talkie colloq. (orig. U.S.). Now Hist.
(ˈtɔːkɪ)
[f. talk v. + -ie, after movie.]
a. A talking film, as opp. to a silent film. Freq. in pl. (esp. the talkies). Cf. speakie.
| 1913 Writer's Bull. Mar. 9 The silent ‘Movies’, so popular to-day, will become tame in comparison with the ‘Talkies’. 1921 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 2 Apr. 12/2 All have seen the movies, now people are to have the opportunity of seeing and hearing the ‘Talkies’... The author..of the remarkable speaking photoplay, ‘Shell Shocked’ is in the city. 1928 Daily Express 6 June 3/1 Marvel of the ‘talkies’. 1930 E. Waugh Vile Bodies vi. 94 She said, ‘You're much later than you said. It's so boring to be late for a talkie.’ 1939 M. S. Rice Working-Class Wives v. 110 Another Leeds woman says ‘never get out except to shop; have never been to the talkies’. 1955 Times 25 May 5/5 It was not until the talkies came that the cinema divorced itself from reading. 1962 Movie Dec. 31/3 Part talkie with music and sound effects. 1978 E. Malpass Wind brings up Rain xix. 184 It was about this time that the first Talkies came to Ingerby: a fact that gave Benbow the courage..to ask Ulrike to go to the pictures with him. |
b. attrib.
| 1913 Technical World Mag. Aug. 815 One hundred other ‘talkie-parties’ are beginning in different parts of the city. 1922 Radio News (U.S.) Nov. 867/1 Mr. de Forest has solved the secret of the ‘talkie movie’ with perfect synchronization. 1932 L. Golding Magnolia St. iii. iii. 512 An engagement at a talkie-theatre was about all Wilfred could hope for. 1936 Auden Look, Stranger! 34 By cops directed to the fug Of talkie-houses for a drug. 1960 Times 19 Feb. 5/1 In 1936 he had again the chance to make a feature film—a rather conventional ‘talkie’ adaptation of a stage success. |