The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-07-28

vi cab Of an OnruShing locomotive, and
In a hundred ways rsking life and
limb. This is what scores of motion
picture actresses and actors dc every
day with hardly the wink of an eyeIash in the per-
| formance of the stunts.
1t Is all in answer To the cry for realism in the
| movies which has recently been raised by directors.
Realism Is now Il watchword. Above ALL the pro-
duction must be realistic. The directors argue
that the public has become tired Of faxed dangers
and mechanical feats that make ordinary scenes
| appear hazardous The desire for realism may be
all right for the public and the director, but 1T ia
hard on the performers.
Patrons OF the pictures are familiar with
scenes depicting rough riding descents Of mountain
sides on horseback and leaps from cliffs In which
the rider falls clear of the mount and in other ways
nirts with death that they stop to think OF
the real danger incurred by those actors who dare
so much for the silent drama OF course there arn
certain pictures In which the danger is faxed. But
those pictures almost equally balanced by the
kind which depicts real danger encountered to
accomplish the desired result.
Jumps From Moving Trains.
'When first began to jump off moving trains"
said Helen Holmes. when asked for her impressions
of daredevilling i'm the films, 81 must confess
somewhat timd, but now l take 1t as something
which must be done to complete the picture.
"In picture I'm which l worked about six
months ago went through the action with my
heart in my mouth, and for moment at least felt
like quitting. 1t was railroad picture in which
was to drive big engine across bridge which
was to be blown up as the engine reached the mid
die
"a torpedo on the track about twenty feet from
the spot where the dynamite charge was placed to
wreck the bridge was to give me my signal to dive
from the cab to the river thirty feet below. From
the moment that the engine reached the wooden
trestle l kept thinking what would happen If the
torpedo did not go off and should be carried down
into the wreckage
THE run of about thirty yards seemed intermin-
able, but everything worked according to plans and
made the dive safely but | shaking like
leaf when fshed from the river / so fright
ened could hardly keep myself afoat.
But now / have become so used to risking my
neck that l accept 1t matter of course. 1t is
much like the case Of an aviator when he starts fly
ing At first he is cautious and only makes slight
ascents and safe descents, but soon the spirit of
daring enters his soul and he Is looping the loop
and doing spirals 1000 feet in the air, and other
dangerous stunts"
Danger in the oucksand.
There was Marion Swayne, who thought ii pretty
hard when she called upon recently to allow
herself to be rescued from quicksands treach-
erols bit of picturesque Florida beach. 1t would
not suffice to have her buried in a sand hole on
solid portion of the beach where she could easily
be extrcated without danger to herself George
Foster Platt, who was directing the fve-reel fea-
ture entitled "The Net insisted that the best re-
suits could only be obtained by having the star
caught In the real quicksand
Outside the range of the camera group of men
were ready with planks and rope to rescue the
actress In case the as planned miscarred and
| she should need other help than that offered by
| Bert Delaney, the leading man and hero. Miss
Swayne reluctant at first to try the scene but
finally consented and timidly went out to the
| treacherous sandbar. The feeling of hepessness
| ty..tn g.
under her without means of staying them alarmed
| the star. AS she sank to the waist her fea-
| lures registered genuine fear and at this point
the camera man began shooting" the scene while
the gallant hero with stout rope lassoed her. 1t
required all his strength to drag her from the sands
which were engulhng her. When on solid ground
again Miss Swayne with tremuous voice said:
II suppose on the screen that will look easy, but
don't care to try 1t over again"
| Leap From High Cliff.
| Wide publicity was once given To stunt picture
| in which a trained acrobat Jumped n horse from
hilltop into chasm, inlicting injuries upon him
| self and the animal and getting into trouble with
| the humane society officials. This was not n
regular member of the picture company, but was
engaged at big price to perform the daring act
! Anna Little had a somewhat similar experience,
although part OF IL not done Intentionally I'm
der the direction Of Frank Borzage glutton for
realism, Miss Little to slide down the side OF
| CHI some seventy ieet hgh on horseDack 10
| escape a band Of Indians In pursuit. The ride
called for q skilled equestrienne. unflinchng cour-
| age anu sure-footed horse IL was impossible tn
rehearse the scene because the director knew that
after having gone through I. once neither Miss
Little nor the horse could be persuaded to repeat
the action.
This scene was to be the big thrill in the picture.
| Much care was taken In preparing IL. Three cam
era were stationed to catch the slide from
three different angles, thus insurlng n good pic
| ture from at least one of the machines.
| Barely Escaped Death.
Careful instructions had been given the actress
and she sfa rted ou tho slide. AT hrst the horse