The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-07-28

in a hundred ways risking life and
ms This is what scores Of m srS2R
day with hardly the wink Of eyelash in the per-
Torrance 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 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 IL
hard on the performers.
Patrons of the pictures familiar with
scenes depicting rough riding, descents of mountain
sides on horseback and leaps from cliffs in which
the rider falls clear of the and in other ways
hrts 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 are
certain pictures in which the danger is faxed But
hose pictures are almost equally balanced by the
Kind which depicts a 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 in the films, Il must confess was
somewhat timid, but now | take 1t as something
which must be done to complete the picture.
In one picture in which l worked about six
months ago l went through the action with my
Nenrt In my mouth, and for moment at least felt
IKE quitting. 1t was railroad picture in which
! was to drive big engine a bridge which
was to be blown up 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 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 90 of 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 a
leaf when ished from the river | was so fright
ened could hardly keep myself aloat
But now have become so used to riskfng nv
neck that | accept it a matter of course II is
much Ike the case of an aviator when he starts v-
ing AT hrSt he is cautious and only makes slight
ascentS and safe descents, but soon the shirt of
daring enters his soul and he is looping the loon
ana doing Spirals 1000 feet in the air and other
dangerous stunts"
Danger in the oucksand
lhere was Marion Swayne, who thought it pretty
hard when she was called upon recently to allow
herself to be rescued from quicksands on n treocb
erous bit of picturesque Florida beach 1t would
not suffice to have her buried in a sand hole ON a
Sold portion of the beach where she could easily
be eNtricated without danger to herself George
Foster Plat, who was directing the fve-reel fea-
lure 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 a group of men
were ready with plankS and rope to rescue the
actress IN case the scene planned miscarried and
she should need other help than that offered nv
Bert Delaney, the leading and hero Miss
SWaEne was reluctant first TO try the scene but
hnaly consented and timidly out to the
treaeherous sandbar. The feeling of helplessness
that came over her when her feet sank slowly from
under her without means of staying them alarmed
the screen 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 the sands
which were engulhng her. When on solid ground
again Miss Swayne with trernulous voice said:
Il suppose on the screen that will look easy, but
l don't to try ii again.
Leap From High Cliff.
Wide publicity was once given to a stunt picture
hilltop into a chasm. nfcting injuries upon him
self and the animal and getting into trouble with
the humane society officials. This man was not q
regular member Of the picture company. but was
engaged at big price to perform the daring act.
Anna Little had somewhat similar experience
although part of it not done Intentionally I'm
der the direction of Frank Borzage a gluttoa for
realism. Miss Little was to slide down the side of
a cliff some seventy feet high on horseback to
escape band of Indians in pursuit. The side
called for skilled equestrienne, unflinching
age and a surefooted horse. 1t impossible to
rehearse the scene because the director knew that
after having gone through it once neither Miss
Little the horse could be persuaded to repeat
the action.
This scene was to be the big thrill in the picture
Much taken in preparing 1t. Three cam
era men stationed to catch the slide from
three different angles, thus insurng a good pic
ture from at least one of the machines
Barely Escaped Death.
Careful instructions had been given the actress
and she started the slide. At nrst the horse