their old friend, the buffalo, for traction power. The photograph shows a rice field being harrowed,

IMPORTANT NATIVE FERRY BOAT.

The primitiveness of native ferry boats is illustrated by the above, which is one of the most important, ferry boate on the West River, at Shiu Hing. The boat shown is conveying passengers to one of the steamers of the Kwong Wing Company,

The lowness of the River Ouse at Huntingdon is causing the local Corporation considerable anxiety, as the sanitation of the town depends on a good supply of water In the river. Among the contributory factors to the shortage of water is the condition of the lockgates at Houghton Mill, which fell to hold up the water, and the Corporation are seeking powers to purchase the mill with a view to its demolition and the rebuilding of the locke. A picture of Houghton Mill, which is a place much visited by artists. (Times copyright).

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