The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 41

MOTION PICTURES 4 SOUND GAINS MORE IMPETUS Many Neu) Activities in Talkie Production; What Players Will Best Survive Change; Men Have Advantage in Stage Experience 0 rr. ill i I i- i i v. im i (i a Vol. XLVII. SUNDAY MOfcNING, JULY 15, 1928.

I'nfnlrfd kf tha ArtUt KvaUUirMt kr tha Camr BY EDWIN SC1IALI.ERT IS THE sound-picture situation at last clarifying itself Has it been definitely determined how large part voice will play in the future career of the motion-picture star? To what extent will talk-lug be used in forthcoming productions? Will beauty or handsomeness alone enable a screen player to survive changing conditions in SPOKEN WORD filmdom? MOVIEDOM TURNS TO VOCALISM PROVES ITSELF Irene Rich is Chorus4 Queen9 in Tower Show ROMANCE BLOOMS IN "LILAC TIME" This story of the love of a French maid for an English airman which comes to the Carthay Circle tomorrow night does more than bring a breath of romance from Normandy. It brings Colleen Moore to the screen In her first romantic role, notwithstanding the fact that as a star, she has played a variety of parts. The festivities attending opening of this First National production at the Carthay mark the first time that Miss Moore has had what is known in Los Angeles as a "premier presentation" for one her picture. Gary Cooper plays the young British orflcer who falls In love with the French lass when the lilacs are blooming. Sketches from the picture, as below, are by Times Staff Artist A.

L. Ewlng. Dialogue in "Lights of New York" Adds Tenseness Irene Rich portrays an actress In "Powder My Back," a comedy which opt-ns at the Tower tomor- Significant in Indicating if row. Miss Rich Is seen as a musical Importance of Talkies comedy queen who subsequently 'Audible Pictures. Demand Good Diction and Stars Hasten to Comply by Study BY ISABEL MORSE JONES With the advent of "tones" and "phones" in the motion-picture industry there has been a rush to the voice specialists.

Stars both big and little have sought the help of vocal and dramatic teachers to aid them in their dilemma. It is not (Continued on Page 14, Column 7) marries the man who closes her show because of its nudity. The picture is said to be a captivating, modern comedy-drama with numer ous laugh provoking situations. In the supporting ca.it are Audrey Ferris, Andre Beranger, Anders Randolf, Carrol Nye, and Cissy Fitzgerald. Roy Del Ruth directed.

Jerome Kingston wrote the story which was adapted for the screen by Joseph Jackson and scenarlzed by Robert Lord. A Vitaphone program Is also on the new bill. "The Lion and the Mouse." Warner Brothers' talking picture and Bert Swor In a Vitaphone presentation, "Duck and Deduct." will be There are so many different Cwtions that have arisen since 'the "talkie" craze has hit the film colony that it may seem ell to answer a It of them, The past week has seen various important developments In the new field, notably the plans for synchronized musical scored at the United Artists, the proposal of Warner Brothers to add a fourth sound stage at their atudio, which will Incorporate all the ideas developed in the past year and a half of their experience, a forecast of the early intention of the Christie Comedy company to engage in production of short reel pictures, with the planned building of two stages at the Metropolitan studios, Jesse L. Lasky's reiteration of a pronouncement recently made that within five years all pictures will be talking. These are but a few of the many different bits of news about an innovation that is acquiring a far-reaching influence.

In addition, it be mentioned that two Movietone stages of the Fox company are approaching completion, and that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is well under way with construction of a stage at their studio. Universal is preparing actively to enter the field with a device called Unltone. First National will probably soon be represented by a stage at their studio. THE most significant development appears to be in the musical fleld. This is the announcement that United Artists will in the near futir be providing scores for their pictures In Hollywood.

The only obstacle at present Is the lack of a stage but ground for this has already been Lroken. While this staee la buildinsr seen for the last time IN view of the continual flurry of announcements about talking pictures, the- question of how many players are equipped for work in -the new field is constantly arising. Will their success be dependent on stage experience? If so. how many of them can qualify? A survey of the studios shows that approximately 60 per cent of the contract players at the various establishments have been before the footlights. Predominantly, men an represented In this list.

This Is because in the majority of cases to date the masculine player has had to have some special qualification of training for the film medium. Girls are very often chosen for their beauty. More than 65 per cent of the men under term contract in pictures have had stage ence; less than 45 per cent of the women. Which means that the girls would seem at least to face a more serious problem than the male contingent. However, there is a manifest differenco of opinion as to tha fitness which stage players will have for the new medium: Its demands are dtfTerent from those of the spoken drama.

LIONEL BARRYMORE, who scored such a marked success In "The Lion and the Mouse," has expressed the whole matter as succinctly as my player I have heard. "All ths iu.v., over voice training and so fort-" is hysteria. The voice is the least consequential thing in talking pictures. It is what the actor has in his head that counts. Joseph Jefferson once said that a fine voice had ruined more actors than strong liquor, and he was talking right from the shoulder.

Many of our great attorneys have mediocre voices, but it doesn't prevent them from winning their cases. Even a poor voice can be made attractive by the personality behind it just a slight physical blemish, a nose slightly retrousse or an imperfectly curved mouth isn't going to detract from the charm of a person who possesses it, if they have charm and magnetism. The real success of the actor depends on something more than mere vocal ability. It relics rather on a talent for drama and an interpretive faculty." FOR all the lavish predictions regarding its future, the great sound picture will develop slowly. Producers who make expensive pictures that have to appeal to an interna-- tional market are marking time temporarily.

The Instance of Douglas Fairbanks and "For All Eternity," his new production, is typical. This film will 'have "Racket," Hit; Teamwork of Cast, Excellent BY XORBERT LUSK NEW YORK. July of New York" Is the first feature-1-mgth picture with continuous dialogue to be shown on Broadway, where It Is current at the Strand. Though far from taking its place beside other melodramas of night clubs and bootleggers it Is nevertheless significant of what may be expected In the future, but the fact remains that the spoken word gives the picture a degree of Interest and tenseness which would be lacking If It, were played in silence. In short, dialogue Is a distinct addition to Its value as entertainment, and Is not In any sense an litruslon.

And with the improvements already made in recording the olce and In devising dialogue no imagination Is required to forese: the time when something approximating perfection will be achieved in this new form of entertainment. Unquestionably It is not only a new but a distinct form, which tears less relation to screen acting silence that might be supposed. This difference is especially noticeable in the cases of Cullen Landis and Oladys Brockwell, who In their long careers have never left one doubting their ability as well as willingness to act and act well. Yet in their present endeavor their acting is concentrated in their voices rather than in pantomime, and no one can say that less I' conveyed than if pantomime were more freely employed. FLYING COLORS Both players have come out with flying colors in their first attempt the voice Mr.

Landis being sincere, manly and unaffected, while Miss Brockwell's is charged with emotion and is used with the ease and flexibility of a stage veteran. Robert Elliott also has come in for conspicuous notice by reason of the use of his voice as the detective, and Tom Dugan has seemed to many to be admirably equipped with speech to match the underworld character he plays. Some of the critics have, of course, scoffed at "Lights of Broadway" in every particular, but it is safe to assume that their caustio. judgment has been arrived at with i.o thought of the relation of thu picture to the future of the "talkies" which many critics accept as a FORTKRIGnT PERFORMANCE "The Racket" at the Paramount is a hit due to the splendid teamwork of the entire cast, as well as the co-operation of scenarist, director and title writer. The picture Is considered strong enough to remain longer than the single week to which pictures are restricted at the Paramount, and it would surprise no one if it were shifted to another house.

Thomas Melghan's forthright performance has evoked admiration because of its strong integrity and also because it bears none of the aspects of a stellar role forced Into that position at the expense of the others. Louis Wolheim as might be expected, Is considered superb, and Marie Prevost comes into ner own in most congenial role she has had In years as well as her first appearance as a blonde, a change which is thought to enhance not only her (Continued on Page 14, Column t) NATE SLOTT IS NEWEST PRODUCER two pictures will be synchronized in the East. One of these is "Two Lovers." the other "The Tempest." Hugo Rlesenfeld. supervising musical director for the United Artists theaters, will handle this work, but he believes that the greatest future In musical scoring can only be achieved when the musical accompaniments are arranged while the picture is actually in the making. "All synchronizing under the present system is bound to be imperfect in he said.

"The musician cannot get close enough to the spirit of the picture by just watching it on the screen, and then nicking a musical arrangement. If he follows a production through from start to finish in Its filming he will be better equipped in every way to arrange an effective score. Furthermore he will have the time and the opportunity to do this properly, to get the underlying feeling that the picture seeks to express and emphasize. 'This will give a new overtone to the picture accompaniment, and be beneficial to an unlimited degree in intensifying its emotion." Rlesenfeld Is a men admirably fitted for this work, because of his excellence as a musician and his long experience in scoring pictures in theaters in the East, and more recently ASKY has settled an lnter- I estlng question in his an-Jlnouncement that probably twenty-five to thirty films will have sound, many with talking sequences. This will mean a goodly portion of the total Paramount program.

It will mean too that a large number of players under contract there will speak at least a line or two, If not whole sequences, into the movie microphone. He Achieves Significant Success in One-Reelers of Sports World GOOD TIMES POINT WAY TO CAREER sound effects and musical accompaniment in all probability, but little or no talking. Samuel Goldwyn who has attained quite a vogue for his stars. Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky, in the foreign trade field, tells me that he expects to use only a little dialogue in his picture. There will be a few spoken words at the very end of the first Colman starring picture, "The Rescue." "I regard talk at present as a new form of close-up," said Goldwyn.

"It Is to be used with exceeding discrimination. Music, on the other hand, has an entirely pew field open to it. as a result of sound devices. We will have the finest musicians here in the future, and they will write their scores directly for the screen. It will be like the days when famous authors were brought to Hollywood to con- (Contlnurd on Page 21, Column 6) Dance Contests Play Vital Part in Life of Warner Brothers' Ingenue BY HELEN KLUMPII A new member was added to the ranks of film producers last week, when two of a series of one-reelers were given tryout showings in Hollywood theaters.

And what one-reelers they were! Many a veteran film producer has put less of entertainment, sex appeal and timely interest in a long feature. The pictures are known as "Aces of Sport and Screen" and the young producer's name is Nate Slott. If you have never heard of Nate Slott, that Just shows that you weren't following local featherweight boxing matches a few years ago. But you have heard of all the people who play in his pictures. He takes no chances On unknowns; only the biggest stars of screen and sports worlds appear in his films.

The first of the series featured Ben Lyon and Mickey Walker, and the second, Merna Kennedy and Johnny Welssmuller, the swimming Now it is unusual enough for a callow youth of limited experience and lean pocketbook to become a film producer, but the tale of how Nate Slott happened to do it is even more unusual. Everybody knows that success stories preach that it is men of single' purpose who get somewhere. The underlying moral is always that you must concentrate on a certain goal and let no obstacle impede your progress toward it. And that is Just what Nate did not have and did not do. And he has gone and made a significant success, anyhow, which ought to make the preachers "Good times" in school brought Audrey Ferris to the movies 1 There Is a long and shining array of loving cups, inscribed with flattering passages, that stand as mute (Continued on Page 14, Column 6) i 6y ffau Caar COLLEEN IN FIRST PREMIERE Opening of "Lilac Time" at Carthay is Momentous picture should have 'come from the pen of a girl.

This scenario is another triumph for Frances Marlon. She never does better work than when writing for George Hill's direction. John Was Genewms Occasion; Her Heart is" Abutter Well, Dale, welcome to the screen! It looks as though you had given the old Jinx the solar plexus! The Cutting Room Floor Some of the finest and most good character acting that has ever been filmed has been done by Dale Fuller, and most of It lies on the cutting-room floor. She has had the darnedest luck of pny woman I have ever known ii Hollywood. Some day I am going to dig up the scenes she enacted in Von Stroheim's "Greed" and run tnem.

They never, were seen by the public. All the episodes in which she appeared were amputated from the picture. This because she was dramatically out on a limb In a separate episode. In "The Cossacks" she has at last ner chance. And, as the mother of the heroine, she hits the ball.

A Bully Picture To say that I. liked "The Cossacks" is a faint echo of the real idea. Gents, I just wallowed in "The Cossacks." It had more verve and virility and h'gh flavor than any picture I have seen in a year. It is strange that such a brisk, brutal, tingling "he" SPOKEN DRAMA INTRIGUES Marie Prevost May Go East With Husband Kenneth Harlan and Study for Stage The warm summer sun beat down placidly on the Harlan-Prevost homestead in Beverly Hills, but inside tha air was permeated with the feeling of ill-suppressed excitement. Kenneth and Marie, happily married In 1924.

had separated for what they thought was good and aiL Now BY ALMA WHITAKER "On Tuesday I shall just stay in bed and go right on sleeping for five days," announced Colleen Moore, as she besought her fluttering heart to be still. "I'm too excited to eat or sleep now." "You see, 'Lilac Time' is my verya period of Follies' girl pictures and I take my hat off td John Gilbert. There are very few stars who would have been generous enough to allow a fellow as attractive as Nls Asther to come into his picture. And the result, of course, is a fine characterization that makes Gilbert's part the more vivid and outstanding. A Charming Swede first romantic picture it was made uers and The Caveman over at they were back together again.

Asther i3 the best procpect now in A CONSERVATIVE IN FILMS, BOTELER ACHIEVES QUIETLY sight on the screen. He has a fine A cameraman bustled around with lights and paraphernalia, preparing to photograph the reunited couple for the papers and the magazines. Marie, as a flutter, as a bride, commandeered the proceedings: "Don't you like this pose?" only by our own results but by the more recent imitation or turopes best talent. There seemed to be several methods of procedure in Hollywood from which my contem appearance, an unctlcus charming quality in humor end a romantic eweeger. And ironic nets now that the talkies are upon U3 ho viil find himself limited to a line cf parts that will go with his obviously foreign tongue.

Ke-ea Is Lovely Every tine I see Rsnee Adoree I v'onder that does not do more with her. There Is something about her as compelling and real and vital as the warm Mother Earth. has the rarest of all gifts: humor with an undertone cf tragedy. Most of thess little Hollywood girls are Just tinsel blowing in pf-rfumed winds cf summer. When they cry, you can't tell whether they have a run in their now nude stockings or whether the family hes been massacred.

In her ov.n life Renee lias had many things to cry about, but she has struggled cut a smile. oi now to no it feel pretty cheap. Nate Just couldn't choose between sports and films, and that indecision was responsible for his finding and developing the material for his series of pictures. One week he was a featherweight boxer, the next a second assistant director in a studio. Then Ben Lyon, Richard Dlx.

or Richard Barthelmess would need an expert to put them in fighting trim for pictures and Nate would become trainer and sparring partner. Then he would act for a while if $cu consider the feats of doubling and trick riding, acting. After a few pies In the face and horseback plunges over precipices he would feel homesick for athletic contests again and back he would go to the world of sports. But all this wasn't getting him anywhere. And Nate Just couldn't decide which interest to give up.

So, he combined them. No one in the picture, business seemed ready to listen to his idea of making pictures featuring film stars, their favorite sports, and the champions of those sports. So, Kate up and made them himself with what money he had and a little borrowed from friends. The pictures are pduational poraries were meeting success, tsut for me only one method was feasibleI- would take the best engagement I could obtain and make of it the best character that I could accomplish. And that is all that has ever been involved In my screen work.

Of course one likes some parts better than others and I have been happy to break up my acting with a scenario now and then when I have happened onto a fascinating idea. "Isn't it fortunate that there Is always another idea or another part another niece of work lust ahead? gorgeous gowns but now, by easy degrees she has arrived, in "Lilac Time" at poignant romance. In this she is a little French girl (and allowed her hair to grow for the part,) whose people befriend the British Air Squadron in France, while Gary Cooper is the handsome, young captain who captures her heart. A war and aviation background but mostly lovely love story. "Oh, dear, I am afraid to say it's good," she said.

"But I do hope it is. I know Gary Cooper is in it, so are the seven boys you see, some of them will become famous. Cleve, my brother, is the enly one who nas been in pictures before. Cleve wears a moustache which gives mm some decided It, I want to tell you. But I shall not know if I'm good in it until after Monday night WILD CELEBRATION We snatched this interview out of the wild celebrations that were being held out at First National in favor of Mayor Walker of New York.

"There was confetti flying, a luncheon, speeches, hilarity galore, all adding to the tense excitement for Colleen, who had to preside next to the Mayor who gallantly drank milk with her. How she twinkled at "My John," when the Mayor remarked that he had met them five years ago and was "delighted to see she was still speaking to John" and blew ner husband a sly kiss behind the general manager's back for that. Right after all this meeting and greeting hundreds of people. Colleen had to fly back on the lot to finish scenes for "Oh, Kay" Where before the luncheon she had Wade Boteler Is a conservative among screen players. For he has preferred to work steadily and quietly in a film day of anothei1 fashion.

During a time when some have been busily winning prominence, content to catch up with their education afterward and more at leisure. Wade Boteler, who plays a distinctive role in "The Tailor," now at the United Artists' Theater, has been learning his profession as doctors and lawyers learn theirs. He is a graduate of the American Academy ot Dramatic Arts, a classmate of Douglas MacLean. Olive Tell and other players who have achieved in the tradition. After graduation he remained at the academy for several seasons in the capacity or director.

Thus, before he launched his own life work he instructed Clare Eames, Ruth Gordon and other since prominent players In the rudiments of stage appearance. Tha; was the first chapter of his life story. Then Wade Boteler. red headed and of Irish as well as Scotch an before 'Happiness although it is only now being released. Then it's my very first big opening at a big theater.

I am going to make my first 'public appearance' at the Carthay Circle on Monday night, and maybe make a little speech if I'm pot too excited to talk, and look, I'm having this dress made specially for the occasion. "You see, I never have had stage experience as so many screen actresses have had. and I'm perfectly thrilled with all this adventurous excitement They put me back on the milk she adds, ruefully. For so many new thrills all at once can play the very dickens with a lovely lady's digestion, One would never suppose that little Colleen had been an established big star in pictures for lo, these many years. There isn't a trace of the blase anywhere.

She seems Just like the little 15-year-old who secured, 'way back in 1916, her first part and had to go to school at night to finish her education. BLAZED TRAIL This versatile, adorable Colleen, the very first of the "flaming youth flappers," who blazed the trail for the Clara Bows and Alice Whites galore who have come after her somehow she has played everything but sweet romance until now. After the flappers, there was "So Big," in which she was the epitome of "Mother." the baby's young mother, the man's marvelous old mother a surprise performance that won her medals and eulogies galore. Then there was a go of slap-stick comedy "In which the only romance was a bear-hug and a squashy kiss In the fade-out, if anv." she laughs. "Twinkletoes" was "low-life" drama, and not at nice for a sweet Colleenish There was Warners'.

Ycu have no Idea how enthusiastic we all were about The Mr. Milestone made it in eighteen days and with no script other than the bock cf the play. "We had all seen the stage piece downtown, of course. When Mr. Milestone was puzzled about a bit of business, he would take a run into town and settle it quickly.

I doubt If any drama has ever been transferred to the screen with more faithfulness except, of course, for those scenes which are only talked about in the play, and which we show." EXCITED ABOUT ROLE Miss Prevost is even more excited about "The Godless Girl," though. She had been acting in feature comedies for the De Mills studios, and C. B. hesitated about offering her a comparatively minor role when he began casting tha bigger picture. Marie had no hesitation about accepting it! "I had never played in a special, you see," she said, "and the chance ceemed wonderful.

The best things I had ever done before, of course, were in The Marriage Circle. 'Kiss Me Again and "Three Women with Mr. Lubltsch." The photographer Interrupted. Would Miss Prevost pose for another, please? The actress smiled, excused herself hastily, and went over to the husband the courts had so nearly taken away from her. It was only two or three weeks ago that Mrs.

Harlan called her lawyer on the telephone and asked him to petition the judge to drop the arrangement for an Interlocutory decree ox divorce. jp she'd ask the man with the tripod, and, plucking a yellow flower from its stem, she held it under her rpouse's chin to see how fond he was of "butter." Silently agreeable. Kenneth just looked at her, a little smile hovering about his lips. Once he spoke: "Goof!" he whispered to her. ELOCUTION COURSES Harlan may go east shortly to appear in a stage play.

If he goes, Miss Prevost says she will go with him. She is strongly in favor of an elocution course for herself when she reaches New York, with a view to essaying a part in the spoken drama. The girl who has graced many of cur flightiest screen farces is fed up on them. Drama, roles of character. Just now seem to her devoutly to be wished.

And 6he is making headway In the more serious screen plays at last. It came simultaneously with the bleaching of her hair. In two pictures her most recent Marie had her opportunities. One of them is "The Godless Girl," the unre-leased DeMille special about reform schools. The other is "The Racket," in which she fills the only feminine role: and this one is at the Metropolitan now.

"I hadn't worked for Director Lewis Milestone for years," she explained, "not since 'Seven in- In view of this fact it has never seemed worth while blustering and worrying and hurrying oneself to a rapid and insecure fame. The work is the thing and happily there is inasmuch as they teach vou how cestry, enlisted. At Camp Travis the athletic champions do their he was commissioned and placed in charge of entertainment and the organization of acting units for the diversion of thetooys at the front. This took eighteen months and is the second chapter. "When the war was over I head usuany woric lor the workers.

Boteler was associated with Douglas MacLean for several seasons both as a writer and an actor, but something more than a year ago he commenced a free-lance program which has netted him his finest opportunities to date. Besides his portrayal in "The Tollers," he has recently achieved distinctive performances in "Warming Up." "Eaby Cyclone" and "Just Married." while he also played a featured part in "Life's Like That." the Fanchon Royer picture. He is now handling the comedy for First National's "The And you feel this when you ste her on the screen. Kats for Prologues! has another capital picture out; but it was spoiled for me a dreary, stupid prologue. You had to pay a heavy penalty to see "Telling the World." If the theater managers put on these prologues to punish us for our sins I wonder if we couldn't with them.

Say. if the afternoon before the show, we lashed curselves with cactus whips, mayba would let us off from the pro- (Contlnned le 11, Column 5) stuff, but the educational part is so adroitly woven into a story framework that vou'll never have that annoyed feeling of being told something In the first picture you learn that Een Lyon likes to box and you are let in on the secrets of road work and other mean. of tratnini bv been drowning in a pool for half ed for Hollywood," Boteler said. "It seemed that most of America's players were doing the same thing and our Judgment that the future of the profession lay on the then- seelne him and Mickey Walker, no tne morning. "Oh.

be still my fluttering heart," bubbled Colleen, "we will sleep and sleep for days and days after Monday night," less, do their stuff. In the second unfamiliar staees of the studios Wrecking Boss," under the direction i (Continued on Page 32, Column 6) seems to ave been Justified not of Eddie Cline..