Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
on sound"
is the order to nearly
all managers Of the big

4 ali managers Oh CIl6 Dig
studios. And, from this
viewpoint, 1t appears that the
silent picture is doomed-at least
until the cash customers demand
something different. The Fox Co..
now one of the largest, If not the
largest. among the film producing
organizations, announces that eff
fort is being centered upon sound
pictures and that the silent films
will be cut to a minimum. Other
producers are expected to follow
with similar statements, for they
have built and equipped great
sound studios. 4 ..
The craze fox sound pictures has
resulted in a popularity of the
short subject, and large number
of the one and two reelerS are &C.
cofnpanied by sound. Short come
dies, novelties and vaudeville acts
make up a large part of the ma
terial in this particular field. It
is claimed that the transition to
sound is more marked in the field
of short pictures than in features,
for the reason that the sound and
silent combination will not mix
in the shorts"
Although he was one of the
most outSpoken against the talk
ing picture, Joseph M. Schenck,
president and chairman of tie.
board of directors of United
Artists, has planned new
schedule for his company which
consists mostly of all-dialogue
vehicles. At the present time
United Artists is releasing the
Mary Pickford talker, "Coquette,
and Roland Vests "Alibi." Among
the other Spring releases are the
Norma Talmadge picture, yet I'M
titled; Herbert Brenon's produc-
ton of 'LumoX," THE Locked
Door," and starring pictures for
Lupe VeleZ, Harry Richman,
Fannie Brice and other newly
signed players. All of these pic
lures will have dialogue and
music, Irving Berlin having gone
to the West Coast to assist in
musical development at the
United Artists studio.
Another interesting phase of
the sound picture situation is the
move of European producers in
sending US musical pictures"
Through World Wide Pictures,
Italian opera and singing pictures
from France are to reach the
American screen. Germany is to
create popular cperettas of
native origin interpreted by
World-famous VienneSe conduc-
q
expected from the La Scala Opera
Co. of Milan, and the English pro-
ducers are to send the best acts
from London's music halls"
MOTION picture history was
made in Washington during
the past week-at least, from a
box office standpoint and from
the quality of pictures exhibited.
Hearts in Dixie" at the Fox,
drew thousands of visitors in the
Capital, and Broadway Melody
packed 'em in at the Columbia.
THE Divine Lady" at the Metro
pQlitan was a big drawing card,
and the Earle and Little Theater
received their share of the large
crowds. William HaineS and his
picture, "The Duke Steps Out" at
the Palace, came very near
smashing house records.
While the plot of Hearts in
Dixie" is quite thin, the picture
is: a glorious effort. The all-col-
ored cast, headed by the star,
Stepin Fetchit, could not be i'm
proved upon. The picture de-
served to break the box Office re-
cord Broadway Melody" is a
top notcher, with an almost per-
feet Synchronization, and THE
Divine Lady" is a real starring
vehicle for Miss Griffith. So, the
picture business is booming in the
National Capital. /
lilly DAMITA, one of the
newest importations for Holly
wood, has a peculiar contract with
Samuel Goldwyn. Four months
ago she placed her name on the
paper which called for her Serv-
ICES for the next six months.
Then, her contract was to be re-
newed if she had learned to speak
English. The six months is not
up. but Goldwyn has taken up
the option. He admits that she
still speaks with an accent, but
she is asked to give up her English
lessons for the present. She is
required in picture where her
rQle demands the accent.
X \ X X