We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
xviii INTRODUCTION
augmented by eminent persons like Mr. George Bernard Shaw whose attempt to prove on the movietone screen that though Mussolini could govern a nation he could not waggle his high brow like Mr. Shaw, was excellent boxoffice stuff. But though it was evident that a revolution was about to take place, the Film Kings continued to argue in favour of the silent film. They maintained that the " movie " was attaining undreamed of heights. The big spectacular sentimental film of the Fox 1928-29 programme was proclaimed from the studio top as the last word in perfection and extravagance. The million dollar picture had receded to the background as representing a contemptible outlay, and the two million dollar one had taken its place.
In the early days of 1928 millions of pounds flowed from the bursting coffers of the Film Kings and supporting bankers to capitalise their frantic endeavour to outdo each other in the production of the biggest and best commercial movies.
Then it seemed as though a Demon or Conjuror waved a wand. And there was chaos. In the midst of unheard of confusion the Film Kings fitted the Voice which they had stolen from the Theatre, to the little black box. They plundered the Theatre of its priceless heirlooms, the objects and agents of interpretation and representation, authors, actors, producers, and so on, quite unaware that this raw material was no good for the Cinema; that Cinema human utilities are born not made. They took everything they could lay dollars on. It was perfectly