International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

May, 1934 T h INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER Three the wrong kind of buttons on an English postman's costume for 1915, or the wrong helmet in a Luxembourg police uniform as worn two summers ago. *■ * * A revolving set has been used for the first time to advantage in the filming of RKO's "Of Human Bondage," starring Leslie Howard. In order to expedite the showing Director John Cromwell installed four sets from a sequence in this picture on a revolving platform. He shot the entire sequence without the necessary "setting up" for each scene. The lights and camera remained stationary, while the proper scenes were wheeled around to them. Henry Gerrard was the cameraman. * # * It is a pleasure to announce that Helen Hayes will return June 1. She will star in the Metro-GoldwynMayer production of Hugh Walpole's romantic story, "Vanessa." Let's look forward to Cameraman Bill Daniels doing another job on this like he did on the Helen Hayes "White Sister." * * # Another racket has sprouted in Hollywood. Not satisfied with selling the film folk very rare perfume that has been smuggled from somewhere and turns out to be perfumed water; digging up the "facts" on the star's past life; supposedly "valuable" fur coats which are sold generally to men who try to please someone ; and a host of other come-alongs ; they have now developed the "signature-grabber." This varmint — I don't mean the sincere fan — gets an autograph which is used as an endorsement for hosiery, liquor, beauty preparations and a dozen other commodities exploited under their name. John Miljan was asked for an autograph. When he started to sign he noticed that the paper was folded. It turned out to be a blank check. Of course the signature-grabber is subject to legal action. In order to get around misuse of their names, most of the film folk have one autograph for the fan and another for legal use. * * * To match their Van Dyke expedition to Africa to get "Trader Horn" and to Alaska to get "Eskimo," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer are sending out another expedition to the Amazon country for "Jungle Red Man." The director, George B. Seitz ; Harold H. Noice, authorexplorer, and Joe Cook, business manager, have gone to an Indian village, Yarawate, in the heart of the jungle, to make ready the way for a larger expedition that will follow in three months. The picture will have an all -native cast of primitive Indians living on the headwaters of the Amazon. M-G-M's policy of bringing the far corners of the world to the screen in this authentic manner is commendable and one that is vital to the expansion of the industry. It is just a question of time until more pictures will have to be made with something besides what happens between a man and a woman. Their picture, "Eskimo," brought to the screen a comprehensive idea of Eskimo life and it was presented entertainingly. The picture presented the Eskimo, in eighty minutes or so, better than any number of geographies. It was valuable entertainment. That doesn't mean that all pictures should be geographic, or for that matter smell of the classroom, but more attention can be given the social aspects of the picture. It is not necessary to glamorize the crook, glorify unwanted conventions, or depict a preponderance of wealthy settings. A poor man's home never looks poor. Persons are shopping for their pictures now as never before. They are looking for pictures that broaden their experience, that solve certain problems for them, that satisfy inherent interests and many, many other elements that deal with "just living." Did "Cavalcade," "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Seventh Heaven," "Sweepings," "Grand Hotel," or any other picture that you really remember, and about which you told your friends, deal with natural, convincing people and places? * * * Walt Disney is building a large addition to his studio. Eventually he will have a community of his own there on Hyperion Drive. Some day letters may be addressed to "Walt Disney's Land." That is because people — black, white, yellow and in-between shades, whether five years or a hundred years old, like his contributions to the screen. When Walt Disney's Land becomes a state, I will move next door and spend my time looking over the fence. * * * They had colored cartoons as early as January, 1919. At that time Pinto Colvig, who is prominent in cartooning today, drew a series called "Pinto's Prizma Comedy Review." They were colored by the William V. D. Kelley Prizma color. DeVRY LINE ON PARADE Mr. Herman A. DeVry, president of the DeVry Motion Picture Equipment Company, of Chicago, recentlyvisited with his Southern California agent, Mr. Phil Misenzahl of the Educational Projecto Film Company, 1611 No. Cahuenga, Hollywood, where Mr. DeVry had on display his new complete line of motion picture cameras, projectors and accessories. This display consisted of a 35mm. sound on film, single system, portable camera ; a theatre size sound on film projector utilizing either incandescent or arc light ; improved 16mm. camera and a 16mm. sound on film projector. Mr. Phil Lasher, Northern California DeVry agent with offices at 254 Sutter Street, San Francisco, joined Mr. DeVry in Hollywood. This DeVry line is attracting a lot of attention and judging by the number of visitors attendant upon the display, the visit to our Film Center will not be a disappointment to either Mr. DeVry or Educational Projects Film Company. From Hollywood Mr. DeVry will go to San Fran AFTER A WORLD'S MARKET Charles H. Christie, veteran comedy producer and motion picture pioneer, has been made vice-president of the Mitchell Camera Company. Henceforth, he will be associated with Stanley S. Anderson who, as chief executive, has been directing the destinies of the company for the past two years. As Vice-President, Mr. Christie's special task will be to cultivate a world-market for the Mitchell camera. He will go abroad, early in May. His itinerary will include Japan, China, India and thereafter the leading European countries — Italy, France, England, Germany and Russia. Among the foreign capitals Christie will visit are London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Moscow and Leningrad. Few picture people are better known than Charles H. Christie. He was one of the first producers to come to Hollywood and has contributed as much to the upbuilding of Filmdom's capital as any other one person. cisco and other big cities on the West Coast where the DeVry line is represented. 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