Lynne Overman calls wife Sylvia Sidney to tell her he's bringing boss Berton Churchill home for dinner.
It was a situation comedy staple for decades and before then, it was undoubtedly used as a 'scene changer', a short skit played in from of closed drapes while the workmen scrambled to change the sets on stage. This one is played seriously. It was shot out at Warner's Vitagraph studio in Brooklyn, an important testing stage for Broadway performers whom the studio was considering for putting under contract. In 1930, a lot of talent was tested, including Spencer Tracy and Pat O'Brien.
The two men got contracts and Miss Sidney did not. I think it was because Churchill's booming baritone recorded very well, and Overman's lighter voice sounds fixable. Miss Sdney's voice flutters near the top of optimal recording range. I suspect the Vitaphone equipment was not as good up there as Paramount's was.
It was a situation comedy staple for decades and before then, it was undoubtedly used as a 'scene changer', a short skit played in from of closed drapes while the workmen scrambled to change the sets on stage. This one is played seriously. It was shot out at Warner's Vitagraph studio in Brooklyn, an important testing stage for Broadway performers whom the studio was considering for putting under contract. In 1930, a lot of talent was tested, including Spencer Tracy and Pat O'Brien.
The two men got contracts and Miss Sidney did not. I think it was because Churchill's booming baritone recorded very well, and Overman's lighter voice sounds fixable. Miss Sdney's voice flutters near the top of optimal recording range. I suspect the Vitaphone equipment was not as good up there as Paramount's was.