THE MIND OF THE PUBLIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 884, 30 January 1930, Page 16

THE MIND OF THE PUBLIC

APPRECIATION OF SUBTLETY Motion picture producers are now catering to a far more intelligent public than ever before. Ten years ago, the world’s mind was approximated by scientists at 12 years old, but the radio, newspapers and motion pictures have made everyone in every out-of-the-way community fully conversant with all phases of modern life. Today, the world’s mind has come of age. That is the opinion of Jesse L, La sky, vice-president of Paramo ant. Pictures, who explains that Paramount’s talking picture, “Medals,” starring- Gary Cooper, could not have been produced as a film a few years ago. The theme, intelligent dialogue and clever dramatic situations would have been grossly wasted on many audiences of a decade ago. The public would not have taken kindly to a story so subtle as to be beyond their mental reach, nor one in which there was no juvenile love interest. “Medals.” defying all former rules for motion picture production, promises to be the sensation of today. Although “Atlantic” is hailed as the most extraordinary triumph for British Pictures, it is said that some of the less pretentious creations from British Internatinal Studios will earn high praise. Among these are the delightfully funny “Alf’s Carpet,” the strong story, “Goodwin Sands ” and Betty Balfour’s latest vehicle, “The Vagabond Queen.”

The Tiffany sound picture, “Peacock Alley,” represents one more of subjects which, having been splend-O successes as “silents,” are being remade as “talkies.” Mae Murray has . good speaking voice, and the cast ipractically an all-star one. Tiffany having linked up with the new techn*' colour process, “Peacock Aliev” will d* all in colour, to which its gorgeous settings particularly lend themse.ves “Peacock Alley” is a Cinema Art Fil® s release.