The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-06
Experiences of a
"MOVie" Maker
Edward A. Curtis Frequently
Risked Life and Limb OBJ
tanning Indian Pictures.

Tld. Indian epic drama. enacted
,,s,th the totem poles in the north
pacific shores IS to be presented by
che World Film Corporation at the
casino Theatre. starting tomorrow af-
,arroon. Tho film drama will be shown
., actual culnrs obtained by the Hoch-
.e,,sr process. Atmospheric Indian
music arranged from photographic rec
ord. made IN the field will be played ny
-. spe,!.I orchestra under the leadership
=, LuiW.e Marum This music Is the
rork Of John !. Braham. who has made
. spccia study Of Indian folk music.
Further to hcighten the effect scenery
naipted after photographs OF the totem
mole country will be used.
Mr.. Curtis has certainly put all his
sku and experience into making this
picture Not infreauently he risked life
and limb. In order to determine on
positions from which to photograph
certain scenes he went out to rock
which pokes its head up from the sea
o. A considerable distance from the
Alaskan coast. There. because he feared
tina, breakers might crush 1t agaiust
tho little island. he ordered his small
Yacht 10 90 back to the shore and re-
rum FOR him the next morning. He had
been Informed that the rock on which
te had landed remained partly above
va'er ~ high tide.
Nevertheless the tide rose and rose,
al 10 his d.smay soon began to lap
about his feet. and Still to rise At mid
rIcht {, had reached "a point at which
snotler inch meant that he must he
carried from his feet and drowned
Then ~ last the waters slowly fell. and
Nth their chhing ended what Mr. Cur
Is terms the most trying night Of his
Ne In he early morning MIR. Curtis
own launch rescued him from the rock
.-es But b. could not get back 10 land
with him II was caught in a storm of
tho coast and carried far from its
course For days the party was unable
10 report. \ revenue cutter was sent
o. search for them but missed them.
Then the news was sent broadcast that
Mr. curtis had been drowned hut in
realty his small boat weathered The
storm and after ten days made a
landing
This hut one Of many escapes
which have marked the mans aIven-
turou- pursuit of his life work. He has
been attacked 10y hostile Indians. al
thougn he now is known to aCtically
oil Nor,h American tribes as the fast
friend Of the red man and has been
adopted into brotherhood by several. lie
has met desperate emergencies in inland
fpad. ~ forest fires. in river rapids.
Some Of his long horseback hikes have
ben occasions Of extraordinary peri.s
from bad animals. from hunger and
from thirst.
This film marks the climax Of this
extraordinary mans extraordinary work
up tu the present. And not only is rs
creation a matter of real chronological
sHd ls,1rigi. moment. but 1t is epoch
making as a photo drama.
Il first saw he North Pacific coast
tribe, twenty-five years ago sa,d Cur
ts when asked to tell all about his film.
"' Iusr them AS the subject matter NJ
nv FIRST important venture into motion
pho ,Erauhv hocause | realized at once
thu among them more OF the real old
primitive ceremonial! life has been pre-
served than among any OF the other
tribes
These Indians were especially
tdin'ed FOR the purpose which wa.
growing In my mind, for the tremen-
%. drama Of Their winter ceremonies,
when 'hcy are shut from the sea rv ice
ami from the Interior by snow, are as
rmarAani, as that which has become
word famous as the Passion Play,
rv'u Annually by the peasantry Of
ohn mmoruau
W hen 'p.umhus ii ,sCovcred America
Tie. '.dans lived in houses built Of
f"v" boards and massive tlmhcrs. al
mos exactly Lke the ones in which they
N'nuuon' and Agricultural and marine
eN'F'"' ut they rank far higher than
CIV x 'hc plains Indians, with which
No ".'o men are more familiar.
'."' clever carpentry and quaint
car. "a oj decorations. which have
endured .or more centuries than We
lH"W are NOR" remarkable, in some re-
tno". ''tu the stone structures and
'on' carvings II the Egyptians and, 81
"a t- SO" tVuw. may have been orig
:aa''d at Il date prior to that Of the
tr' ~ EGYPTIAN ART
"' lr..lol that here was an oppor-
unit 'o produce an Indian film which
would depart wholly from anything ever
Photographed before hy a moving pic
'lro camera for the actors would bc
twa' Indians telling an actual Indian
torr which depicted their actual In
Can Nos and tribal customs
'T 10 story n It was finally planned
~ '." . II many puW-wowS and mach
"j'.' 900 e-a.uyt any innovation
Una suaHdonci thought Of innuVa-
ne because / found they would not
I''. .' hurt no" ultimate result is
'aHH Iy'uI-h aud through. Just rs
'r.' actor AND actress in the drama Is