The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-29
Some of the scree1
stars risk death ever
week in order to pro-
vide sensation lovers
with thrillS-WOrnen
of film drama will
try any stunt once

- NE way of earning living IS bV
J jumping from speeding train TO
another by riding motor cycles OF
open drawbridges; by running pefi-
nell over moving freight trains, only
- to clutch an overhead cable and to
I hang suspended in midair; by Crap
bling with Infatuated man in the
~ 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 eyelash in the per-
Torrance of the stunts
Tt 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-
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 it is
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 the mount and in other ways
firts with death that they stop 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 almost equally balanced by the
kind which depicts real danger encountered to
accomplish the desired result.
Jumps From Moving Trains.
when 1 first began to jump off moving trans,'
said Helen Holmes when asked for her impressions
of daredeviIiing in the films Il must confess
somewhat timid, but now take it as something
which must be done to complete the picture.
In picture in which l worked about six
months ago l went through the action with my
heart in my mouth, and for moment at least felt
like quitting. 1t 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 the track about twenty feet from
the spot where the dynamite charge was placed to
1Ir hid
from the cab TO the river thirty feet below From
the moment that the engine reached the wooden
trestle kept thinking what would happen If the
torpedo did not off and should be carried down
into the wreckage.
The run of about thirty yards seemed internn-
able, but everything worked according to plans and
1 made the dive safely, but I shaking like
leaf when fished from the river / was so fright
ened could hardly keep myself af1oat.
But 1 have become so used to risking nv
neck that 1 accept it matter of course 1t is
much like the case of 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 quicksands on a treacb-
erous bit of picturesque Florida beach. 1t would
not suffice to have her buried in a sand hole ON a
solid portion of the beach where she could easily
be extricated without danger to herself. George
Foster Piatt, who directing the fve-reeI fea-
entitled 1.-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 group of men
ready with planks and rope to rescue the
actress in case the planned miscarrfed 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 tmdly 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 genuine fear, and at this point
the camera man began shooting the scene while
the gallant hero with stout rope lassOed her. II
required all his strength to drag her from the sands
which were engulfng her. When solid ground
again Miss Swayne with tremulous voice said
Il suppose on the screen that will look easy, but
I don't care to try II again.
Leap From High Cliff.
Wide publicity given to a stunt picture
in which trained acrobat jumped horse from
hilltop into a chasm inficting injuries upon him
self and the animal and getting into trouble witt
the humane society officials This not
regular member of the picture company, but wa.
engaged at big price TO perform the daring act.
Anna Little had a somewhat similar experience
although part of it was not done Intentionally. Tn
der the direction of Frank BOrzage, gluttoa fo
realism, Miss Little to slide down the side o.
a cliff some seventy feet high horseback t,
escape a band of Indians in pursuit. The rid
called for a skilled equeStrienne, unfnching cOur
age and surefooted horse 1t was impossible Il
rehearse the scene because the director knew tina
after having gone through it once neither Mis-
Little nor the horse could be persuaded to repea
the action
This scene was to be the big thrill in the picture
Much care was taken in preparing it. Three cam
era men were stationed to catch the slide from
three different angles thus insuring good pic
ture from at least one of the machines.
Barely Escaped Death.
Careful instructions had been given the actres
and She started on the slide. At first the hors