Exhibitors Herald (1927)

June 18, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 33 Cameramen in Peril During Battle Scenes Humor and War Demand of Theatres N’OT all the thrills in the battle scenes made for First National’s “The Patent Leather Kid” went to actors at Camp Lewis, Washington. The twelve cameramen, under the direction of Arthur Edeson, got their share of excitement and danger, when the three thousand U. S. infantrymen charged across the field, when the fifty tanks roared into action and when the German “army” opened fire. The scenes were shot from high trees, from pits under the moving tanks, from mine holes where charges of powder were exploding and from every possible angle, that the mighty battle be shown in minute detail on the screen. There were no serious injuries during the making of the entire picture, but cameramen had many close calls. The detonations were so great that some of the boys at the cameras were tied to their stands, if they were high in the air. Others had the thrill of seeing huge tanks weighing tons crash down on top of their camouflaged pits, while they ground out scenes. Cameramen often deserted their cranks to dash into the scene and aid soldiers in danger of injury. They wore regulation uniforms, so that a civilian would not appear to be running into the picture. Two of Edeson’s men were in the steeple of a church, while the church was under fire. Aerial bombs broke so close to them that the wadding flew in their faces, and the dizzy tower swayed under the shocks. One man became seasick from the explosions and was unable to work for a day while he recovered. As the result of intrepid work of these cameramen, unusual battle shots will be seen in this super special, which stars Richard Barthelmess, and which was directed by Alfred Santell. Army officers say that no more realistic war scenes have ever been made. A typical scene from "Two Arabian Knights,” United Artists him, the sets of which were designed by Park French. 'T''HE humor in war is -I t Louis Wolheim and William Boyd are in "Two Arabian Knights” (set above) which Milestone directed. screen material ! The horror in war tms screen material. Motion picture producers now want to picturize the comedy side of the World war. According to John W. Considine, United Artists’ executive, exhibitors have been overfed with dramatic war films and demand high-class feature comedies. The war is still a popular subject for film-making, but the theatregoer is getting like the veteran, says Considine. “He wants to forget the horrible aspects of the war; he wants the laughs instead.” Considine supervised production of “Two Arabian Knights,” a million-dollar comedy spectacle, in which two American doughboys (William Boyd and Louis Wolheim) have some hilarious adventures in Europe and the Orient during and after the war. “In this film we show very little of the grim side of the war,” he said. “The war is just an incident in the lives of the two doughboy heroes — and serves as the means of elevating them into a series of humorous entanglements in the Orient, where they find greater adventure, and more laughs.” The drama and the horror of the World war is an old story now — it has been filmed over and over. But the human and the humorous angles — • they have been barely scratched by the producers. “Two Arabian Knights” presents Mary Astor princess, her first sophisticated impersonation, directed liy Lewis Milestone. The United Artists production has many unique angles and was produced on a lavish scale. The many unusual and beautiful settings were designed by Park French, art director with the Caddo productions unit. The story concerns the exploits of two reckless American soldiers, who are captured by the Germans, escape from prison and eventually arrive in the Orient. as an Arabian The film was War scenes are highlight in "The Patent Leather Kid,” First National production in which Cameraman Arthur Edeson risked his life. A battery of cameramen who went into the thick of a battle to get scenes for "The Patent Leather Kid,” First National him. Edeson is behind Director Santell.