FILM AND RADIO

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 28

FILM AND RADIO

REPAYING A DEBT

1 The motion-picture industry, having benefited by many electrical devices developed for broadcasting, will have an opportunity to more than repay the debt to radio when television comes, according to the "Radio Times," the official organ of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Pointing to the fact that radio, and the cinema have become the two chief purveyors of entertainment for the millions, it is said that "each is naturally very conscious of its own limitations; and of the other's extravagances." "The cinema had already established itself before broadcasting came along, and it is universally admitted that'the pioneers of radio drama owe much to film technique," asserts the "Radio Times." "On the other hand, broadcasting was established before" the films took to sound, and the lessons learned" fii broadcasting studios did something to smooth the' rocky path of the early talking films. And when television comes, that debt will in turn be more than repaid* "On the side Nof personalities, too, there is a good deal of interchange between the two sets of studios. Film stars go on the air, and riot'infrequently star broadcasters break into the films. The public, which is composed so largely of listeners, jumps at the chance of seeing its radio favourites on the screen. Both in England and in America whole films have been built up around galaxies of well-known broadcasters; there have been big broadcasts and radio parades. Radio stars figure in pictures -that have no connection with radio; equally, a popular broadcasting act, such as Henry Hall and the 8.8.C. Dance Orchestr^ can by itself carry the main interest of a big film. .'.■■'... • "Then there is the occasional interchange,of stories. 'Good-night Vienna' goes from radio to film, 'Charlemahge' goes from- film to radio. More often . however, film and radio producers go separately to the same originals, whether books or stage plays, and make their own adaptations according to their own requirements. It is worth while for radio and film producers to parody each other, because both are appealing to. the millions. To a great extent the audiences "or both forms of , entertainment must coincide. "Despite their many differences *of outlook and method, film and radio are alike m one important thing. If either of them were to vanish, millions of people .would be* deprived of one of the chief pleasures of their lives." A Wellington Pianist. _ Arthur Alexander, the New Zealand pianist, who may be heard in a recital m Saturday's Empire" short-wave programme, was born in Dunedin and educated at Wellington College. Going to London, he entered the Royal Academy of Music as a: pupil of Tobias Matthay. During the years 1930, 1932, and 1934 he was examiner to. the University of South Africa, and among his . own compositions is included special music for the Festival of, Empire Pageant in 1911. Arthur Alex-1 ander is now a Professor of Pianoforte I at the Royal College of Music, London. .