The Washington herald., 1916-04-30

raj part of the orchestration which is
such stirring detail of the presenta-
tion as the audience secs it.
Everything ON Giant Scale.
For the first time in the history Of
motion pictures, actual scenes of war
fare at night were taken after dark.
The burning OF Atlanta and the es-
cape OF the refugees from that city
before Sherman's conquering advance
are part Of this. Griffith had been ex-
perimenting upon a small scale with
this work for years, and this was his
first attempt to see its working upon
SO elaborate plan. He got his Pic
lures by the use Of giant iiluminators
which he patented for this work and
also by the bursting of specla p con-
structed illuminating bombs. (which
we're freely made use of. This was
one of the costliest features OF the
entire production. These war effects
and the stirring movements of the
men were all laid out upon a giant
scale by the general director. The
plans were completed at nightly con-
ferences with his subordinates, where
every detail was gone over thoroughly
to be sure that nothing was missed.
The principals in the action were Sc
lected for their ability to appear like
the famous generals and other per-
sonages of history. After they were
chosen. each had to make up and then
go through a rigid rehearsal with
Grifiih. Then they we're photographed
separately and in groups to test their
appearances upon the films. 1t re-
quired infinite patience TO get just the
right players. AS an evidence of this
it is known that every twenty appli
cants were found wanting before the
right man was selected to portray Linz
coin. 1t took nearly as much care to
get men to play Gen. Grant and Gen.
Lee. .s
AS the battle scenes are now pre-
sented, it takes about sixteen minutes
to run these. Weeks OF camp life were
necessary to get effects. The cost of
this was approximately $4,000 a day.
In the terrible struggles, over three
sets of uniforms were used by the par
ticipants.
double supply of horses was in
upon horse flesh. This precaution was
taken so that none of the animals
would be used up The pictures were
taken in August, and great difficulty
was encountered in getting enough
horses of the right sort For it was
found that agents from England,
France and Russia we're buying up all
the good horses available for the
European war. rms aQQeu materially
to the expense of the pictures.
Employed 500 Costume Makers.
A corps of over 500 costume makers
worked night and day for three
months to supply the players with the
right clothing. For the Ku KluX Khan
over $4,000 yards of cloth we're sewed
into their unique costumes, exact re-
plicas of the regalia worn by the orig
inal clansman. Every costume had to
be historically correct and experts
were at work for months making the
design for these.
Fourteen hundred sheets OF music
were used in the orchestration of the
entire score.
Ford's Thester, where President
Lincoln was shot was reproduced in
part from old prints and actual de-
scriptions of that playhouse. Eye-wit-
nesses of the assassination were con-
suited in making this detail complete.
For the military scenes. Griffith had
with him during the time he was di-
Fecting the pictures, several officers
of the United States army, and also
the services Of many veterans who
actually took part in the battles which
are so graphically reproduced.