We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
CHAPTER 17
Perhaps the most completely successful picture I ever made was Alps Button in 192 1, from a very delightfully fantastic story by W. A. Darlington, of the Daily Telegraph. I cannot resist quoting the foreword which he wrote and signed for us to put at the beginning of our trade show 'synopsis' :
'During the making of this film-version of Alf's Button it has been brought home to me most forcibly how much an author can owe to his producer. To write "slaves in marvellous oriental draperies" cost me little effort, no special knowledge, and a minute quantity of ink. For Mr. Hep worth to attain the same effect in his own medium of expression cost him endless trouble and careful research — to say nothing of a sordid detail such as expense. Many times while the work was in progress did Mr. Hepworth refer in tones half-humorous, half-tragic, to my over exuberant imagination; but I can only say that my warmest thanks are due to him for the result of his labours. He has accomplished the almost impossible feat of making a humorist laugh at his own characters. If any of my readers enjoyed my book as I enjoyed my first sight of Mr. Hepworth's film, I am more than satisfied.'
Blanche Macintosh as scenario writer was perfectly true to the story and I, as producer, was perfectly true to both. 'True' may seem a curious word to use about a not merely improbable but completely impossible story, but it is the word I want to use, for I am sure that the only way to deal successfully with an impossible conception in story, play or film is to be absolutely true and loyal to it from beginning to end.
You may invent the maddest idea of which your brain is capable but if you state it clearly at the beginning and go on to develop it on sane and logical lines, keeping true to the one impossibility and letting every situation grow naturally out of it, just as if it were a sane and sound premise, you will find that it
174