Under the Greenwood Tree

This film was shown yesterday as part of the Barbican British Silents Festival.It is quite an impressive film in terms of production values,clarity of sound and mobility of the camera.This is probably the second talkie made in this country but is totally unknown unlike its predecessor blackmail.Strangely like Blackmail it has the voice of the leading lady,Marguerite Allen,dubbed by another actress.the reasons for this are unclear.The sound is by and large well recorded,maybe because they were using the RCA system.The Vitaphone recordings can sound rather tinny.The camera moves a lot which is unusual given the limitations of sound recording in the early years of sound.The acting is rather stagey and more attuned to the silent era.If you get the opportunity to see this film i do recommend that you take it.