FilmIndia (1940)

FILMINDIA October 1940 The Madras Theatres, Broadway, HABEAS "We have been privileged to hear reproduction on this system at the demonstration rooms of the International Talkie Equipment Co^ and have marvelled at its ability to bring out frequencies that are ordinarily lost in the average theatre. It is a treat to hear one's own recording on this system and then to compare it at any other theatre.. One begins to feel important after the show, forgetting that it is "Lansing" after all that is doing the job." "We wish and all good recordists will agree with us, that "Lansing" be installed at every theatre." The makers of the Lansing Sound System should be proud of this exc e 1 1 e n t certificate coming as it does from an o ffi c i a 1 body of technicians with a huge allIndia membership. And these technicians, as far as I know them, are not very willing to endorse foreign products. The Lansing Sound system must be really a great buy for these calculating rhaps to go that out and talk so warmly. And it is obvious that our film industry has at last got its ideal sound system for which the Indian exhibitors have been waiting eo long. "PLANES OF HINDUSTHAN" (Camp) Madras 18th July 1940 Deer Sirs, On the conclusion of my visit to Madras after opening the Prabhat Talkies, Madras, I feel impelled to write to you in appreciation of the very effective and entirely successful Sound Equipment at this theatre. I understand that this is the first cinema in South India which has been equipped with the ULNSISG SOUND SYSTEM. The first show at this theatre, when BNYANESHWAR was screened, came to me as a revelation of the possibilities in Sound Reproduction through the above system. I have no hesitation in saying that the quality of Sound Reproduction at your Prabhat Talkies is easily the be3t I have known. The human, natural and well-scaled reproduction of speech and music through the said system make it the best Sound Equipment I have heard. Such equipments greatly help the Producer in putting across his maximum effect. I wish that, in justice to Producers, more and more exhibitors would provide themselves with such classy technical equipment. The more I see of Dr. Pat'hy's work the more I feel that he is the best newsreel cameraman we have in India to-day. His latest work is seen in "Planes of Hindusthan" a documentary film of the Indian Air Force produced by Mr. J. B. H. Wadia for Key Productions. It must have been a terribly difficult job lo pho'ograph '.his film. With the camera up in the air half the time and the aeroplanes in gymnastics. But Pathy has done it and done it too beautifully to describe. It must be seen to appreciate the drami which the camera has caught in the air. Forgetting for a while the photographic excellence, the film could have been made more forceful and dra matic. If a little more care had been taken in making the story more human by linking up the incidents with several human activities, I am sure that the "Planes of Hindusthan" would have become more thrilling and dynamic a document of the screen. The accent of the English commentary, someone assured me it was the Oxford brand — though I couldn't discover it when I was in Oxford last, coming as it does more through the nasal passage so badly sits on the ear drums that you feel that a bee is droning all time in the air. I met G. Radcliffe Genge. He seems to be a good guy to meet, but he has a bad voice for the screen a voice that can never be understood or be popular on the screen. And for a documentary picture to be liked and appreciated it is absolutely essential that the voice of the commentator should not only be sympathetic but also intelligible. The Hindusthani version will be a great improvement and will certainly make "Planes of Hindusthan" a more desirable picture to see. What a relief it is that Genge doesn't know Hindusthani. Or does he? SNEHA-KISHORE PARTNERSHIP As foretold by me last month Filmactress Snchaprabha Pradhan was married to Actor-producer Kishore Sahu on the 13th Septem Yotfsfs Sincerely, V. Shantaram ber before the Registrar of Civil Marriages, and every one was pleased with this happy event including Ex-film critic Ahmad Abbas. The speedy conclusion to this hurricane romance is a feather in Kishore Sahu's cap. If he had only shown half this speed in the production of "Bahurani" that picture would have been an easier economic problem However nothing is still lost and I hope that in future productions, the charming and versatile Snehaprabha will help her enterprising husband to balance the budget of production by putting in the requisite 8 i