Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03
Flashes From the Screen
BY c. E. Nelson.

| Aim committee Of the parents ex-
position, recently held at Crane
Central Palace, New York, showed
the rapid strides made by motion
pictures as an important adjunct
to child study.
The Capital City has beer
especially fortunate in specia,
showings for children, various
community organizations con-
tributing toward excellent pro-
grams, with the aid of local film,
distributors and exhibitors.
The National Board of Review
by the way, lists the following pic
lures in a selected guide: 1.-THE
Canary Murder Case" with Will
liam Powell, Louise Brooks and
James Hall; Cheyenne" West
ern, starring Ken Maynard;
Desert Nights" with John Gilbert
and Mary Nolan; THE Leather
neck" with William Boyd; The
Redeeming Sin," with Dolores
Costello, Conrad Nagel and Lionel
Barrymore; Seven Footprints to
Satan" with Creighton Hale and
Thelma Todd, and Strange
Cargo" with Lee Patrick and
Andre Beranger.
CONRAD VEIDT, the German
- film star, who appeared in
1.-THE Man Who Laughs" considers
that dialogue has nothing to do
with the film drama, but that
music has everything to do with
it. Music helps to set the tempo
of the film," he says, land the dia-
logue disrupts it. You go to the
picture theater to see. and your
hearing is only incidental. I do
not think that the film Is the
proper medium for the human
voice. Soon, I am certain, we shall
have better silent pictures than
the world has ever dreamed of.
Soon we shall have better sound
pictures than we now imagine are
possible, but, except for musical
comedy stuff, we will probably
have very little dialogue. 1t just
does not fit in"
WHEN it comes right down to
w entertainment value, the
Broadway critics say the new pic
ture, Broadway Melody" Is the
first example on record to threaten
the legitimate stage attractions.
This picture is the first to give a
real musical comedy by way of
the Screen-Or, at least, to bear
any relation to it's stage counter
part. 1t has an entertainment
value, according to the critics
which was thought to belong eX-
clusively to the speaking stage.
And, again like stage attrac-
ton, the ticket SPECTATORS of the
Great White Way are cornering
the pasteboards for Broadway
Melody" The New York public is
paying a bonus for screen at
traction.
IT is estimated that $780, 900, 900
have been invested in talking
pictures since AL JolSon made his
remarkable success with "The Jazz
Singer" This picture started off
the fireworks in the studios, and
Broadway Melody" and Tn Old
Arizona" have added to the pyro-
technics. Wall Street, from where
most Of the movie production
money comes, Is, however, now
taking up a policy Of watchful
waiting-waiting to see whether
the public wants silent or talking
pictures. Wall Street likes only
three noisy oictures-"The Jazz
Singer" Broadway Melody" and
In Old Arizona"
A Flash or Two.
HARRY JOLSON-one Of the
- Washington Jolsons and a
brother Of the famous Alias
signed a flve-year contract with
the Universal organization, &C
cording to announcement by Carl
Laemmle. The younger JolSon' s
first picture will be written espe-
cially for him. and 1t will be one
Of the singing-talking stories.
Lionel Barrymore is directing
Madame X at Culver City.
personally, says Carl Laem-
mile. head Of the Universal Co., II
prefer the silent pictures. How
ever, we are making sound pic
lures because the public seems to
want them. I work hard during
the day, and when want rest
and recreation, the silent pictures
give it to me. Also. I have trouble
hearing the talkies, for I am a
little deaf"
After eliminating the dialogue
from This Is Heaven" the new
Wilma Banky picture. Samuel
Goldwyn has decided to restore
it, with the most dramatic scenes
in full dialogue. Movie fans are
reported to have requested the
change.
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