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The Why of the Tankless Film
By HI SIBLEY
(All photos copyright by LA VOY)
IN all the thousands of feet of war film that have been shown in this country you have seen no armored ''tanks." In fact, you have not had so much as even a glimpse of the mysterious tractor's footprints. And there is right good reason, too, for the French Service de l'Armee, whose word is law concerning all film activities in the war zone, has denied and does flatly deny permission to film any tractor tank, be it in action or disabled and inert.
Hence, notwithstanding the stupendous value of a film showing the most-talked-of engine of war going into action, we have yet to see it exhibited in America. But we almost had the opportunity. If — but that is getting ahead of the story.'
In the early spring of 1915 one Merl LaVoy, American cameraman, sailed for England. He was equipped with a Motion Picture camera, several years' film experience all over the world, and boundless confidence. Mark that last well, for it was the most
important part of his equipment. His original plan was to spend a few weeks in the war zone, film everything of interest, and return to America triumphant. Mr. LaVoy's original plan was carried out, too, with the exception of the "few weeks." Over a year was consumed in disentangling red tape preparatory to getting to the French front. Fifteen months is a powerfully long time to wait when one is a-quiver to accomplish a mission, but LaVoy, with his native persistence and his boundless confidence, accomplished precisely what he set out to accomplish, and incidentally is the only civilian Motion Picture camera-man who has been at the front since the first two months of the war. And having spent three months at the front myself, and having seen LaVoy's film, I feel qualified to pronounce it
e a s H y jtjt the best, i n photography and subject
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MERL LA VOY, AFTER FLIGHT OVER PARIS IN MILITARY BIPLANE