The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

From Hollywood 193 omewhere, as the gay lance pennons luttered suddenly on an artificial breeze. The King sprang up and strode half vay down the steps of the throne. "Come up!" he shouted to the silver night who knelt at his feet. "Up! Up here!" An imperious ges- ure brought the knight to the King's evel, where Richard enfolded him in a uge embrace. "Huntingdon! The best of them all!" Vith a great laugh the King clapped him n the shoulder and turned to the wait- ng crowd. 'Listen, all of you! Huntingdon is o be my second in command!" Cheers. Waving of scarfs. Laughter. "Now, go," the King continued, point- ng across the field, "ride to the Queen f Love and Beauty, and get your rrown!" He pushed the unwilling Hunt- ngdon down the steps, and burst again nto his great, roaring laugh. A pause. A running to and fro of as- sistants and helpers. Calls for "Charlie," md "Dick," and "Mitch." Conferences between camera men and directors. Richard employed himself in hitching lp his royal robe to a more convenient ength for his rush down the carpeted steps. Huntingdon found time to try )n a plumed helmet that someone brought o him. Guy of Gisborne—he of the )lack horse—paced his charger up and down and practiced handling a broad- sword. Men-at-arms laid down their shields and lances for a moment, or pulled off their wigs, for the day was brilliant and the sun hot. And now came a diversion. "Oh, here's the falcon!" said someone. It came, perched on a man's finger—a brownish bird, hooded with a curious little leather cap, topped with a tuft of Drange feathers. Huntingdon turned from adjusting his horse's gear to explain to the curious. "The only one in this country," came his eager voice. "It hunts, Charlie, like a dog. You take off that hood, and—" The mailed arm shot upward in a wide gesture, and the voice trailed off into the murmur of the crowd. Band music, the clicking of cameras, the roar of a motor, the flutter of flags, —stands a mass of moving color; Hunting- don is on the steps again and the King is speaking: " to be my second in command!" Again cheers from the stand, this time prolonged and hearty. "Now, ride " The cheers swell and drown the music. Frantic signals from assistants fail to stem the flood of sound. " ride," repeats Richard vaguely. He seems to have forgotten what he was about to say. Huntingdon glares briefly at the seething stand. "Ride," howls Richard's voice across the bedlam, "to the Queen of Love and Beauty and get your crown!" The camera men, wise in the ways of crowds, have stopped their grinding some time since, and stand waiting. The di- rector's attitude expresses — patience. The united efforts of all the assistant directors result at last in silence. Hunt- ingdon grins cheerfully and resignedly over his shoulder at somebody he knows. Renewed conferences, and further re- hearsal. "All right!" comes at length from a megaphone. This time all goes well. The crowd cheers at the proper times, the band stops playing promptly at the signal, Rich- ard's voice booms unhindered over the field, and a string orchestra hidden some- where, completes the mood of the scene. "Oh," exclaims a woman in delight, "they are playing "Robin Hood!" From above drifts down the drone of an airplane motor, as a birdman skims close to the castle towers, and circles perilously over the field. I am not sure, but I think I see a hand turning the crank of a moving picture camera. Al- most everyone is watching him, and