Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

28 BOY'S CINEMA (Continued from page 3.) pear next in "Baby Face Killer," and will follow that with "Man Hunt," a storv bv Bret Harte. An Expensive Snore. Ever hoard of a snore costing four hundred pounds? There is one film ooni- pany in Hollywood which had its day's expenses increased by this figure. Making a talkir is always an expensive thing, for, in addition to the high salaries of the artistes, the director, hie assistants and a small army of experts in every de- partment, there are a hundred and one other items which find their way on to the expense sheet each day before the studio can finally say "goodbye " to a production. Among these extra items are always delays of one kind or another which mount up the cost of a picture that is scheduled to be finished by a certain date. Unwanted sounds, for example, wliich reach the microphone, despite all precautions, and so get recorded, have to be traced and stopped so that another re-take of the spoilt scene can be made. The snore which cost four hundred pounds was one of these unwanted sounds. Curiously enough it had not been noticed until the film had been "run over" in the company's private theatre. Then it became necessary to take the particular scene again. In- qm'ries had also to be made as to who liad made the offending snore. Then after hours of inquiries, it was discovered that a carpenter had fallen asleep amid some rafters. His snoring had cost the company a tidy sum. Dix Too Tired to Think. l'"or once ii] his film acting career Ri<hard Dix had to admit himself beaten. This happened during the making of "Cimarron." Its dialogue on one occa- sion proved too much for him. He and the company had been working on a scene from early morning, and delay after delay had interrupted the filming. There had been camera difficulties, un- wanted noises which had to be traced and constant re-takes. This went on till late in the afternoon, with Dix already physically tired and brain fagged by a week of hard work. At last, when everything seemed straight, he came for- ward before the microphone to make his big speech in the trial. Then he foimd he could not remember all his lines. Three times he tried, but it was no use. Finally, he tore off his wig, smeared his make-up and said: "Well, boys, I guess I am beaten to- day. We must try again to-morrow." Sounds for the Talkies. Nowadays it is hard to believe all you hear in the talkies. For in all the sound departments of Hollywood's studios there are strange looking gadgets for imitating various sounds. ' Canaries, for example, may sometimes sing before the microphone, but there is, of course, the bother of getting them to do so when required. So the sound expert prefers to get the same notes from a wooden box with a key protruding from the side. He merely has to turn the key and the imitation of canaries singing is perfect. Does the director want to record the poimding of horses' hoofs? Well, this can be done by rubber plungers working on a wooden board. A can with a resin string produces a dog's bark. The sound of footsteps can be imitated by hinged sticks being slapped together. Other sticks imitate a slap in the face. The roar of a speeding train can be created by turning the crank of a large box. If the recording is to be that of the smashing of glass in a window, the twist of a crank in a different box will give the exact sound. There are heaps of other ways, however, in which sounds can be produced. There are, for example, instruments to imitate cathedral chimes, mooing of cows, crying of babies, the snarl of wild Every Tuesday beasts and many other sounds. At tUf^. same time it must not be thought that only imitations are used. Whenever pos- sible real sound effects are recorded and tiled under dift'erent headings in the sound library. When Hollywood had a recent thunder- storm, tecfniicians succeeded in record- ing a genuine peal of thunder. On other occasions weeks have been spent in New Yark harbour recording ships' sirens and different dock sounds. Wallace Beery as Naval Aviator Wallace Beery, v.ho is an aviator in real life, will ajjpcar as an aviator in the navy in his new picture, "Hell's Divers." Beery fiolds a full transport licence, which is proof of his skill as an airman. One of the most delicate tasks in con nection with the making of this picture was the sending of a huge naval aero plane carrier through the locks on the Panama Canal, The vessel had to pass through with barely six inches to spare. With the co-operation of the American Navy Department, the aeroplane carrier was converted into a gigantic sound studio specially for the occasion, so that the big " pimch " scenes could be filmed with realism. Lucky Ftdo. Lew Ayrcs sincerely believes in the old saying "A man's best friend is his dog," Some months ago the popular Universal star found a full-blooded mcngrel wan- dering disconsolately near his hon'ie, and looking as though life did not seeui worth living. Lew took the mongrel in. gave it the first good meal it had had for days, and nursed it through a bad^ case of distemper. The dog was chris-' toned Fido. Recently Lew left for location on the Sociamenlo River, which is being used as a "double " for the Mississippi in his now picture "Heaven on Earth." In a letter lie received while he was there Lew was told that Fido was pining for his master. Lew himself felt a bit lonely about the time the letter arrive*!, and so he telegraphed to Universal to pick up the dog and send him to Sacra- mento post-haste. The studio complied, and Fido arrived at the Hotel Sacramento in all his puppy splendour. 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