Chances (Warner Bros.) (1931)

BETTER THAN "DAWN PATROL! YOUNG FAIRBANKS TALKS OF FREEDOM E> ACHIEVED BY CAMERA, MICROPHONE IN MAKING OF MODERN TALKING FILM Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Now at the In His Initial Starring Vehicle “Chances,” First National War Romance, Displays Keen Interest in Movie Technique Cnteresting Feature) Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now at the ‘‘Chances,’”? the First National War romance, which is his initial starring vehicle, is as much interested in the mechanics of talking pictures as in the artistic side. He recently wrote an article on the evolution of the talking picture from which the following lines are gleaned. “Tn a little more than four years the technique of making talking pictures has advanced from confinement to freedom, from stiffness and rigidity to a flexibility and ease of movement that would have astonished the men who first experimented with audible films. “The cumbersome old refrigerator type of camera booth has become a thing of the past. The microphone, once rooted to a single spot during the recording of a scene, now travels about the set at the will of the director; the mechanics of sound-insulation have been revolutionized. To quote director Archie Mayo ‘Sound picture equipment has progressed from hoopskirts and ten petticoats to one short shirt and little else.’ “On every sound-stage, when talking pictures began to be produced, was a sort of wooden sentry-box five feet square and about seven feet high. Within this box was the camera, The walls of the box were thickly padded. At one end was a large plate-glass window through which the camera shot. The walls and the padding were there to prevent the grinding of the camera being caught and recorded by the microphone. The whole apparatus weighed anywhere between one and two tons. That is why, in the early talkies, the old freedom of movement of the camera, wth the resulting variety of ‘shots,’ had to be abandoned. “Tt was an unsatisfactory situation, and many months were spent by the technical engineers of the various studios in trying to restore the camera’s lost liberty. Up to the present time it has been found impossible to make the apparatus absolutely noiseless, and the difficulty was met by the so-called camera blimp—a muffling apparatus made of celluloid, felt and cotton which fits over the head of the machine. It weighs only one hundred pounds and is fire, water and sound-proof and with its use the moving of the camera to whatever angles are desired has become perfectly easy once more, as in the silent days. “A gimilar liberation has come to the microphone, which at first, like the camera, was stationary. In those primitive days—which lasted, however, until less than two years ago —it was the practice to plant mikes all over the set. Frequently as many as six or eight were used to record a single scene. “(When you speak that line stand near that flower pot,’ the di Theatre in DRAMA OF LOVE AND WAR! Built For “Chances” (Current Reader) An English country house and walled garden were erected for sequences of “Chances,” the First National war romance starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now at the ......... Theatre. The home is that of the Inglesides in a suburb of London. The two sons of the family are officers in the British army and in love with the same girl. The culmination of the one romance, and the beginning of the other occur during a bombardment on the Western Front. “Chances” is based on the novel by A, Hamilton Gibbs. Alan Dwan directed. Cut No. 15 Cut 30c Mat roc Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Rose Hobart in a tense scene from “Chances,” the First National wartime romance, now at the Theatre. rector used to say. will pick up your voice, there.’ “But nowadays, instead of the player following the microphone, it is the other way around; and the tendency more and more is for only one microphone to be used on a set. This was the ease, for instance, in the filming of ‘Night Nurse’ and ‘The Other Man,’ which are now nearing completion at the Warner studios here in California. For the modern microphone is movable; it is mounted on the end of the arm of an inverted L, and this arm can be moved in any direction from a universal joint—up, down or sideways. Also the arm can be telescoped—that is, lengthened or shortened within a range of some thirty feet. And it makes no noise whatever. “The employment of one microphone instead of half a dozen, has greatly simplified the work of the sound engineer, or mixer, who regu Dous. Jr.’s Greatest Role Since “The Dawn Patrol’e } DOUGLAS y AIRBANKS In ' STRAI ¢ win A FIRST NATIONAL & VITAPHONE HIT Cut No. 17 Cut 40¢ ‘The mike that|lates the volume of sound as it is is hidden | recorded. With six or eight mikes to handle, it was anything but easy to avoid the necessity of re-takes which ran into considerable time and money. Nowadays it is seldom necessary to re-take a scene because of an error in recording. “The early talkies were all made indoors on heavily padded stages, sound-proof and air-tight. Echoes were a constant terror. One by one the producing companies ventured into the great outdoors, and found that the menace of extraneous sounds was much easier to overcome than had been feared. It is still necessary to take elaborate measure to warn off airplanes, for instance, when an open-air scene is being made; but the technique of the microphone has proved equal to all the obstacles encountered. “Intensive study is still, of course, in progress at the studios and in the laboratories of the manufacturers of sound apparatus. Hardly a month passes without the use, at least experimentally, of some new device in connection with the recording or presentation of talking pictures. Many of these devices are rejected after trial, but others, of which the public hears very little, have done their share toward freeing the talking picture studios from the old cramping limitations. A gadget here and a sprocket there may make a lot of difference.” It is something of a leap from the practical Douglas Fairbanks of the above dissertation to the handsome young English officer of “Chances.” The sensational World War romance is an adaptation of the novel by A. Hamilton Gibbs. Screen play and dialogue are by Waldemar Young. Those in the support of the youthful star are Rose Hobart, Anthony Bushell, Holmes Herbert, Mary Forbes, Edmond Breon, Harry Allen, Jeanne Fenwick, Edward Morgan and Tyrrell Davis. Alan Dwan directed. | graphy. glish Home And Garden| Tommics Absent Fron Pubs For Reason In “Chances” Scenes in First National War Romance Starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Now. At Strand, Are Correct (Current Story) Although no Tommies are seen in the public tavern scenes. of “Chanees,” the First National war romance starring Douglas Fairbanks, dt; now at the =e. Theatre, there was no London ordinance against their frequenting such places in wartimes. This interesting fact was disclosed by Capt. J. S. Scott, technical expert on the picture. “Tt was a matter of custom rather than law,” he explained. “The keeper of the pubs which officers frequented discouraged privates from patronizing them by giving them poor service. For it was a fact that too many privates in a place drove the officers to another pub. “The officer liked to play the same as other men, but it was never advisable for privates to witness their superiors in moments of abandon. So in ‘Chances’ no privates are shown in the pub!” This tavern is shown technically correct, having been modeled in a general way after the famous Cheshire Cheese, though many changes in the layout had to be made to take care of the demands of photo Alan Dwan directed “Chances,” which is based on a novel by A. Hamilton Gibbs. It deals with two brothers who are in love with the same girl during the hectic war times of 1914-18. The supporting east includes Rose Hobart, Anthony Bushell, Holmes Herbert, Mary Forbes, Tyrrell Davis Edmond Breon, Harry Allen, Jeanne Fenwick and Edward Morgan. Santa Barbara Hills Serve As Channel Ports In Play Scenes Of “Chances,” First National War Romance Starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Taken Near Burbank Studio. (Current Story) Channel scenes showing the English and the French coasts in “Chances,” the First National war romance starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now at the Theatre, were taken in the hill country near Santa Barbara, California. The only problem was to have the sun shining from behind the cliffs for morning in France, and full on them for the English afternoon. “Chances” is an adaptation of A. Hamilton Gibbs’ great novel. It recounts the stirring adventures of two brothers, soldiers in the World War, who both love the same girl. The play is the first starring vehiele of the popular young actor. He is supported by Rose Hobart, Anthony Bushell, Holmes Herbert, Mary Forbes, Edmond Breon, Harry Allen, Jeanne Fenwick, Edward Morgan and Tyrrell Davis. Alan Dwan directed. BROTHER OF MARIAN MARSH IN “CHANCES” (Biography, May 15, 1931) Edward Morgan, who plays the part of Lieutenant Wickham in “Chances” the First National wartime romance. starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now at the Theatre, is a brother of the brilliant screen discovery Marian Marsh, who recently was seen as Trilby, in support of John Barrymore in “Svengali.”” At the instance of an older sister Marian and her brother went to the Warner Bros.-First National studios for tests and both secured contracts. “Chances” was directed by Alan Dwan. ARE BLOOD-TIES STRONGER THAN LOVE-TIES? Here’s the _ half that has never been told! A story hidden for thirteen years in the hearts of the heroes who lived it! DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS » Fighting, gallant dare-devil! | CHANCES HOBART ANTHONY BUSHELL HOLMES HERBERT Mary Forbes A. Hamilton Gibbs’ unforgettable war story. Doug. Jr.’s first starring role! STRAND A FIRST NATIONAL & VITAPHONE HIT Cut No. 4 Cut 20c Mat sc Invalided Ace Takes Flier At The Stage, Here In ‘‘Chances’’ (Biography, May 15, 1931) Tyrrell Davis, who plays the part of Archie in “Chances,” the First National picture starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now at the :...~... Theatre, served in the British Royal Air Forces during the World War until he was wounded and retired. He in time got a job with a third rate company touring the English provinces and at the end of the war had become an established actor. His first worthwhile role was in Shaw’s “You Never Can Tell.” He came to Hollywood in 1930 and has appeared in “Strictly Unconventional,’ “Let Us Be Gay,” “Rain or Shine,” “Love in the Rough,” “The Dancers,” “Paid,” “God’s Gift to Women” and “Chances.” Mr. Davis was born in Surbiton, England, and educated in Cambridge. His father is a noted submarine en gineer. Page Three