Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

An Infant Learns Its Syllables 17 Still another case is told of a theater not far from Los Angeles, where nothing but a blank setting, the exterior of a house in the picture "Tenderloin," was beingprojected, and the voice of Lionel Barrymore, as heard in "The Lion and the Mouse," an entirely different picture, distinctly fell upon the ears of the astonished spectators, without any reference to what was going on before their eyes. The records had become mixed in being shipped from San Francisco, and again an explanation from the manager was necessary, which was laughingly accepted by an understanding audience. One can perhaps hear sound pictures to the best advantage today, in only a comparatively small number of theaters. Therefore, do not judge them too harshly ! Those who handle their destiny will learn better how to operate the equipment, in a year or so, and this goes not only for the theaters, but also for the studios. , What has happened in Hollywood recently is an interesting topic. A great deal has happened, it must be admitted. First of all, a hubbub of monumental proportions not caught in any microphone. If all the talk that went on about talking pictures were captured on records, there would be enough vocalism to last until the day of doom, and perhaps longer. Here, there, and everywhere to-day, one finds groups in the midst of tense debates'on the subject. Even mass and general meetings of stars, directors, technicians, and various high-powered experts from the big electrical companies, Who sponsor the devices, are held for discussion of the subject. Most of these take place under the auspices of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, formed a year and a half ago, and active educationally in the films, whatever that may be construed to mean. Then the financial aspect. The cost of stages already built runs into several millions of dollars — and not simply movie millions, for these stages are of stone and steel, and are enduring. There are many who regard this wild investment of money as ridiculous and crazy. What is good to-day in talking equipment, may not be worth a single whoop from a loud speaker, if some great improvement in the mechanics of recording sound comes along to-morrow. It may compare as the old crystal set does with the radio of to-day, with . some unexpected innovation in recording devices. The bigger companies reassure themselves with the fact that . they are guided in their plans by the radio and telephone organizations that have developed the sound-film devices. These, it is averred, feel that all has been done that can be done for the present. As may be seen, there is no single viewpoint on the talkie situation. Most unusual is the new note of secrecy that surrounds many of the operations. The Fox company, for instance, not long ago withheld, and endeavored to call in, all photo The small-town theater has been known to furnish home-made sounds in place of mechanical devices. graphs that they had issued for publicity purposes, showing players making speakies, or even of any part of the equipment for sound pictures. They announced that hereafter all pictures pertaining to sound movies would simply be views of actual scenes from productions, stills, as they are called, which you often find displayed in theater lobbies. Also, anybody who told anything of how talking films were made, was threatened with something closely approaching extermination. Other companies have adopted a similar mysteriousness about certain details of their methods. It seems to mean that they are afraid somebody may "steal their stuff." In a way, this secrecy is very much like that which prevailed in the early days of the silent films, when a writer from a newspaper or a magazine, unbelievable as it may seem, was about as welcome on a movie set as smallpox. In this respect, it would appear film history is repeating itself. The matter of visitors on a talking set is out of the question. Even for the writer for the fan magazine, or newspaper, who goes to a studio story bent, and generally gets the glad hand, obstacles are multitudinous. It isn't so much that the company dreads a disclosure of what is going on, because very little can actually be observed while one is sight-seeing in this manner. It is simply that some untoward or unexpected sound, like a sneeze, may throw a monkey wrench into the whole scene. ■ In some studios, it is related — though this may be hokum — that even high executives are regarded askance, when they venture onto the set while a sound picture is in production. Color is lent the report by the fact that one executive, while on a set, did actually have a nasal explosion, and the company was out $2,500, because the scene had to be remade. If anybody should giggle audibly from the side lines, while a picture was being taken, it would also wreck everything. A squeaky shoe, or brand-new puttees worn by a director, might disturb things. Somebody said a wrist watch does, too, but I doubt it. The tinkle of a slave bracelet might. The megaphone is in the discard, while the assistant director's whistle is silenced. Nobody dare even whisper. I have seen a small "clicker," similar to those used by the starter of elevaContinued on page 94 The records got mixed and suddenly bossy broke out in speech, while the audience rocked in hysterics.