International photographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

"hARMON Of MichiqAIN""" aincJ coluivibiA Tom Harmon won his letter at Columbia in sixty days. It took him longer than that to win his letter at Michigan, but Michigan is a University and Columbia is a studio. Students have a faculty (no pun intended ) of matriculating at motion picture studios faster than at higher educational institutions. "Harmon of Michigan" may not be one of the most important pictures of the year, but it is just one more evidence of Columbia Pictures ingenuity in producing pictures of popular appeal. Few there are who could possibly dispute the popularity of Tom Harmon who broke practically all existing gridiron records during his three years of Varsity Football at the University of Michigan. Morrison Bloomfield Paul, member of Local 659, was assigned by Whitey Schafer to handle the stills on "Harmon of Michigan." The company under Director Charles Barton went to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the football material and during the first day's shooting Paul "wrapped up" some of the best football action that has ever been made. The kicking shot of Harmon was said by the football star himself, to be one of the best pictures of football action he had ever seen. In talking to your correspondent about the shot "Galloping" Tom said: "During my entire football career expert football photographers have been trying for that shot and then the first day I am playing "make-believe" football, this Paul who never covered football in his life gets, not only the best shot ever made of me, but the best kicking shot I have ever seen." The action is stopped at the absolute peak. Both arms are at full extension, the kicking leg is at the top and the body has not yet begun to descend. It is the perfect example of arrested motion made with an ordinary 4x5 Speed Graphic. For those interested in detail the picture was made on Super XX film at 350th of a second with an 8 stop. An Aero No. 1 Filter was employed and the light was morning and good. "Harmon of Michigan" is scheduled for release in the middle of September, but may be delayed until the opening of the football season for obvious reasons. A pre-release showing of the picture, however, is set for the week in which the Chicago Bears All-Stars game is to be played. One of Chicago's better picture houses will hold the run. Tom Harmon will no doubt make an appearance during the showing since he is to display his wares with the All Star team. "Harmon of Michigan" was produced by Irving Briskin under the supervision of Wally MacDonald. The cast includes Anita Louise, Forest Evashevski, "without whom," By Gene O'Brien to quote Harmon, "I would never have been heard of," Oscar O'Shea, Warren Ashe and the popular "By the Way" Bill Henry of the Los Angeles Times and the Columbia Broadcasting system. John Stumar was Chief Cinematographer and his crew ncluded Operating Cameraman Dave Ragin and Assistants Sam Rosen and Roy Babbitt. Description of Pictures Pages 14 and 15 Top, left to right: Tom Harmon climbs into the air to shoot a fast pass during scenes of Columbia's football picture, "Harmon of Michigan' ; minus helmet, Harmon rips away in familiar touchdown style as his Michigan team-mate Forest Evashevski blocks out the tackier, Ambrose Schindler of Unversity of Southern California; Harmon and Evashevski leap into action during practice for the picture. Lower: Off the Ground; Harmon, whose familiar number "98" is known to millions of grid fans, leaps off the ground as he throws a pass during rehearsal of football scenes. Greased Lightning! Harmon claws the earth for a fast start as he gets away for a run; kicking ability which helped Harmon win games at Michigan was in good form for the picture. Evanschevski. left, is the ball holder for the goal try. hollywood to chuNqkiNQ For the first time in the history of Hollywood the sets of a war film have "stood in" for the terrible reality. Maurice Liu, Chancellor of the Los Angeles Chinese Consulate, has just finished an intensive three weeks' course in war photography with Chief Cameraman Leon Shamroy on the set of 20th Century-Fox' "Confirm or Deny." Liu left last week to film a documentary, on 35 mm., and lecture illustrations in 16 mm. Kodachrome, of bomb-wracked Chungking and the other war-torn parts of China. On "Confirm or Deny" he was particularly fortunate in being able to practice set-ups and lighting problems on sets which in most respects reproduce the reality of the war conditions he will face in his homeland. The 20th Century-Fox picture tells the story of an American war correspondent in London during an asserted invasion attempt last year, and the sets include bombed streets, shelters, cellar refuges, etc., all of which Liu will shoot in China. Although Liu has had extensive expe rience in black-and-white and color photography, he thought it desirable to study with Shamroy before making the difficult trip. Shamroy and Liu have been friends for many years, and the studio, as well as Shamroy, gave Liu carte blanche in using its facilities for study. Since Shamroy spent 1930 in photographing for the Huntington Ethnographic Expedition much of the Chinese terrain which Liu will cover, he was able to give the young diplomat valuable tips concerning what and what not to do under the circumstances. Liu's primary interest on the expedition will be in photographing in detail the vast underground industries of Chungking, which are carried on in catacombs hewn out of the rock beneath the Chinese capital. In addition, however, he wll survey the Burma Road, parts of Western Szechwan (Continued on p<age 16) FAXON DEAN INC CAMERAS, BLIMPS-DOLLYS FOR RENT No. 22184 4516 Sunset Boulevard Night, SUnset 2-1271 International Photographer for September, 1941 13