Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-09-15

hang suspended In mdair; by grap-
H. I bling with Infatuated in the
N cab Of an onrushing locomotive, and
In a hundred ways risking life and
limb. This is what scores of motion
picture actresses and actors do every
day with hardly the wink of an 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 a watchword. Above all, the pro-
auction 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 it 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 and i'm other ways
iirts with death that they never stop to think OF
the real danger incurred by those actors who dare
SO much for the silent drama. OF course there
certain pictures In which the danger is faxed. But
those pictures are 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 in the films, IL must confess
somewhat timd, but I take it as something
which must be done to complete the picture.
I'm one picture in which l worked about six
months ago 1 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
10 no
trestle 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
l made the dive safely, but was shaking like u
leaf when fished from the river was SO fright
ened could hardly keep myself aioat.
But now have become used to risking nv
neck that accept 1t a 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 Quicksand
There was Marion Swayne, who thought it pretty
hard when she was called upon recently to allow
herself to be rescued from qucksands on a treach-
erous bit Of picturesque Florida beach, 1t would
not suffice to have her buried In sand hole on
be extricated without danger to herself. George
Foster Platt who 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 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 by
Bert Delaney the leading man and hero. Miss
Swayne was reluctant at first to try the scene but
finally consented and timidy went out to the
treacherOus 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 a genuine fear. and at this point
the camera man began shooting" the scene while
the gallant hero with a stout rope lassoed her. 1t
required all his strength to drag her from the sands
which were engulfng 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 u stunt picture
in which a trained acrobat jumped a horse from
hilltop into chasm, inflicting injuries upon him.
self and the animal and getting into trouble with
the humane society officials. This man was not
regular member of the picture company, but was
engaged at a big price to perform the daring act.
Anna Little had somewhat similar experience.
although part of 1t was not done Intentionally IN
der the direction of Frank Borzage, a gluttoa for
realism Miss Little to slide down the side of
a cliff some seventy feet high horseback to
escape a band Of Indians In pursuit. The ride
called for skilled equestrienne unfnching cour-
age and sure-footed horse. 1t impossible to
rehearse the scene because the director knew that
after having gone through it 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 it. Three cam
ara men were 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 on the slide. At first the horse