Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

63 Hollywood High Lights Relaying the news and gossip of the studio world and .its active personalities. By Edwin and Elza Schallert MICHAEL ARLEN'S celebrated apothegm— if we may be permitted to use this word — to the effect that he had come to Hollywood, as the home of the silent drama, and found it a place dedicated primarily to talk, is apparently about to experience a new and different realization from that which the famous author's bon mot inferred, when originally made in that city. We speak decidedly in the present tense. There is a terrific hullabaloo about the pictures synchronized with sound, sometimes known as "speakies." The old-time stage actors have given three rousing cheers, while the rest of the colony, with a few exceptions, has emitted one short— "Oh, heck!" The war is on, so to say. It is asserted rather generally that the movies are on the verge of an upheaval. How great it wall be, nobody seems willing to conjecture. Some people still don't believe in talking pictures. They say "talkies" are merely a passing fad and fancy, and that the silent film is too well established, as an art and entertainment, ever to be displaced by this hybrid effervescence. Nevertheless, there is this much to be remarked — namely, that practically every large company in the business is now definitely interested in sound devices. A majority of them are already building noise-proof stages, and will have these in operation before the end of summer. Various actors and actresses have admitted their concern over the new development to such an extent that there is almost a panic in some quarters. Speaking likenesses of everybody, who is anybody, in the films, will probably be seen all over the country within the next twelve months. Some of our favorite stars may soon chortle, if they do not also sing, and there is no question that the elocutionary powers of every one will soon be called to account — whether in English, broken English, cinemese, Holly woodese, or any of the other well-known dialects that prevail in the land of permanent wave and the home of the Kleig. Emil Will "Speakie." One of the first of the foreign players, whose voice will come forth from the silence, is Emil Jannings. Plans to this end have been made in conjunction with Marjorie Beebe's potentialities as a comedienne have so intrigued Fox — and with good cause— that she is to vbe starred in "The Farmer's Daughter." the showing of "The Patriot," which Ernst Lubitsch directed. Jannings will have only one word to say, and it is a Russian name. So, unfortunately,' Emil will have no chance to exercise his recently acquired English for the delectation of the fans. Emil had a hard time learning the language, but he lias it now, with an occasional "nein," and "dock" for emphasis. "I make some time a comedy, with a German trying first time to sprcch Engleesh," he told an interviewer recently. "It will be good," he assured. "The Patriot" will be exhibited with numerous sound effects — galloping of horses, ringing of bells, firing of shots —and, of course, incidental musical effects. This will be one of the largest Paramount productions of the year to be shown with their new device, which in an early form was introduced in "Wings." More Come Out of Silence. The curiosity to hear some people's voices should be enormous— especially in the case of stars who have been on the screen for years. No definite plans have been announced by most of these, but it is presumed that Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford cut short their stay in Europe, because of the unsettled condition which the new era, so-called, has brought about. The United Artists studio, where they work, is erecting a sound stage, and the first trial, with effects and with dialogue, is to be made in Vilma Banky's "The Awakening." Vilma herself may speak in this, and Ronald Colman's voice will probably be heard in "The Rescue," in which he is starring. Colman should register exceedingly well in "the talkies." Strangely enough, he is not especially enthusiastic about them. He told us he always felt that the charm of the screen was its silence, and always would be. Kathleen Also Has a Voice. Sound films are seemingly going to bring the return of many players, who have been overlooked by producers in casting their features, of late. Two who took part in a short Movietone subject recently were Raymond McKee and Kathleen Key. They did unusually well, and scored a hit at the premiere given at the Carthay