TIMING THE LAUGHS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 596, 23 February 1929, Page 14

TIMING THE LAUGHS

PROBLEM OF SOUND PICTURES ! One of the difficulties that sound picture producers have to face has already been demonstrated in Sydney, where a number of talking" comedies are being shown at the sound picture houses. The laughter following any particularly funny portion of the picture invariably drowns the following words, with the result that the continuity is lost. Realising the need of allowing some interval for laughter, the director of Paramount’s first feature length comedy, “The Dummy,” which is being made with dialogue throughout, screened rushes of the various scenes before a representati </e audience in one of the local Hollywood theatres. The duration of the laughter at certain points was carefully noted, and when the picture was finally edited and cut, proper allowance was made. John Cromwell and Ruth Chatterton, well-known stage stars, play the leading roles in “The Dummy,” others in the cast being Jack Oakie, Zasu Pitts and Fred Ivohler. LABOUR PARTY PICNIC A big picnic to Motuilii Island has been arranged by the Labour Party’s combined branches and affiliations for to-morrow (Sunday). The Waterside Workers’ Band will be in attendance and hot water and milk will be provided.