FIRST SOUND PICTURE SATURDAY

Evening Star, Issue 20136, 28 March 1929, Page 7

FIRST SOUND PICTURE SATURDAY

INITIATION AT OCTAGON THEATRE Science has again triumphed over thfe “ impossible.” It has made vocal an art which seemed destined by the very nature of its- creation to remain forever a voiceless medium of expression. Through the revolutionary achievement of Fox Movietone, the motion pictures have been made truly, naturally, realistically vocal—a synchronisation of picture and sound of undreamed-of perfection—with the whole outdoor world its stage. The faint rustle of the leaves, the chirp of birds, tho distant bark of dogs, the beat of horses’ hoofs, the whirr of tire aeroplane aloft, the boom of the surf, the patter of rain, the echo of thunder, the crackle of burning wood—all sounds of outdoors are heard with startling fidelity, clarity, am! naturalness through tho medium of Fox Movietone. Even in an age of mechanical and artistic marvels, the talking picture has made a notable debut. A public which watched the motor car, the aeroplane, the motion picture, and the radio develop from feeble experiments to to-day’s high achievement, have given the talking picture a kind reception. And yet their very experience with the marvels which preceded it in the last twenty years made the public expectant of not too long delayed improvement in the talking picture. To-day, thanks to Fox Movietone, the favourite stars of stage and screen may not only be seen, but heard as well. The world’s greatest celebrities speak through Fox Movietone from the four corners of the globe—royalty in the persons of King George of Engjand and King Alfonso of Spain, and international figures like George Bernard Shaw and Mussolini. Fox Movietone has developed with amazing strides. The first subject shown publicly was Raqnel Mellar, Spanish artiste, in a cycle of songs. On December 3, 1924, the first regular issue of Fox Movietone News, the first talking newsreel, was shown. With worldwide organisation of newsreel crews recording the news in sound and picture. Fox Movietone News became a weekly feature, but its popularity with the public became so tremendous that two issues weekly were necessary. No less sensational has been the development of Fox Movietone all-talking features of short and full length, for the production of which tho world’s largest sound studio plant has been erected in Hollywood. This site, known as Movietone City, covers over forty acres ol ground. * The_ talking picture has reached maturity—its infant days arc over. Henceforth tho motion picture public may demand and receive screen entertainment of a character and quality hitherto .unattainable. It will ho the unceasing endeavour of Fox Movietone to meet this expectation and merit the continued support which a loyal public has always given it. Of special interest to picturegoers of Dunedin, considering the above, is the announcement by the octagon management that, following on a number of months’ experiment and trial with the new and amazingly complicated installation, tire Fox Movietone apparatus, the second presentation in Few Zealand of this entertainment will take place on Saturday at the matinee at 2 p.m., and again at night at 7.43. when a complete Fox Movietone programme will he presented, consisting oi Fox Movietone News (in which Lady Heath and Marshal Joffre are among the celebrities who will speak from the screen), followed by Gertrude Law-’ ronce, the English comedienne, in her famous song number entitled ‘ I Don't Know.’ Then conics the literary genius, George Bernard Shaw, in a happy speech, followed by “ Chic ” Sale, the famous stage comedian, supported by a notable New York cast of actors, in an all-talking comedy, entitled ‘The Star Witness.’ This will he followed by ‘Street Angel,’ an Italian love lyric, starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. This is a perfectly synchronised sound picture, accompanied by the Roxy Theatre Orchestra of 110 soloists in an appropriate musical setting. The Octagon Orchestra, conducted by Monsieur De Rose, will play a specially selected musical programme, starting at 7 p.m. and continuing until 7.4-3, when the Fox Movietone productions will be presented. Booking arrangements are advertise®.