Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14

Of certain parts Of the speech
ruins the continuity. And, again
according to the producers, we
have that amendment concerning
free speech" Just how free Is
free speech?
FROM Robert Hurel, executive
director of Franco-Eilm, In
New York a few days ago, came
the following outburst: "All the
American motion picture leaders
agree that the new sound process
is not an artistic advantage to
the industry. But the public, al
though ignorant, Is a tyrant, al
ways wanting something new.
There are black clouds over
France and over all the European
countries. America, too, is hav-
ing difficulties in finding its way
because of the new current caused
by the talking picture. Because
Of its extraordinary financial
situation, 1t controls the motion
picture industry abroad. But 1T
suffers from a new illness caused
by the producers giving the pub
lie a too elaborate Aim entertain
ment without first educating the
public's intellect. This has re-
suited in q general public lasSi-
tude and lack Of appreciation for
little but the spectacular"
Mr.. Hurel Is evidently confused
over the motion picture situation
in America, or be is sadly lacking
in a knowledge Of conditions in
this country. 1t is true that mo-
ton picture audiences know what
they want, that they patronize t. e
spectacular, but they will not be
| fooled. They are intelligent audi
ences; they have developed no
laSSitude as regards the sound
picture; the old-time Snowman
ship and hokum has no place In
their scheme of affairs. The ex-
hibitor, who is best qualified to
talk upon this particular subject,
is a student of humanity; he
knows what his public wants, and
his efforts follow that line. AS
far as too elaborate film programs
are concerned, the public Is Judge
and jury.
WITH the Noise Era upon us,
w there is considerable specula-
ton as to the future Of screen
comedies. Charlie Chaplin an
nounces that he will never appear
in a dialogue picture, but no such
word has issued from the studios
of Harold Lloyd, Buster xHeaton
and others of the funny men. The
heights of comedy were reached
with the films of Chaplin, Lloyd,
Langdon, Chester Conklin, Mabel
Normand, sgd Chaplin and Hank
Mann. VIII these fellows be just
as funny in the talkies?
Charlie Chaplin is, above all
things, a pantomimiSt. Harold
Lloyd has allowed year to pass
without making a new picture,
but his new picture, TINT" I'M
less the title has been changed,
has been made with dialogue, al
though there is also q complete
silent version. Buster Keaton
recently completed a picture,
Spite Marriage" with sound eff
fects" but no dialogue. The short
comedy fleld-two-reelerS with
Movietone accompaniment-is be-
ing monopolized by such stage
stars as Eddie Cantor, Clark &
Mccullough and Joe Cook.
The screen comedy outlook is
not very bright, to say the least.
* **
A Few Short Flashes.
lDOLORES COSTELLO is to be a
comedienne in her new pic
ture, 1.-THE Glad Rag DOLL" which
will be produced by Warner
Brothers. Others in the cast are
Ralph Graves, Claude Gilling-
water and Audrey Ferris.
A new Vitaphone feature will
be 1.-THE Time, the Place and the
Girl" from the stage play of
Frank r. Adams and win Hough.
The principal players will be
Betty CompSon, Gertrude Ohm
stead, Grant Withers and James
Kirkwood.
A new refinancing plan is well
under way whereby United Artists
under the title, probably, Of
United Artists Consolidated, will
evolve as producing as well as
a distributing company, instead Of
merely a distributing company as
has been the case since the
corporation was organized nine
years ago. This is the prediction
of Film Daily, "the Movie Brad,
street." which also states that
Harry Warner Of Warner Brothers
is in Europe and nothing will
happen until his return until late
in May.
Union musicians in Los Angeles
are protesting the practice Of
some independent producers In
Synchronizing pictures from
photograph records, while in New
York the sheet metal workers and
electrical workers are at logger
heads as to who shall handle cleo
trical movie signs. Recently the
Electrical workers had to have
police protection while they hung
the signs at the Central Theater,
Mae Murray is returning to New
York to complete her personal APP
pearance tour before going to the
Pacific Coast to make her flrst
talking picture for Tiffany-Sta
william Fox is shaking the
movie peace of the Southland. He
is contemplating Q S,000-seat flrst
run house for Birmingham, Ala,
it is said, and also another for
Oklahoma City.
Charlie Chaplin says, "I'm on
the board of directors Of United
Artists, and ! don't know anything
at all about the alleged deal with
Warner Brothers" Charlie has
, always opposed mergers for his
corporation.
It is reported that publix, the
Paramount subsidiary corpora
L Al -. =. 49, A..