If I Had a Talking Picture of You (1929)

[@carolmelancon]

My mother used to sing this to me when I was a little girl. I would cry thinking of the person sitting "there in the gloom, of my lonely little room". Now that she's gone it took me three tissues to get through it.

[@susancros4698]

My mom would sing this too!

[@cityman100]

I play it for my 91 yrs old mother in law who has dimentia.

[@MsPridi]

❤

[@kurtnelson6123]

Compared to today, some of those old movies really "had it".

[@learninggreek501]

you're darn right kurt nelson!

[@gunnarthefeisty]

we sure are lucky we can see them for free now though

[@tristanmorris9432]

The worst type of nostalgia is the type you get for times you were never a part of. The very fact that humanity ever went through such a wonderful time just makes me wish I were there.

[@davey1f]

I agree with you wholeheartedly. If I could have lived through this era it would have been magical.

[@bluberrytickles]

I don't know if I'd call the year the Depression started wonderful

[@xenophile84]

It definitely wasn't wonderful for everyone...anyone who wasn't white, male, or heterosexual, for example

[@legalgig3480]

Watch midnight in Paris.

[@hannahs1683]

⁠@@xenophile84Majority of America was white and heterosexual. Women had it better back then as well, people were more respectful and upper class women could still get an education without the expectation of work. Our economy and standard of living was great, right before and immediately after the depression. Also, the average person was way young and music was great! Wonderful time to be alive

[@Lostintimes1]

They are so charming that nobody cares how good they are in their singing, now or back then 1929! They are not singers, they are entertainers from the silent medium that jump to a new one having fun singing, and make audiences enjoying. That was their job, and they did it extremely well.

[@galemanning6842]

Lostintimes1 Well said and absolutely true!

[@Chris-ug6bs]

You're absolutely right! Charm is so important. It transcends how well or not they're actually singing. No songs for the sake of sweetness are recorded today. Today's singers are too concerned with singing higher than someone else and vocal acrobatics...

[@petitelapin60]

Soooo agree with you! Very well said!!

[@biggerock]

How wonderful; a song about a talking picture, when talking pictures were still a new and exciting development.

[@mattgb1b]

Their off-screen love for each other shines through so clearly here

[@martincook318]

And I do agree with you Matthew and who ever did this Restoration work on this film which is 91 years old needs to be Congratulated

[@witkrag4953]

My kind of.music.Encore Maestro.

[@dennman6]

However they were both very charming & still had the chemistry between each other. Remember too that in 1929 there was NO dubbing or "ghost voices" singing for those with weak voices-like what you saw depicted in "Singing in the Rain". Dubbing came later. So the actual sound recording was done on the set, LIVE, with the actors "hopefully" singing well. Some silent to sound actors had fine voices-Gloria Swanson, Ramon Novarro, Irene Dunne, Jeanette MacDonald. The rest sounded like these two :)

[@gunnarthefeisty]

actually, dubbing was used for those with weak voices, but in this time of transition many of the actors had strong voices

[@poorthing]

@@gunnarthefeisty yes, just watched a 1929 dubbed musical...

[@poorthing]

Irene Dunne and Jeanette McDonald never transitioned from silents to 'talkies'. They were trained singers on Broadway. When film stars had to talk, Broadway stars were raided. Jeanette and Irene started 1929-1930. Highly in demand because of their singing and they were photogenic, acting skills from stage.

[@mggentry]

They probably recorded the audio separately to have it that clear and consistent unless they planted a mic up each other’s noses….. especially with those kids I don’t doubt they recorded their audio tracks, and they probably sang it while recording the picture part, since you didn’t need record actual audio when shooting Maybe they shot first while singing, then recorded the audio after?

[@MrPcrosby1]

Dixie Crosby

[@latenightpop5519]

I remember listening to this song back in 1934 when i was 17 in my girlfriend’s house. What a sweet memory :(

[@Dr.Pepper001]

Well yes, and back when I used to have tea with President Lincoln, we talked about how the country needed something new to revive it from the long, arduous Civil War we had all gone through. I remember him saying, "Imagine a large screen of some sort where moving images of people singing could be seen and even their voices heard." We both agreed it would revive the nation. I'll never forget those good ole days.

Wow...you were 17 in 1934? You have kept your Sunny Side Up.

[@oz1902]

You were 17 in 1934? My gosh, you must be clocking them up. Well done sir.

[@latenightpop5519]

M worr yes i’m 103 now. I’m not kidding

[@kelvinsurname7051]

​@@latenightpop5519 God bless you, I hope you are still alive. I would love to hear some memories from your time.

[@davey1f]

I found this by accident. My Mum and Dad had a 78 rpm acrylic record of this song and they played it and danced together around our little front room. This is beautiful and I'll be humming it for a week (I hope!). Bravo atqui.

[@Cruse12]

Gaynor and Farrell-so darn cute even though they couldn’t sing!😂

[@FITZIEBLUE]

They stared in the Silent films...hard transitioning over...]

[@RRW1982]

Says you! Well, we are all entitled to our opinions, as well as our errors. I have a nice collection myself. If they couldn't sing, as you claim, I am truly glad they failed at it so beautifully, and with such unabashed charm.

[@蔡玉英-v4r]

Yes , the kids are adorable !

[@Alastor_the_radio_demon1929_]

Fr 😭

[@georgiahoosier]

I was talking to my mom today about memories of the earliest movies we had seen, and she came up with this one, all she said she remembered was the guy singing "if I had a talking picture of you". I had no idea I would find it so easily, can't wait to show it to her. It will make her day! Thanks so much for posting this classic!

[@scivnce4273]

This was posted 10 years ago but im dying to know what her reaction was!

[@sudy1418]

omg, I recognized them both!! Very young here. Sweet.

[@libertytree3209]

So cute when you think Gaynor won the first academy award for an actress in a silent movie!

[@waivedwench]

The little girl doesn't look overly impressed with her singing paramour!

[@lets_get_illuminaughty6351]

Yeah she really isn’t having it 😂

[@Robert-kc7on]

Awww so cute ....

[@swallin19]

This was the very first "old" Hollywood film I ever saw as a child, never forgotten it lead to a hobby finding old films and especially musicals. Great posting

[@TheBearcub410]

i love Janet gaynor so much , she had that certain something that could break your heart , thanks so much a gem

[@anastasiaromanov3863]

So Innocent and NICE

[@jordanmeloow7149]

Im 20 years old and stuck with the pandemic and im curious how good the past music. And guess what im not disappointed. How unfair the world sometimes because our old grandma or grandpa have this and have contentment in life. Meanwhile fast forward to 2020 we have a lot of stuffs like cellphones or gadgets but still not contended. What a music . It gives me this type of thoughts hehe

[@paulj0557tonehead]

In this modern age there certainly is much to be bummed about. Watching these movies helps me keep my naturally copacetic cheerfulness when I'm not watching them. So call it escapism if you will. To me it's just fuel to live by. That Janet is premium!

[@ClarasBeau]

Gaynor and Farrell were already a popular screen team in silent films when they were tapped to tackle the talkie challenge, seen here. At the time, many established stars experienced what they called "mike fright", and with your career on the line, I can't say I would have blamed them. Neither star here was much of a singer, really, but I will say this: If medals for bravery were given out, well, I feel certain that their names would be called.

[@cinebeatl]

Charles Farrell was gorgeous!

[@蔡玉英-v4r]

Nice,cute,beautiful song ! How I love the lovely song !

[@larrybiring]

The kids in this are adorable.

[@CDeBeaulieu]

Since my parents and grandparents were alive then it doesn't seem so old. Indeed, I know the songs. However, the world today is so changed from my youth that I feel like an out-of-place fossil; I don't belong anymore except in my own imagination and the past.

[@MrAspargus]

This is the same Janet Gaynor who starred in the first version of "A Star is Born" with Frederic March (1937). She also got the first Best Actress Oscar in 1928 for her work in "Seventh Heaven" (also with Charles Farrell) and "Sunrise" (in those days, they didn't give an Oscar for just one film, it could also be for their best work for that year).

[@dxmxo9427]

Awe isn't that sweet he's so handsome she is pretty too

[@maureenreeder4861]

Just cant stop loving this!

[@keylinhenderson5214]

Music before low frequency. There’s a reason music today affects us like it does. Songs today talk about glorifying crime, irresponsible financial decisions, disrespecting women. Old music is meant to make you feel happy, new music is meant to keep you right where you’re at, fighting each other.

[@DataLal]

LOL, the kids that came in at 3:30 cracked me up, esp. the little guy. SO CUTE.

[@kayrenbrantley6778]

This was the first talking movie my Grandmother saw

[@terryliversidge817]

Been humming the tune all day.

[@Babs3353]

Have one thing to say: Bop bop be doo! ! Okay, I Just Loved this movie! He is So Handsome, and it's so amazing how just coming out of silent films, they had to sing in one take, knowing that they weren't good singers. That takes a lot of bravery! . Many stars had to take vocal coaching after talkies came out. He had a strong Boston (I think) accent. And of course their expressions were such coming out of silent films, and I Love his expressions! He's adorable. I fell in love with him myself. My new favorite. Thank you!

[@alishasalazar2897]

I think maybe a lot of the commenters are just not familiar with the style of music from this period. If you look up recordings of popular singers from 1929, many of which are available here on KZbin, they sound just like this. I think Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell sound lovely and are adorable together. I much prefer their voices to some of the stars who later became quite popular in musicals, such as Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, and Marilyn Monroe for example. All of whose movies I enjoy very much. Just not the singing. And before anyone comments that I must not know anything about music or singing, I've studied music and had voice training since childhood. These guys did a wonderful job for their first time out. And as a couple of people mentioned, this wasn't their only musical, so audiences must have enjoyed their singing. I would rather listen to this a million times over than the current crop of "singers" we have today.

[@bradburleigh]

This is beautiful!

[@meileen1942]

Wondering who the young ones were and where they got them from. this is a nice, simple, lovely little film. No sex, no violence, no bad language.....just enjoyable feelings. (Not enough for most people today) Thanks for posting it.

[@almeggs3247]

So very memorable and beautiful!

[@CharlieChilders-wm9gb]

Thank you for this rarity so very much! Without you, I would not be enjoying this right now!!!🤔😱🤗

[@kurtnelson6123]

First heard this song as a young boy at the "movies" and remember so well the sequence where the photograph did the singing and I never forgot it!

[@RRaquello]

The blonde haired gal seen near the end is Marjorie White who was co-starred with the Three Stooges in their first Columbia short "Woman Haters". She was killed in a car accident some time around 1935.

[@learninggreek501]

ahhh thats sad D: It's weird to think in 2020 i'm 16 years old yet lived longer than her... but if she was alive today she'd be over 100... time is weird my goodness edit: almost 100

[@Babs3353]

I can't believe it's been a year since I last commented here... I've watched and shared this clip innumerable times and tear up every time at the beauty and sensitivity of it. I must have watched the movie (quite long for the time) at least a half dozen times, I fell so in love with the characters, so I'm thrilled to have this isolated clip! How that little boy in the show didn't become a big star like Shirley Temple after that adorable rendition, escapes me. Was hard enough to find out who he even was, and couldn't find any further record of him. 🤔 Guess I'll be commenting in another year! Thanks to those of you giving info on the technology at the time, putting it into perspective for those who just don't get it how groundbreaking this was at the time. We're so spoiled and unappreciative! Cheers in 2019 to Sunnyside Up and those who made it and made me fall in love..... Again.

[@celticsunise4ever]

Such a lovely comment. Do you happen to remember the little boy's name? I've been unable to find any info about him. He was adorable and talented.

[@Babs3353]

@@celticsunise4ever I'm not sure if I found out his name....it's been so long.

[@celticsunise4ever]

@Babs3353 Thank you for your quick reply. My daughter and I thought the segment was so entertaining that she found the film... It's a shame the little boy wasn't given credit for such a wonderful performance.

[@Babs3353]

@@celticsunise4ever I did searches for cast members and a few children were mentioned, particularly young Jackie Coogan, the boy who had to.pee during his poetry speech and a pic of 2 other boys but neither appeared to be the dutch boy hair cut blonde kid who sang. There was one group pic during that song showing all the kids too in regard to cast members. Maybe do a search yourself into cast members for the film.....I only did it on my phone. Good luck and let me know if you do find him!🥰

[@celticsunise4ever]

@@Babs3353 Thanks again. I'll do a bit more research and let you know if I find any info.

[@claireearley4936]

I watched this film with my Nan she loved it as my Grandad used to sing this song to her - Beautiful memory thanks for sharing xx

[@thebrookboy]

Bravo, well done !!!

[@markhogan6277]

From Mark Hogan found this GREAT TREASURE Saturday October 3, 2020. This post was removed from youtube. HAPPY it now it is back on youtube. Saw it years ago. Thank you poster for reposting the treasure. The kids are cute!!! Miss this pos great have it returned to youtube!!! Rated highest 16+.

[@Sonoraman]

I've got the Johnny Marvin issue of this tune Great tune!

[@blackpoolbarmpot]

I have a video recording of the (William Fox / Western Electric film (1929)) "Sunnyside-Up".... What a wonderful Film it is too !

[@Sheven718]

my mums favourite song thanks for sharing

[@davidbauer2040]

I talked to your picture on my laptop before I went to prison non stop it made all of this seem just a little bit more real

[@Ckawauchi35]

It seems to me like their voices were repressed so as to follow a certain trend. This type of singing distinguishes the 20s era. It's just my opinion for lack of better words, maybe. Nevertheless, I truly enjoy listening to them and will include in my music collection. Thank you for giving your viewers the chance to go back in time.

[@mggentry]

I know what you mean... there is a very "put on" affectation that makes me think of mr peanut

[@CANALDANMUSICA89]

O cara que trouxe essa relíquia e brabo

[@DagHerford1]

@calvinnme2 Actually, LUCKY STAR was their first film with talkie sequences-this was their first full talkie, and they made several films together after this one, including DELICIOUS and THE MAN WHO CAME BACK, but this was their biggest hit. Wish the restored version were readily available on DVD!

[@ریحانهمیرزایی-ك1ط]

how old and beautiful 🥺♥

[@Mayerling52]

lovely!♥

[@hunky_wasabi]

I don’t know why. I had tears in my eyes

[@Zalgud]

All those children would be in their mid to late 90s now!

[@rjmcallister1888]

Fox Film, 1929. One of the unfortunate problems with early sound was the 'all-talking, all-singing, all-dancing' films featuring people who really shouldn't have been doing more than talking. But Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell ("Seventh Heaven") do their best, and Gaynor's winning smile and expression makes one forget their singing skills.

[@SamuelPeckman]

Very good. Thank you.

[@slashJker]

well we have talking pictures now don't we?

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@78timothy and @wb6fbf Perfecter still (as an homage to this benchmark Wish I Had a Talking Picture of You film) is that every episode of the as-benchmark 1950s tv sitcom "My Little Margie" would start and end with a closeup of a framed b/w photograph of Charles Farrell (still handsome yet whitehaired) and Gale Storm as his daughter Margie, wherein he and she would suddenly, magically go kinetic, come to life and talk to each other and the tv audience -- and then again freeze into fotodom.

[@maureenreeder4861]

Love it!

[@tntbomb3629]

Talking picture in 1929 What we call a video in 2022

[@scorpianladyqueen]

Why cant i find classic love like this

[@mikeelmira]

this song was mentioned on 1963 coronation Street episode and was curious, I think this is first time I’ve heard it.

[@lisanneschop7317]

cuuuuuuteeeeeee

[@malvinderkaur4187]

aaaaawwwww ! sehr lieb!

[@python130]

so cuteeeeee

[@jpsned]

I always thought the "Talking Picture" in the title meant a movie. Now I realize it's referring to a talking portrait. 🙂

[@jasonplatt2228]

Well it's really referring to both, since this film was one of the first talking pictures made and people were intrigued by them.

[@mchapman132]

The little blond girl was the spitting image of my mother…..same age. Mom was 5 in 1929. She’s identical to photos of mom, the facial expressions are exact, even to the dark shadow under her eyes. We know it’s not her because mom was born in London, England. Doppelgänger for sure.

[@bernardbrenner9240]

Maybe your mother took a steamship to America when she was 2 and appeared in a movie when she was 5.

[@mchapman132]

@@bernardbrenner9240 - Lol, that didn’t happen. I get a kick out of watching that movie clip, it’s like looking at my mom as a tiny child. Maybe my grandfather traveled??? lol

Very cute. I see and hear why Janet Gaynor was regarded a dramatic rather than musical comedy actress. 😉

[@deborahkish5411]

Song's from a much Sweeter time!!!

[@daviddickson2228]

Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute

[@JayBlack932]

Now pictures can talk. Wow

[@TakeYourSeats]

This is the same Charles Farrell who played Father or Dad to Gale Storm, on Television's 1950's "MY LITTLE MARGIE"...

[@alexmckenna1171]

I seem to remember a scene from this where he (or she) sings to a little moving picture of his/her sweetheart.. I know it's all sounding rather vague, but that's being 63 for you...

[@Babs3353]

Alex McKenna - yes it's in the movie, innovative I thought.

[@jsg6532774]

charles farrell was vern albright on my little margie 1952-5

[@davidbauer2040]

I know the meaning of this song all too well

[@davidbauer2040]

If I had a talking picture of Katie. I'd never stop the conversating while in the gloom of my lonely not so little room.

[@davidbauer2040]

Because I found defiance could end her sound of silence

[@davidbauer2040]

I wish Katie being in my life was as real as I try to make it be

[@Delnis30]

Impossible to find DVD or good copy of "Sunny side up", please 20th Century FOx restore it, you'll sell millions ! ♥ Lyrics (please coreect me if i'm wrong" (I'm French) I talked to your photography "t'day" You should get in love with things i said But i thought how happy i would be If your photography could talk to me If I had a talking picture of you, I would run it every time I felt blue. I would sit there in the gloom of my lonely little room And applaud each time you whispered, "I love you; love you." ♥ On the screen the moment you came in view We would talk the whole thing over, we two. I would give ten shows a day, and a midnight matinee, If I had a talking picture of you.

[@kandykash5919]

The two girls are beautiful.

[@calvinnme2]

Charles Farrell's voice surprised me the first time I heard it. It was not what I was expecting. Wasn't their last picture together, "Lucky Star",which was a silent, made after this one?

[@davidbauer2040]

If i had a talking picture of you it would talk to me about our memories, my love letters, and the Holy Juice lol and of course how the Steelers are doing

[@poetryjones7946]

The male kid singing sure looks an awful lot like child actor Jackie Coogan...anyone know who the actors are?

[@martincook318]

And I've got a famous Classical Composer Recording Recorded on Wednesday and Saturday 10th and 13th of April 1929 off the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto Number two with Rachmaninov at the Piano and Reissued in the 1950's Under licence by His Master's Voice in the Golden Treasurey of Immortal Performances Record Number CSLP-517 and the Pressing is very Rare b Zze there was only some made

[@starbuono3333]

I just discovered this hunk named Charles Farrell ! Boy ! was I born in the WRONG era !!!!!!!

[@misterwhitman4368]

He is Co Star of the 1950's T.V. Comedy "My Little Margie"

[@mckavitt]

David Whitman Character Actor Right you are!! He was gorgeous in that too. Always a handsome, distinguished man.

[@Babs3353]

Haha. I know what you mean! To me, he's just So handsome. Only one other guy caught my eye like Farrell. That was Paul McCartney, when I was 11 in 1964!

[@markhogan6277]

From Mark Hogan age 75 found 10/3/2020 Saturday. Farrell appeared the HAL ROACH STUDIOS tv show "MY LITTLE MARGIE" with Gal Storm used to watch it all the time for Margie and Freddie and Clarence Kolb. I saw the reruns on WCBS-TV NYC channel 2 9 am to 10 am weekdays when there no school. Did not realize who Farrell was and Farrell owned THE RACQET CLUB for tennis in Palm Springs, California. Love the cute kids acting and falling.

[@tristanmorris9432]

God rest the souls who died a few years prior and never got to experience the magical times that came because of their sacrifice. May all the men of the Great War always be remembered. I love you, my beloved. God be with your souls.

[@dennman6]

Yes, that was the Vitaphone system developed by Western Electric in 1926, an offshoot of their landmark electrical recording system of 1925 for the 78rpm record, & first used in studio by Victor then Columbia records. Vitaphone was used by Warner Bros. for "Don Juan"(1926), "The Jazz Singer"(1927), numerous other shorts & features. Later when RCA developed variable area sound-on-film tracks, Western Electric introduced variable density soundtracks. Gaynor & especially Farrell had lousy voices!

[@mmdillon1]

@ChristophePhilippe I think you've got it backwards, ChristophePhilippe. These folks knew that reality, modern or otherwise, was to be avoided at all costs. Some of us still find these performances entertaining, because we're happy to abandon modern reality for the idyllic creation of a bygone era , even if it's only for the length of a song.

[@brycevo]

Oh, if only they knew what would come of the future

[@chrishiggins8614]

Charles Farrell was the father on My Little Margy.

[@ckv954]

Lol child actors were awkward. Adorable.

[@fromthesidelines]

It's a good thing they were known for their acting. If Janet and Charlie had to depend on their *singing* to carry this film, their "talkie" careers would have ended, their contracts torn up, and no one would have ever heard of them again. 😑

[@rogervoeller7767]

In the first Western Electric sound system for movies, the soundtrack was on large, heavy records that had to be shipped with the film to the theater. The records played from the inside out (so they would always start at the same point and be in sync with the film. God help the projectionist if someone bumped the turntable or there was a speck of dirt on the record!

[@lincolnoliveira3041]

Ok

[@RayPointerChannel]

This is typical of the early "talkie" msuicals that were rushed into production to meet the demand for sound films. Many established silent stars like Janet Ganor and Charles Farrell were thrown into vehicles like these without regard to their "singing" ability. What is more remarkable is that this early Fox talkie exists at all since many of them are thought to have been lost or destroyed by fire.

[@tiga4180]

I remember that scene too, very clever considering talkies were so new.

[@davidbauer2040]

Did anyone else find this song because they lived it?

[@xmantv9906]

?

[@maddisonstewart]

The little kid bit was annoying, plus you can tell that the girl did not like that boy.

[@GivemyselftoChrist]

And now we have talking pictures but no connection with people

[@xxjonboy]

Perhaps some of the children in this are still alive.

[@Merlinundich]

❤

[@brucemarsico6]

Hey, that's Margie's dad! My Little Margie's dad! Charles Farrell.

[@lincolnoliveira3041]

Of course