Universal Weekly (1933-1935)

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Nov. 30. 1 935 ' 1 UNIVERSAL WEEKLY =21 THE REAL “EAST OF JAVA” ACCIDENT Charles Bickford and Tarzan, the “ tame ” lion, in a Death Grip in “East of Java ” and, below, the same Charles Bickford in an entirely different grip with the nurse in Hollywood Hospital. Charles Bickford Tells his own Story of how the Lion Attacked Him while he was Filming “East of Java” and his own Reaction to the Entire Business of Acting on the Screen with Wild Animals By CHARLES BICKFORD F you were to ask me what my •1 reaction was when 'Tarzan,' the lion, attacked me during the filming of 'East of Java,' 1 would be forced to admit I expected it. I have always expected something like that to happen. I had a premonition the cat was going to turn on me but it happened so quickly I could do nothing to prevent the attack. All I remember is that I heard a blood chilling snarl, saw a flash of tawny fur, felt the stabbing pain of the lion's teefh — and then Charles B. Murphy, Universal City animal trainer, and Director George Melford had cornered Tarzan and others were helping me off the set and to a chair. They rushed me to the Universal City Hospital immediately and from there to Hollywood Hospital. I spent last Saturday at the studio completing my work in the picture. Incidentally, this work was done of my own free will and against the doctor's orders and the studio's wishes. "Although I know no wild animal can be trusted, whether it is captured wild and tamed or whether it is born and raised in captivity, I must confess I was somewhat disappointed when Tarzan attacked me. I had thought we were very good friends for the big cat seemed to like me and followed me everywhere on the set like a pet dog. Just before the attack he had rubbed cheeks with me for a close-up and we had appeared in many other intimate scenes together. Undoubtedly I moved too quickly and startled him and that is why he snapped at me. Perhaps he was merely hungry and to test this theory I am going to buy him 50 pounds of raw meat as soon as I am able to watch him eat it. "In all seriousness, Tarzan's killer instincts have now been aroused. Although he was born in captivity and worked as a cub with Clyde Beatty, the famous wild animal trainer, in 'The Big Cage,' and has since then been at the Los Angeles Zoological Gardens where he has had daily contact with humans, Tarzan no longer can be trusted. He has tasted blood and enjoyed the thrill of the attack and I would advise anybody who has contact with him in the future to be constantly on his guard. "Tarzan escaped the night he attacked me and the studio people spent some uneasy hours until he was found the next morning — hiding under a church set on the back lot! "Naturally I experienced considerable pain. The lion's bite severed the sterno mastoid muscle and germs on its teeth caused infection. Severing of the muscle caused my neck to stiffen so that I had to lay in one position and then, of course, there is the natural pain of such a wound in addition. "But everybody has been very wonderful to me. My room has been filled with flowers, many of them from extras and studio workmen, and their interest has been very touching. Scores of fans in all parts of the country have sent me telegrams and I am flattered that within an hour after I was admitted to the hospital wires were received from London and Paris newspapers requesting full details of the accident and my condition. "Just in case anybody harbors such a thought — there is nobody to blame for the accident. If I am prepared to work and court danger in wild animal pictures I am also prepared to take the consequences if anything goes wrong. If I didn't want to work with wild animals, no director or producer could induce me to do so. But I intend to do it."