Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
SCREEN
FROM THE
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BY c. e. NELSON.

months, and it has only touched
upon the great possibilities. There
is much speculation as to what the
next year will bring, and many Of
the producers are preparing for &
sweeping popularity of the syn
chronized product. But, anyway
all records are to be broken; that
is a settled fact. Producers, di-
rectorS and players are lined up tC
make 1929 the biggest year of the
induStry'S history.
| X x x X
IT has been the rule that the
Stage-Struck girl, desiring 6
| place in musical comedy, first get
a job in the chorus, where she
may absorb the atmosphere OF
theatrical life and climb to the
top as singer or dancer. The same
rule may hold in the movies of the
future, for one of the large pro
ducing companies is planning
only planning, mind you screen
revueS which will contain every
thing, and more, Wedged into the
average big musical comedy. There
will be star players, dancers, sing
erS and all the speciality acts of
the stage, with orchestra music
and elaborate stage settings. The
original plan includes an extra
width film and the installation of
special projection equipment in
the theater. But such inStalla-
lions require much time and
money, so the full-Size operetta or
musical comedy may not become a
screen reality for some time.
But, any way, the extra girl of
Hollywood must learn to dance
and sing before she can hold down
a position in the chorus.
PARADOXICAL as it may seem,
the advent of the sound
movies have changed Hollywood
into City of Silence. Noises are
taboo, the megaphOneS of direc-
tors are going into the scrap heap,
and the Sneeze is frowned upon.
The reason for the sudden silence
IN the various studios lies in the
fact that the microphone used in
recording sound with films is no
respecter of noises. 1t picks up
the sound of a hammer accident
ally dropped by a carpenter with
the same facility that it registers
the dulcet tones of the heroine's
voice. And, since the heroine'S
voice is the only sound the di-
rector wants recorded, the car
penter must watch his step and
equip his hammer with shock
abSorberS.
Directors are communicating
with their players by sign lam
guage. TechnicianS on the set
wear heavy felt-soled slippers, and
old-fashioned "turnip" watches.
with their loud ticking, are parked
at the front gate. All the large
studios have posted orders that no
one not actually engaged in the
production of sound film will be
permitted to visit the stage.
visitors are not entertained.
WARNER BROTHERS announce
that the following players will
be starred in their productions
during the coming year: Dolores
Costello, Al Jolson, John Barry
more, Thomas Meighan, Monte
Blue, Audrey Ferris, Sophie Tuck
er, George Arliss, Ted Lewis, Paul
inc Frederick, Conrad Nagel and
Edward Everett Horton.
Short Flashes.
"THE DESERT SONG" we'll
known as a stage operetta,
is becoming a screen feature by
way of the Warner Brothers
Studio. John Boles plays the lead
ing male role, and others in the
cast are Louise Fazenda, Carlotta
King, Myrna 10y, John MILAN,
Johnny Arthur, Marie Wells, Jack
Pratt, Edward Martindell, Robert
E. Guzman and Otto Huffman.
Roy Del Ruth is directing, and the
claim is made that this is "the
first musical play ever transferred
in its entirety to the motion pic
ture screen"
A typically American story, THE
Home Towners," has won special
favor with the movie fans of Lon
don. The all-talking production,
which was adapted from George
Cohan's stage success, was fea-
tured in Washington a few weeks
ago.
Bryan Foy has been placed in
charge of the Eastern Vitaphone
studio, at Brooklyn. Broadway
stars have been employed to ap-
pear in a number of short SUBJ
jects.