Evening star., 1928-09-23

lust at present, newspapers and bill
boards all over North America are
advertising new pictures with the words,
'See and Hear-Lingering Lips'-Com-
plete With Sound"
The emphasis on Hear" and on
Sound" is so placed as to suggest to the
public that Lingering Lips" is one Of
those talking pictures. For the time be-
ing, the public is inclined to believe this
announcement. and Lingering Lips"
and other sound" pictures are doing
good business.
AS a matter of fact. Lingering Lips"
was produced in the usual manner be-
fore the interest in the talkieS had pro-
gresSed to the hysterical stage. 1t was
Just another silent movie. with panto-
mime by the actors and actresses. and
with subtitleS to explain at great length
what the pantomime was intended to
signify.
When the shooting of the picture had
been completed. and the film unreeled
for the first time in the projection room,
its producers decided it was not parti-
cularly hot as a popular attraction, and
that something would have to be done
about it. Make 1t into 'talker.' was
the immediate and unanimous decision
of all the assembled executives.
LDlSEIIlk
to the mechanical experts in the new
noise department, and it was there sub
jected to the mercileSs process of
SynchroniZation.
This consists of tacking on a narrow
strip of celluloid, on which appears a
iiggly white line. resembling the mean
derings of typhoid patients tempera-
ture. the record Of seiSmograph or the
chart showing sales in the Northwest
ern territory during the last fiscal year.
Every Zig-zag of the white line indi-
Gates a different sound. the sound waves
having been converted into terms Of
light (and please don't ask me why or
how.
Thus. when Lingering Lips" is re-
leased, it Will carry Its own musical ac-
compartment. Furthermore. it Is equip
ped with other noises, such as revolver
shots. the roaring of airplane motors,
the cheering of crowds and even the
smack of the kisses suggested in the
title. There may also be few spoken
words here and there, thrust in at
strategic points in the action.
In White Shadows in the South
Seas for instance, there is one scene
which shows Monte Blue, as white
outcast, thrusting his head from a bush
and peeking at a group of underclad
native maidens who are diSporting
themselves in the surf. From Mr.. Blues
expression, as he beholdS this Succulent
sight, one would conclude that he is
calculating, Hot Patootie!." or words to
that effect. But the movietone causes
him to say, "Allo," and in a somewhat
sissy voice.
In THE Patriot" Emil Jannings, as
the mad czar awakes from horrible
nightmare and calls frantically to his
friend, Count Pahlen. His agoniZed
voice resounds throughout the theater-
"Pahlen! Pahlen! Pah-len!" 1t is
we'll dcne and effective, even though
t. ; words as they come from the loud
speaker don't quite coincide with the
of Mr.. Jannings' lips on
the screen.
Which reminds me of the opening of
''The Prisoner of Zanda" in New York,
six years ago. Although this was long
before the era of the Sound" picture,
the sponsors of the production saw fit
to heighten it by means Of oft-stage
noises. At one pig moment Ramon
Novarro burst through a Fre-ich win
seized Barbara La Mari In his arms, |
kissed her passionately and received a |
good, strong slap in the face.
BY some mischance, the stage hand |
who was manipulating the properties |
lost his cues. so that when Mr.. Novarro |
went through the window there was
no sound. This error was instantly |
discovered, and when Mr.. Novarro
kissed Miss La Mari there was tre-
mendous crash of broken glass, and
when Miss la Mari slapped Mr.. No
vartoS face there was the softl5 pleas
ant sound of kiss.
The present rush of phoney sound"
pictures indicates, of course, frantic
ATTEMPT by various movie producers to
catch up with the procession that is
now being led triumphantly by the |
Massrs. Warner and Mr.. Fox.
With most of the flrst-class theaters
Of the country being wired for the |
movietone and photophone, |
ana with the patrons of these theaters |
expressing a desire to see talking pic |
lures and nothing else, 1t stands to
reason that the more backward pro- |
ducers will face severe losses unless
they deliver the desired noise. Just
ct present it doesn't seem to make |
much difference what this noise is, or
DAN-nrNyG