The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-29
EXPERIENCES Of 4
movie" MAKER
Edward A, Curtis Frequently
Risked Life and Limb OBJ
tanning indian Pictures

drama, In the Land OF the Head
Hunters" is the biggest achievement
of his career, says an article in the
New York sun.
This Indian epic drama, enacted
meath the totem poles in the north
Pacific Shores is to be presented by
the World Film Corporation at the
Casino Theatre. The film drama Will
be SHOWN In actual colors obtained by |
the Hochstetter process. Atmospheric
Indian music arranged from phono-
graphic records made III the field will
be played by q special orchestra under
the leadership OF Ludwig Marum.
This music is the work az John J.
Braham, who has made q special
study Of Indian foil music. Further
ed after photographs Of the totem
pole country will be used.
MIR. Curtis has certainly put all his
skill and experience into making this
picture. Not i~nfrequently he risked
life and limb. In order to determine
or positions from which TO photograph
certain scenes he went out to q rock
which pohes its head up from the sea
at Il considerable distance from the
ALASKAN coast. There. because he fear
ed hiatt breakers might crush it against
against the little island, he ordered
his small yacht TO go back to the
shore and return for him the next
morning. lie had been informed that
the rock on which he had landed re-
NAMED partly above water al high
tide.
Nevertheless the tide rose and rose,
and to his dismay Don began to lap
about his feet, and still to rise. AT
midnight Ii had reached a point at
which mother inch meant that he
must be carried from his feet and
drowned. Then at last the waters
slowly Tell. and with their ebbing
ended what Mr.. Curtis terms the most
trying night OF his life. In the early
morning Mr.. Curtis own launch res
cued him from the rookeries. But it
could not get back to land with him.
1t was caught in q storm off the cost
n carried far from it's course. For
days the party was unable to report.
A revenue cutter was sent to search
for them but missed them. Then the
news was sent broadcast that Mr..
Curtis had been drowned. But in
reality his small boat weathered the
storm and after ten days made a land
Ing.
This is but one OF many escape
which have marked the mans adven-
turous pursuit Of his life work. He
has been attacked by hostile Indians,
although he now IS known to prac-
tically all North American tribe as
the fast friend of the red man and has
been adopted into brotherhood by sew
eral. He has met desperate emer-
genCies in inland h5od, ikforest fires,
in river raDids. So1lepof his long
horseback hikes IaV5 beer occasions
Of extraordinary perils from mad ami
mails, from hunger and from thirst.
This film marks the climax OF this
extraordinary mans extraordinary
work up to n present. And not oniy
II It's creation . matter of real ethno-
logical and Z lstorical moment, but il
is'epoch making as q photo drama.
Il first saw the North Pacific coas
tribes tv enty-five years ago" said
Curtis, wnen asked to tell all about hi:
film. :" chose them as the subjec-
matter of my first important venture
Into motion photography because
realized at once that among then
more OF the real old primitive cere
monial life has been preserved thar
among any OF the other tribes.
These Indians were especial.
ADAPTED for the purpose which wa,
growing in my mind, for the tremen
dous drama OF their winter ceremo
MES. when they are shut from tn,
sea by ice and from the Interior b,
snow. are as remarkable as tina
which has become world famous a
the Passion Play, given annually b
the p~easantry OF Oberammergau.
When discovered Anne
rict these Indians lived in houses
OF hewn boards and massiv
- TANNA AN0 tAtS oitN
pan.h they live today. In this, a
In ciS,c development and agricul
roafd marine achievement, the
far higher thar any of tn
ains Indians, with which most whit
men are more familiar.
Their clever carpentry and cuain
carved wood decorations, which hay
endured for moro centuries than "
know, are more remarkable, hi som
respects, than the stone structure
and stone carvings OF the Egyptian
and. 81 far IS We know. may ha,
been originated at q date prior
that OF the birth Of Egyptian art.
II decided that here was an oppo,
tunity 60 produce an Indian film whiC
would depart wholly from anythir
ever photographed before by a mo-
ing picture camera. for the acto.
would be actual Indians, telling a
actual Indian story which depictt
their actual Indian lives and trib