Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

28 BOY'S CINEMA Every Tuesday ^^ >■ sjlafre, and now he loves pictures. He'j "ollywood to stay." (CoDtinued iiom page 27.) The Strangest Village in the World. 'At the back of the huge buildings which enclose the sound stages of the B.I.P. Studios at Elstiee stands a col- lection of structures which would give a casual observer much food for thought, were it not evident that they are part of the neighbouring buildings where films are made. The houses built therein consist, for the greater part, of one wall only, that is the froiit wall, which in the majority of cases is merely a thin coating of plaster on three-ply wood. These walls are shored up at the back by timber, which is cunningly placed so that no evidence of them is visible when walk- ing along the "streets." The first thoroughfare that one enters on is a reproduction of a street in Port Said, complete with a tramway which would be the joy, if not the pride, of any municipal council. This particular "street," v\hich contains about twenty different -ihops, stores, steamship offices, etc., is a reproduction of an actual street existing in Port Said, which will appear in Alfred Hitchcock's next pic- ture, "Rich and Strange." Actual scenes were photographed in Port Said for this film, but it was necessary that certain important "close-ups " should be filmed at Elstree, and therefore this particular spot was reproduced in all its detail at the back of the Elstree Studios. Five yards farther on and we enter a partly enclosed stretch of sand, whose walls obviously indicate the corner of a bull ring. The transition from Egypt to Spain, passing an English rustic bridge eu route, is amazingly sudden, but one gets used to these things in the film industry. The bull ring "set" was seen in the Stanley Lupino comedy, "Love Lies," interspersed with some re- markable real life exterior shots of bull- fight scenes actiuilly photographed in Spain. From the bull ring wo turn half-right and find our.selves confronted with five or six houses that might be seen in any typical London street. Macadam road and grey pavement tre wonderfully realistic, even to the most critical eye, and vet both have been made out of the studio carpenter's best friend, three-ply wood. The houses themselves are four stories high, complete with ghiss win- dows, genuine front doors, with the usual knockers, bells and letter-boxes. One instinctively looks for Signs of life behind the curtained windows, or milk bottles standing on the doorsteps as evidence of human residents of such realistic-looking buildings. One of these houses has obviously suf- fered from serious fire, for the windows are missing, and the front of the house has that incurably desolate and stained appearance resulting from the blacken- ing smoke and the water from the fire brigade's hoses. Such is the London street constructed at Elstree for the scenes in "The House Opposite." An acute observer could see in the vicinity the remains of Flanders trenches, and farther over in the same field stand the smouldering remains of an English water-mill ; relics of former Briti.sh International Productions. This is fl rough description of what could be rightly termed—the strangest village in the world. Qetting Dad Into Pictures. You have seen Cliester Morris in pic- tures, and in "The Gang Buster," Jack Oakie's new comedy, you will see, Chester's dad, William Morris, playing a big part. ; "It took more than a year of constant persuading on my part," said Chester, "to get dad out to Hollywood and into pictures. You see, dad has been more than forty years on the stage, and \eterans of the stage are not always keen to' leave the footlights. They think that acting before a camera cheapens their art. However, after I got a foothold in pictures, 1 i^ersuaded dad in coming to pay me a visit. He came and just mooched around, said the climate of Hollywood was grand, but that he couldn't stand doing nothing. "Tho.se long waits in the studio, which every artiste has to experience, nearly drove him crazy. Then he was offered a part in Beit Lytell's picture "Blood Brothers," and because he was bored he accepted it. Well, he got much more salarv for that than he ever had on the Hollywood's Circus Specialist. "Everything from a trained flea to a five ring circus." This is the slogan of A. W. Copeland, who is recognised as Hollywood's official circus provider for the films. Copeland was at one time an acrobat, but found that there was more money to be made, by establishin,:^ himself in a line of business which was not overcrowded. Not only does he supply, the animals required, but he furnishes all the props, and can obtain as many as a thousand people to fill the big circus tent. All this saves producers a deal of worr.v. But as circus pictures are not alway.? being made, Copeland does not wait for Hollywood to engage his services. He sends out circuses to tour the States while keeping an organisation iu readiness in Hollywood. Answers to Questions. For reasons of space, Clififoid (Aberdare), I am obliged to give only two of the casts you mention, but don't hesitate to write again. "Racing Hearts " : Agnes Ayres (Virginia Kent). Richard Dix (Roddy Smitli), Theodorj Robert (John Kent), Robert Cain (Fred Claxton), Warren Rogers (Jimmv Britt), J. F. MacDonald (Martin), James A. Murphy (Racing Driver). Edwin Brady (Pete Delaney), Fred J. Butler "(Burton Smith), Robert Blower (Horatio Whipple), Kail i Pasha (Mechanic). "Lure of the Wild": Jane Novak (Agnes Belmont), Alan Roscoe (James Belmont), Little Billie Jean ("Cuddles"), Richard Tucker (Gordon Daniels), Pat Harmon (Poleon Dufresne), "Lightning " (Laddie Boy). Ramon Novarro and John Boles are both very popular without a doubt, Thomas (Widnes), but when you ask me to express my opinion of their singing in order of merit, you must think, my boy, of the brickbats th.it would be hurled at me by picturegoers who disagreed. But to tell you some- thing of Ramon keeps me on safe ground. Born in Durango, Mexico, o:: February 6th, 1899, he displayed hi^ vocal ability from an early age, and sang not only in his bath but every- where else. His talent led him to the stage, and later he made his first big screen hit in "The Prisoner of Zenda." His latest picture is "Son of Indin." Sure you can write again. One more letter won't do an.v harm. OROSE^Sf LUDCATE CIRCUS, LONDON, FOOTBALL JERSEYS All Colours and Designs. If-"/ perdoz. J ■" British Made. Send for Jlhistrafetl List. Post Free. i GEO. GROSE & CO., 8, New Bridge St, London, E.C.4. Increased my own height to 6ft. SJina. STAMP brings FBEE DETAILS.- A. B. M. ROSS. HciBht Sperialist, SOAKBOROITGH. 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