Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

J une 3 0 , 1 9 28 2179 The Voice of the Screen News and Comment on All Phases of "Sound" Pictures Paramount Announces Plans for Season Talkie Highlights PARAMOUNT officially announces a minimum of twenty-five to thirty features for the coming season with synchronization and many of them to have talking sequences. Sound will also be used in the short subjects. Universal also tells of plans to synchronize at least eighteen features for the new season. England is aroused to a high pitch of enthusiasm over sound pictures and a number of new devices are already making their appearance. It is claimed that this equipment will be installed at much lower prices than prevail in America. Labor troubles reach a serious aspect in St. Louis over "canned music." Negotiations are reported under way by which First National will be franchised by R C A Photophone. Pathe has signed for the Photophone system of sound recording and reproducing and ten of the company's specials will be synchronized under that process. J. D. Williams is negotiating with RCA Photophone and will in all likelihood handle that equipment in the United Kingdom. Sound in the storm sequence of "The King of Kings" promises to make that one of the most remarkable pictures to date. Sound Accompaniment, Talking Sequences for Minimum of 25 to 30 p A R AMOUNT has completed plans A for sound pictures during the coming season, according to an official statement by the company. Of "the 71 Paramount feature pictures to be released next year beginning August 1, a minimum of 25 to 30 will have sound accompaniment, most of them with talking sequences. Paramount News will present a large part of its service in sound, and the one and two reel short features, including the Christie Comedies, will also have sound accompaniment. In addition the company will sell a new type of picture, which will be sound pictures of the stage unit productions such as appear on the stage of the Paramount Theatre and other big theatres operated by Publix. By this move smaller theatres throughout the country will have the opportunity of booking the big stage shows that are now a feature of the de luxe houses in the larger cities. Lavish novelties featuring popular acting, singing and dancing stars, the pick of the world's stage and screen talent, will be presented in these special short reels. Hollywood to Be Centre The major part of Paramount's sound activities will be centered in the company's studio in Hollywood, but reconstruction of the Paramount Long Island studio for the production of sound pictures is progressing rapidly. As announced last week by Adolph Zukor, president of the company, those sound pictures which can be most advantageously filmed in the East because of the proximity of speaking stage talent will lie made at the Astoria plant. Among the feature length productions with sound, which either are already in work or have been completed, are the following : "Wings," the William Wellman production with Charles Rogers, Clara Bow, Richard Arlen and Gary Cooper featured. Erich von Stroheim's "The Wedding March." All the great highlights of this picture — the wedding music — bells and trumpetings — will be heard as well as seen. Featured in the ,/ast are von Strohcim. who directed and Fay Wray. Anne Nichols' "Abie's Irish Rose,'" which will have in addition to the music score, other sound effects, such as the singing of the theme sum: by Charles Rogers ami Nancy Carroll, who, with Jean Hersh olt. are featured. "The Patriot," Ernst Lubitsch's feature, which stars Km i I Jannings. Sound produc tion for this picture will incorporate the thunderous Russian marches, the charge of the yelling Cossacks, pistol shots as the innocent are shot down and the members of the cast talking in the climactic scenes. Featured in support of Jannings are Florence Vidor, Lewis Stone and Neil Hamilton. "The Canary Murder Case," a detective mystery melodrama with William Powell, Louise Brooks, Ruth Taylor and James Hall featured in the cast under the direction of Malcolm St. Clair. In addition to the music and sound effects this picture will have a number of talking sequences. "Loves of an Actress" starring Pola Negri and directed by Rowland V. Lee. Nils Asther and strong cast support .Miss Negri. Sound accompaniment for this production will consist of a music score and sound effects for the dramatic sequences. "Warming Up," a lavishly produced comedy-drama starring Richard Dix. Sound accompaniment for this production combines the sound atmosphere of a baseball game, singing of the theme song and the music score. Jean Arthur has the reading feminine role in this Fred Newineyer production. Paramount has acquired the rights to "Burlesque," the Broadway comedy-drama that has run nearly a year in New York. Sound effects, voice and the music score will be heard in the Christie series of short features released next season. The first five Christies synchronized with sound in all its phases are: "Skating Home" of the series, "Confessions of a Chorus Girl," with Frances Lee and the Christie beauties; "The Dizzy Diver" and "Oriental Hugs" of the Billy Dooley series; "Stop Kidding," a Bobby Vernon comedy and "Hot Scotch" of the "Sandy MacDuff" series starring Jack Duffy. While in New York, Charles Christie announced that, in addition to the foregoing, his company will produce two special sound short features. Christie Sipns Contract Charles Christie, vice president of the Christie Company, has signed a contract with Electrical Research Products, subsidiary of the Western Electric Company, whereby Electrical Research Products will ereet a sound-proof stage on the Christie lot in Hollywood. Construction is under way and it is expected that the stage will be completed in 30 days. '•We will use the Movietone (film) system of sound recording in production of the major portion of the 32 short features which Paramount will release this year," said Mr. Christie. "Owing to the necessity for conforming to release dates, we (Continued on Follozcint] Page)