Home Movies (1947)

Professions! 16mm, Section # Gae Falllace, comnissloned Lieutenant pn the field of battle, subsequently received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and citations for bravery and outstanding photography In the Pacific theatre of war. While overseas, he also shot more than 8000 feet of his own 1 6mm. Kodachrome with which he has just completed a successful lecture tour. The General's Olioice How Gae Faillace, Who Began Making Movies With An 8mm. Camera, Was Chosen General MacArthur's Staff Photographer By WARREN CARIN IF YOU regularly take in the lecture films that come your way, sooner or later you will see "Australia To Tokyo" and meet its maker, Gae Faillace, said to be the first man to film a complete color motion picture of the South Pacific — much of it on his own time while in service as combat cameraman for the Signal Corps. Cited for the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart, Faillace's most cherished citation occurred when General Douglas MacArrhur chose him as official cameraman for his staff. Faillace accompanied MacArthur in seven major landings in the South Pacific, was the only cameraman allowed to photograph MacArthur and former Emperor Hirohito in Tokyo. Gae Faillace is one of the few combat cinematographers who began as an amateur movie maker. Faillace started making movies back in the early 30's with an inexpensive 8mm. camera. He joined HOME MOVIES FOR SEPTEMBER the Los Angeles 8mm. Club and subsequently made a trip around the world which he filmed in 8mm. color. Returning to Los Angeles several months later, Faillace had over 3000 feet of exposed color film. His activities in publicly showing his films began about this time, as word of his world cruise movies gained momentum. This acclaim made him more ambitious and for his more serious filming efforts, Faillace acquired a 16mm. Bolex. Not wishing to desert 8mm. entirely, he rigged up a dual camera mounting whereby both his 8mm. and 1 6mm. cameras could be mounted on a tripod at the same time, enabHng him to shoot subjects with both cameras simultaneously. Later, he acquired a Leica and this camera often replaced his 8mm. camera, enabling him to shoot stills of his movie scenes. Ironically, it was this gadget and Faillace's dual photographic skill that developed because of it, that led General MacArthur later to select him as staff photographer, as we shall see. A fortunate event for Faillace occurred when months later, the Los Angeles Breakfast Club asked him to show his world cruise pictures. Faillace's cinematography so impressed club members, he was invited to go along with them as guest-photographer on the Club's annual trek to Mexico. The 16mm. record he made of this trip remains one of the prize possessions of the Breakfast Club. Immediately after the Pearl Harbor incident, Faillace enHsted in the Army and when his photographic talents were discovered, he was promptly transferred to the Signal Corps. Now stationed at Seagirt, New Jersey, Faillace had brought along many of his movie films and was giving occasional shows to his fellow enlistees as time permitted. These movies included all the footage he had shot in the Orient, while on the world cruise. It was a coincidence that at that very time, the Army was examining every available foot of amateur movies filmed in the Orient to assist them in planing the subjugation of Japan. When word reached his Commander about his films, Faillace was summoned to give a special showing. This led to an assignment to give orientation lectures before staff officers who were to be sent to the South Pacific. Subsequently, Faillace went to Astoria where he was among those chosen to make up the first Signal Corps newsreel team to go overseas. His age, however — he was then 3 8 — caused him to be withdrawn from this group and eventually he made newsreel team number five. He was now receiving training for an anticipated invasion of Jap-held Asia via India, and in due time his company embarked for the Pacific. \('hile on the high seas, orders were suddenly changed and Faillace's outfit • Continued on Page 587 572