Talkies

Description

Talkies by Eddie Cantor is a humorous magazine essay written in the early 20th century, at the dawn of sound cinema. It playfully critiques the sudden takeover of everyday life and Hollywood by mechanical noise and talking pictures, poking fun at how the new technology changes audiences, performers, and the very idea of entertainment. The essay mourns the lost quiet of the city, then spins a fast stream of comic vignettes about a world where everything talks—phones, films, even imaginary chatty furniture. It lampoons early sound-film mishaps: unflattering voices, slurping kisses, barking that sounds wrong, clacking dentures, and microphones hidden in odd places that force actors to address sofas. A mis-synced scene turns farm animals into accidental speakers, and a costume drama features royals and diplomats with wildly mismatched accents. Hollywood’s adjustments get ribbed too—stars replaced by separate talkers, singers, and pianists, as if the lead could soon phone in his part. Pushing the satire further, a proposed “smellophone” backfires when skunks ruin a grand animal spectacle. The piece closes with a wink that, despite the marvels of sound, the movies can’t replace the live stage’s allure—especially the charm of waiting at the stage door. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Subjects

• Essays
• American wit and humor
• Motion picture industry -- Humor
• PS