“This Is Terrible!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 18

“This Is Terrible!”

Winston Churchill Nervous Making His First “Talkie” BALDWIN GRINS BROADLY

Hn R. CHURCHILL has ul made a “talkie” —and cl history. It was his 11 first “talkie,” and was 6) made in the garden of [y No. 10 Downing Street, to be shown all over England on behalf of the Conservatives during its present election campaign. Mr. Churchill was very embarrassed . . . and standing at a window, Mr. Baldwin, complete with cherrywood pipe, and looking like the real Farmer Baldwin of the cartoonists, grinned broadly at his colleague’s discomfiture. Intrepid orator and fearless debater though he is, Mr. Churchill was obviously ill at ease standing before the remarkable sound-sychron-ising apparatus. Hatless, and carrying manuscript he walked up to a table in the garden puffing furiously at a long cigar. The pitch of his voice was tried once or twice. Then —“Ready!” said the operator. “Punch” Intrudes “Dadies and gentlemen,” began the Chancellor—but before he could continue his pug pup. “Puuch” rushed barking into the garden! “Punch” was hurriedly removed . . . and Mr. Churchill continued—or rather he was ready to continue, when the op'erator announced that the apparatus had broken down! With deep agitation Mr. Churchill walked from the garden. “This is terrible —in cold blood, you know,” he said. Eventually all was again ready. The Chancellor gripped the lapels of his coat and recommenced. This time he warmed up, falling into his charteristic attitudes—the theatrical sweep of his arms and so forth. “Perfect!” said the operator at the conclusion. “Terrible!” said Mr. Churchill. . . .