The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-29

OON dn iCdNliN dSDtIbCO bO tttir
 He was born In Australia between 30 and 40 years ago, and early in life took up newspaper work in Sidney Later he served in the British army in South Africa during the Boer war owing to distinctive service-the kind that Carnegie is giving medals for in this country-he was made dispatch bearer to Lord Kitchener, and while carrying one message narrowly es- capped death. His horse fell over a precipice and was instantly killed. MT. McGowan was found later with three ribs and arms and legs broken. He was suffering from concussion of the brain and was internally injured. For more than a year he lay helpless and took up the less strenuous profession of the actor.
 With Mantell in America
 He toured this country with Robert Alantell, the tragedian, and attracted the attention of the Kalem company. 1Ie was placed under contract and fer several seasons since has done splendid work in cnematographic art. Accord ing to the words of the Kalem kal- endar a monthly circular issued by the Kalem company, he excels in strong character parts and has been featured in the largest of tile Kalem produc- 1ions. He is best known through his
 
 ''The Colleen Bawn," and the secretary fin "Arrah- na- Pogue.' In the course of his work with the Kalem company he has travelled the world over and has only recently returned from Egypt aad the Holy land, where for six months he labored in producing what eminent critics have called the most startling of all the enterprises of the moving picture companies-that of portrayinG ba nf 10 spots where He lived and died 2000 years ago.
 Of this picture which will soon be released for production and will be shown in Birmingham within the next three months, MT McGowan, who actu- ally played many parts in it's produc- tion and directed the work, talked al length, as he sat comfortably in the lobby of the Hillman hotel. He said:
 The Life of Christ
 My boy, there Is representing each business or profession, no matter how small or how large, a ladder, to the top rung of which we continually strain our eyes and bend every energy towards obtaining foothold. Pos sibly when we find ourselves safely ensconced in that coveted position the everchanging conditions of time have added to the ladder and there are other rungs above. And so we go on and up; always trying to grasp the elusi1 c bird of success.
 "In 1911 I imagined my Irish produc- tions had placed my company of OKalems on the top rung, and If pub lie opinion is any criterion of success We were surely established. But later in Upper Egypt, when the idea was ad- vanced of producing the Life of Christ in it's entirety a few rungs were added to the ladder. l believe We mounted the additional rungs by producing q remarkable sfilm-the most remarkable film ever made, according to the most competent critics. From the Manager tn the Cross 5000 feet of film portraying the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. in the actual scenes where he lived 200O years ago at a cost of approximately S130,000 in six months time, is tue proudest achievement of my life.
 By portraying the story of the Sa- vior's life in His own land with per feet fidelity to nature. the wonderful cinematograph in combination with the artistic work of photo-players has al last in the photographic sense at least realized the dream which for 2000 years has stirred men to every form of artis- tic endeavor
 The Work of TissOt
 "In every age since the Savior lived whole libraries have been filled witl attempts to give the world a faithful record of His life and times MT. James Tissot, in speaking of The Life o1 Christ as painted by him, said: T start. ed on October 15, 1886. On october 15 1897, he dedicated to Mir. Gladstone fou, volumes of paintings and descriptive matter During these 10 years he lived in Egypt and Palestine; he studied tn, people closely, in their homes, in tn, fields. their manners. customs and char. not ar jet ffpc nd h. nf lie lal l,nr. stand today as the greatest authorit, on the life of the Savior, famous fol it's minute detail, it's historic accuracy correct costuming and authentic loca tions. In introducing his work he says
 For a long time the imagination of the Christian world has been leC astray by the fancies of artists. Ther. is a whole army of delusions to b, overturned-some of the schools, pre- occupied, as were those of the 'Renais sance" with the settings of the scene represented, others like those of thu mystics, with the inner meaning of th various events, all of one accord h ignoring the evidence of history ant displeasing with typographical accur acy Every work, no matter what, ha it's own ideal; and the ideal of min was truth, the truth of the life O Christ. To reproduce with fidelity tn divine personality of Christ, to mak Him live over again before the eyes O the pectatotrs-what could be nor fascinating, at the same lime more diff fcult?'
 Here indeed was the keynote of ou success" continued MT. McGowan 'Nothing that I had ever done has hel, greater fascination for me and witt Tissot's work as a foundation, his mot to as my motto, and the virgin field of Egypt and Palestine at hand breathing the very air of spiritual TO nance. We felt that our work was in deed well started.
 Near the Famous Pyramids
 At Shepherds, in Cairo, we spent fv weeks familiarzing ourselves with tn great work before us while an army O costumers under the personal supervi sion of our artist. H. A. Farnham worked day and night turning out thu necessary costumes.
 "On March 12 we broke ground an, near the pyramids photographed tn scene representing the arrival of Jo seph and Mary with the infant Jesu into Egypt. Our work in this localit. was not extensive and soon as it wa finished we left for Jerusalem via Por Said and Jaffa.