The international photographer (Feb-Dec 1929)

Six The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER October, 1929 Our Qamcramen ^Among the £..;■>:#:,, Globe trotting is getting to be so much a part of the life of the cameramen that their goings to and returning from far Hung parts of the earth are chronicled as almost every day occurrences. I.en Roos and Jimmy Howe no more than get home from the Straits Settlements and China than Guy Wilky departs for the South Seas. J. B. Shackleford pulls in from a year in the Gobi Desert just as Clyde De Vinna sets sail for Darkest Africa. Willard Van Der Veer and Joe Rucker go with Byrd to the South Pole and Will Cline with Harold Smith come rampaging in from New Zealand with a picture whose working title was "Under the Southern Cross," but soon to be released in America as "The Devil's Pit." This picture, a Universal production, was directed by Lew Collins from a story originally by Alexander Marky, but re-written and scenarized by Mr. Collins. Cline, with Smith on the second camera, shot the picture and stills and turned in a fine piece of work. This picture is a chapter from the history of the Maoris, the aboriginal people of New Zealand, a gentle, wholesome, brave Christian people with a long and interesting history. Only Maoris were used in this picture and a simple, straight-forward story was told on the film which will add greatly to its charm. While a silent picin its form the wonderful Maori singing and chanting is used to fine effect and sound is utilized in sequences like the volcano scenes where it added to the general effectiveness of the whole. The Maoris are famous singers and their music is melodious and dramatic. The volcano scenes were shot on The White Island, fourteen miles off the coast of New Zealand, one of the largest active volcanoes in the world and which is called by the Maoris "The Devil's Pit." The story is of two tribes, the Ariki and Wa-tee, ancient enemies who dwell on opposite sides of the great Devil's Pit, a smouldering volcano. Years before the tale opens, the great chief of the Arikis, Pakura, willed that his daughter was to wed either the son of the chief of the Arikis or of the Wa-tee, LEFT OUT Notwithstanding The International Photographer for October is four pages larger than the issue of September, it was found necessary to leave over to November, several interesting stories and features like Tek-Nik Towne; John Leezer's "Wonder Box"; an article by Louis W. Physioc; J. M. F. Haase's illustrated story of the photographing of Southeastern Alaska for Uncle Sam's Navy, etc., etc. But that only means that our November issue will be all the bet ter. Look for it. Our big golf tournament required more space than the editor had reckoned upon. LANDRIGAN RINGS ANOTHER To John S. Landrigan, of the Paramount Famous Lasky still department, goes the prize for the "Most Beautiful Still of the Month," published in "Screenland" for October. The picture is a summer scene of rare beauty depicting Mary Brian and Neil Hamilton in a scene from "Kibitzer." A last minute switch in production plans at Warner Brothers places William Rees as director of cinematography for "On the Border," an all-talking outdoor Vitaphone drama starring Rin-Tin-Tin, with William McGann directing. At one time McGann, who is an ex-cameraman, and Rees ground movie cameras together. Now McGann is making his debut as a director with "On the Border," having recently been elevated to that position by Darryl Zanuck, associate executive.