The international photographer (Jan-Dec 1935)

Twelve The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER January, 1935 The Hollywood Notebook By Earl Theisen (Associate Editor) No star in the history of the Fox Film Corporation has inspired so many authors as has Shirley Temple. Famous writers and hundreds of new writers have flooded the scenario department of this studio. If all the stories were filmed, "Shirley Dear," as she is known in the studio, would be a grandmother before the job could be finished. In the four weeks that "Bright Eyes" was in production more than 300 manuscripts were received. Spencer Tracy, who has a string of six polo ponies, has purchased a race horse named "Troubadour." After making the purchase he went out to see the hay-burner in action. Tracy saw the name did not fit the horse so he changed it to "Wait For Me." While the stage designer has only to design two or three back-drops with sets of furniture for each, the motion picture architect must execute with more historic and elaborate cinematic perspective and detail. The usual procedure in making a screen set is to, first, have an artist make a pencil sketch which the art director approves. From this is made a detailed sketch which the director and producer approve. From the detailed sketch is made a miniature set to serve as a guide for the construction department. For instance in the picture, "The Crusades," now in production by Cecil B. deMille, Roland Anderson, who is planning the sets, has a two months job on his hands. Among other things he has had a complete miniature set made of Jerusalem, one of Windsor Castle, a cathedral in Normandy and another in Acre as it was in 1191 A. D. Because this last named cathedral was destroyed about that time it was particularly difficult to reconstruct a model of the original, but since movie veracity demanded it, old historical books were located which supplied the necessary information. The masterpiece among these models is the one of Windsor Castle as it was 800 years ago. This model has moats, drawbridges, port-culli and all the other essentials of Windsor Castle of those days. One interesting custom of those days is brought to light in this model castle — that is, kettles of molten lead were kept on the parapet to pour on unwelcome callers. The castle is replete with inchhigh figures of hermits, damsels, Galahads, etc. A trip through one of the studios is like a tour of the world. In three hours it is possible to see motion picture reconstructions from the four corners of the earth. On the Paramount lot, there is the Claudette Colbert New York Night Club set used in the "Gilded Lily ;" on the George Raft and Carole Lombard stage is the "Rhumba" set of Havana. On the Joseph von Sternberg stage was the Spanish set of Caprice Espagnol ; in "Ruggles of Red Gap," featuring Charles Laughton, was a set of a scene in London; in "All the King's Horses" is a mythical country; in Ben Bernie's "One Night Stand," is of middle Western United States atmosphere ; in Bing Crosby's "Mississippi River." In Hollywood at any one time can be found sets made to represent scenes from any country. Elliott Humphrey, of the "Seeing Eye," a philanthropic organization which trains dogs to lead blind persons, was brought to Hollywood by Paramount. He is to train the dog, Lightning, to work with Gary Grant in "Wings of the Dark." The "Seeing Eye" trains the dogs in three to five months, after which the dog and blind man live together at the Seeing Eye headquarters, at Morristown, New Jersey, for a month before they are allowed to go home together. The best dog for this purpose is the female German Shepherd which has a good coat to stand all weathers, strong feet, a certain sense of responsibility and initiative enough to overcome all difficulties. It is necessary that the dog does not blindly obey when ordered forward otherwise he might lead his master into a ditch. I have a dog that leads me everywhere each night when he goes on his smelling excursion. He looks like a white German Shepherd, although I believe he is a pedigreed Swiss Cheese Hound. His name is Take. Have you visited the Farmer's Market at Third and Fairfax in Hollywood ? Each day the farmers from the Southern California farms drive to the place with a one day supply of goods in their trucks. At the market they rent a stall for one dollar and then sell their products directly to the customer. Many of the rare foods raised in Southern California may be found in this market. Mala, the hero of W. S. Van Dyke's "Eskimo," who has withstood the icy blasts of the Arctic, has lately been walking about Hollywood in an overcoat, and he is complaining of the cold. Louise Fazenda's laughter rules. "Comedy," Louise Fazenda believes, "is based on phychological reactions." According to her the fundamentals are : "Something unpleasant happening to somebody else." "Mistakes of a comedian that make his audience feel more intelligent than he." "Contretemps that result in the comedian falling into a pit he dug for another — in other words retribution." "Search for some lost object that constantly is hidden by accident in a new place." "The eternal triangle from a comedy angle, mistaken identity, or an outraged dignity complete the list." Studio wags have been putting Nelson Eddy on the spot because he must wear long hair in "Naughty Marietta." The wags have been using the old, old gag of "where is your violin." Nelson now carries his makeup in a violin case. PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA "The Photographic Society of America, which constitutes the recent expansion program of the Associated Camera Clubs to extend service to those intersted in photography whether they be members of clubs or not, will begin its second year by publishing its bulletin in printed form with a few excellent illustrations. The Society is also planning a national meeting in April of 1935 at the time and in conjunction with the Pittsurg Salon of Photography at Pittsburg. Those interested in the work of this organization may address its secretary, B. H. Chatto, 1300 Milton Avenue, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania." Respectfully requested, Hillary G. Bailey. Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.