The Film Daily (1928)

Exhibitors DAILY REVIEW, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1928 LAEMMLE SEES GREATER PROMISE FOR 1929 Better Talkies, Fuller Entertainment, — Scope Of Industry Widened By CARL LAElOtLE President Uniyersal rictures Corp. The question of Sound and Talking Pictures will continue to drown out all lesser problems in the motion picture industry for many months to come. Just what the ultimate outcome will be as regards Talking Pictures is hard to say yet. Certainly, it would be a brash man who would state, in the light of present developments, that dialogue in pictures has no future. Yet, that future is still hazy. REBIRTH OF AMUSEMENT. The overwhelming swing of the public fancy to Talking Pictures is a Voice no showman can fail to heed. I am convinced that the pub-lic reaction is based on something far deeper than mere novelty. It is based on the warmth, the personality, the human quality which voice gives to motion pictures. This being so, we must accept the birth of a new amusement medium, for the talking picture in its ultimate construction will be far different from a screened stage play, or a present day motion picture with in jected lines. THEATRES FINAL ARBITERS. Of course, there will continue to be silent pictures — as long as there are motion picture theatres unequipped for sound films. Many theatres are being equipped monthly. Eventually all will be able to get equipment if they desire it. Whether they will desire it, in the final analysis will depend upon the advancement of the art of talking pictures during the next year or so. The technique of conceiving and making talking pictures is making rapid strides, but there is much distance yet to be covered before the talking picture arrives at the same state of technical perfection that the current silent picture has reached. No industry ever faced such a complete change-over as has faced the motion picture industry during the last six months or more. "Give us Talking Pictures!" was the public's demand. That demand had to be met quickly. The extent to which the various companies have met this demand is a remarkable tribute to enterprise. There is no parallel in the entire history of industry. It is even more remarkable than the change-over of ndustrial plants into munition plants in war-time. And the change-over is far from completion. Certainly the first half of 1929, perhaps the entire year, will be a continuation of the hectic present. The Voice of the Screen! It resounds from Broadway to Hollywood, but out of the babbel of voices and opinions there rapidly is arising order and harmony. The elusive elements that make for good continuity and good theatre in talking pictures rapidly are taking form. GOOD STORIES NEEDED. The effect of this situation at present, is a growing necessity for the selection of stories that will make good silent pictures while at the same time being suitable for sound and dialogue treatment, since most talking pictures, for many months to come, also will be made in silent form as well. Thus, the stories must continue to be filled with action and other qualities demanded by the silent screen, so that they will offer first-rate entertainment, even when lacking their dialogue sequences. The selection of stories is becoming increasingly difficult, for this reason. UNWORRIED ABOUT STARS. There are other conjugate problems, such as the availability ot present day motion picture stars for talking pictures. There is much being said on this subject these days. I, for one, am not taking it very seriously. With the exception of a few stars whose foreign accent might limit them to foreign roles, the average screen player's voice should register fair enough. I've heard some which register better than the voices of trained stage stars At least they seemed more natural, and that is by far more preferable than vibrancy, or nuance or the other muchly mooted voice qualities. Whatever the minor problems and the day to day obstacles, the motion picture industry will go on. Talking pictures make for better, fuller entertainment. The scope and possibilities of the industry are widened. 1929 enters with greater promise than any year in the history of the screen. W h ere th holiday spirit pre vails the whole year 'round "The Leaders for Half a Century" KEITH-ALBEE ORPHEUM CIRCUIT OF THEATRES KVF.RYWHKUE — PRKSEXTIXG VAUDEVILLE AT ITS BEST and FEATURE PHOTOPLAYS In Animation and in Sound <^ TfCoinposite Programs of Novelty and Distinction, embracing all the Newest and Most Advanced Devices of Modern Amusements. <> GENERAL BOOKING OFHCES: PALACE THEATRE BLDG. NEW YORK CORPORATION 1560-64 Broadway, New York F B 0 PICTURES CORPORATION ^Preparing for an Era of Colossal Expansion in All Branches of Sound and Silent Screen Showmanship. 0 NOW AVAILABLEEIGHT SOUND and DIALOGUE ATTRACTIONS Synchronized by the Miraculous R.C.A. PHOTOPHONE IfSTUPEiVDOtS PUOGRAMS of Silent Proiluetion.s, including Western SaperFeatures starring Tom Mix and Trade's Greatest Line of Short Products. IJlVow, more than ever — MASTER SHOWMEN of the W^ORLD! BUILT ON A FOUNDATION THAT HAS NO EXACT PARALLEL IN AMUSEMENT HISTORY" — New York Times