Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday j:T7-TT-r-g£Z=^ All letters lo the Editor should be addressed c/o BOY'S CINEMA, Room 163, The Fleetway House, Fatringdon Street, London, E.C.4. " The Iron Man." Kid Mason, Lew Ayres; George Regan, Robert Armstrong; Rose, Jean Hurlow; Paul H. Lewis, John Miljan; Jeff, Eddie Dillon; McNeil, Miko Don- Ion; Rattler O'Keefe, Morrie Cohen; Gladys de Verc, Mildred van Dorn; Riley, Ned Soarks; Mandcll, Sam Blum. " Shipmates." The Pacific battle fleet of the United Status navy "rclicursed " a solid year for one thrilling scene in "Shipmates,"' Robert Montgomery's first starring picture. Culminating a year's practice and preparation, the fleet steamed out to sea for tlic annual force-firing exercises in whicli the entire battle resources of the squadron were l)rought into play for ten roaring minutes. With the dread- naughts and their turret batteries of 16-inch guns were the destroyers with in- termediate batteries and torpedo tubes, the bombing 'pianos from floating carrier and tlie fighting seaplanes, launched by catapult from the big ships' decks. In this great tactical feat some 40,000 men took part, and countless tons of ammunition was used in the mighty panorama of destruction staged every year to determine the fitness of Uncle Sam's watch-dogs. Mounted at various vantage points, shielded from the terrific gun blasts by layers of mattresses, were the Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer cameras grinding on the spectacle, tripods sagging at every concussion, the men wiping blind sweat from their eyes as they followed the fleet manoeuvres in the lenses. Down bclow on a searchlight platform, a sound man plugged more cotton in his cars and snapped another blanket around a microphone to spare its sensitive diaphragm from the sj)litting vibrations. The cast of this fine sea drama is as followe: Jonesy, Robert Montgomery; Scotty : Ernest Torrence; Kit, Dorothy [Jordan; Admiral C'orl)in, Hobart Bos- worth; Bilge, Cliff Edwards; Mike, Oatin Gordon; Mary Lou, Joan Marsh; What-IIo, Edward Nugent; (!aptain Beatly, George Irving; Auntie, Hedda Hopper; Admiral Schuyler, William Worthington. " The Apache Kid's Escape." The Apaclie Kid, Jack Pcrrin; Ted Conway, P'rod Church ; J<ine Carter, Josephine Hill; Betty Carter, Virginia Ashcraft; Frank Conway, Henry Roqueniore ; Bill Bucklv, Bus Osborne; Sheriff Ward, Fred Burns. " Storm Havoc." Losses on (uniera and sound oquip- ment reached some sort of record through freak weather conditions when Robert Montgomery's first storring pic- lure, "Shipmates," was filmed. Wiien the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer unit first went aboard the U.S.S. Colorado for battle practice scenes, four micro- lihones were ll>-ted as casualties because July lltli, IMI. NEXT WEEK'S THREE COMPLETE niM STORIES. JACK HOLT -IN- " THE LAST PARADE." Oibe powerful story o! a newspaper man turned gangster who pitted his wits against law and order although his biggest chum was a policeman. " BREED OF THE WEST." A gripping drama of the range and bow a dare-devil young cowboy frustrated a rascally foreman's plans to rob a rancher. Starring Wally Wales and Virginia Browne Faire. "SOOTH OF SONORA." Horse thieves are making mysterious raids on the Diamond Bar Ranch. A handsome stranger and his queer friend take many risks to help the ranch owner and his pretty daughter. Starring Butlalo Bill, Jun. of the terrific blast of the turret guns. The real overhead casualties came later, however, when the film company tried to leave the ship during a freak squall. Unable to lower the portable sound apparatus in the heavy swell, the com- pany was obliged to leave it aboard. Two sound camera tripods aro at the bottom of the harbour with a micro- phone boom. The next casualties were suffered when the company went to Laguna to make love scenes on a rock just beyond the surf line. Montgomery and Dorothy Jordan were the romantic pair. Although the day was calm and peaceful, a freak blow whipped up un- expectedly, and before Director Harry Pollard could move his equipment and company, a huge comber broke over the rock, washing everything into the surging sea. Wliat wasn't broken by the crash was soaked beyond repair be- fore rccoverv from the salt water. OfHce Boy Lands Film Actor's Job. Property boys have been turning actor overnight at the Fox studios for a long time, and now an office-boy rises to demostrate .screen talent can be found in other departments. William Maddox, 20 years old, late of the reception-room at Movietone City, is now a full-fledged actor. For a year Maddox worked as general utility boy in the office, greet- ing visitors, answering telephone calls and delivering mail to authors and stars. All tho time he hoped for a chance to act. Maurine Watkins, Fox writer who adapted the novel, "Doctors' Wives," to the screen, was impressed with young Maddox's personality and win- ning smile. She mentioned the fact to Director Frank Borzage, who forth- with had. a test made of the youth. The result was a total loss to the ranks of office-boys. Maddox was given the part of Warner Baxter's laboratory assistant in "Doctors' Wives." Maddox has passed tho word along that his job in the office need not be held open for the time when he finishes the picture. He's not going back to it. This first taste of screen acting is too sweet not to follow up. Fake Photographs Better Than the Re»l Thing. The statement that the camera can't lie has been proved a fallacy by Cli:i producers time and time again. This -was proved once again whilst Radio Pictures wore making their first Lily Damita picture, tentatively en- titled " The Woman Between." In this picture there is a marblo staircase which is faked by "marble paper " manufactured by the paint de- partment of the Radio Pictures studio. Not only does this look as natural as the real article, but, what is more im- portant, it photographs better. Real marble either is so delicately lined that it fails to photograph, or is so bold and prominent that it actually looks faked. The marble staircase used in this Rirdio picture, if duplicated in real rnarble, would have cost a fortune. Buster Keaton's Joke. Buster Kcaton gave Lew Cody a nasty shook recently. Lew has several precioii.s vases in his home, where ho has a little museum. Unknown to Lew, Buster had replicas made of some of these vases, and during his friend's absence from home one day had tho fakes sub.stituted among the treasurer. That evening Buster called on Lew', and after a time expressed a wish to seo his collection. "Gee, Lew," he said, picking up one of the fak<;s, "this is a swell vase yoi'i have here." A moment later lie clumsily dropped it. The vase crashed in umpteen pieces. Lew yelled with dismay. Buster, serious-faced, muttered an apology, and 1 ickrd up another fake vase and then, dropped that also. Lew nearly fainted. Then he was told the truth !