The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-15
FIRE ADDS A THRILL
TO FILM PRODUCTION
Threat Of Villain Brings I'm
expected Response and
Real Acting.

The Universal Film Company play
ers. in their plan, at Fort Lee. y. j..
turned yesterday from producing a
photoplay depicting quiet home life at
its purest and most cinematographic
level-name unannounced. but probably
to be entitled something on the order
Of Return. Woman. and VIII Forgive
Everything and I'ay All the Bill"-to
filming a picture which should be called
II II isn't, How Movie Stars Put In
Their Leisure Fighting Fire at $4,000
a Week"
The picture isn't completed tet--it
was Just dashed on In the white heat OF
Inspiration during a confagration that
wasn't part of the plot. But II pro-
v!ded the basis for splendid scena 10
showing. among other things. how easily
these actor folk can change from ex-
pensive screen luminares to bucket
passers. scene shifters and other persons
who have as little idea OF real art as
coal beavers.
Unfortunately, up 20 a late hour last
night the press agent had failed to re-
port the names OF the screen stars who
were featured in the drama
Asked for "Pep" and Got II.
But the news leaked out yesterday, de-
spite the efforts of the publicity repre-
sentatives to suppress the whole yarn,
that the d!rector-name also withheld
had been urging this particular group Of
impersonators In the studio to put 1T
tie more action into their work. instead
OF leaning hard on their regulations and
acting as though one merely had 10 be
natural TO get across on the screen.
For the love o s.. Laemmle." shouted
the director, pep Up Put some oxygen
and tabasco into your stun
An right, Director Blank" was the
meek answer OF the tiger woman whose
past was being exposed In the ensuing
Atty feet of Aim SO the camera was
brought nearer FOR Closeup" after the
promise Of the tiger woman to vamp A
little harder and exude tears with mora
energy at the right moment.
VIII you marry me or will you not
marry me-" demanded the cave man
she had Just ruined In another part OF
the studio. lie hourshed revolver
that registered wickedness VIII you
marry me-or shall i fire."
"Fire" Then Things Happened.
Fire" yelled somebody. The words
came from such n rank outsider that all
the anonymous stars turned involuntarily
Then they registered pallor without try
ing, for a blaze starting from some UNI
known cause in the laboratory was eat
ing into their scenario
Lest II eat into their salary also
actors and actresses formed bucket
brigade and then Director Blank got al
the action he wanted Never. he ad-
mitted later, had lie seen such virtuos.ty
on their part as they shifted stage
settings and moved the Louis Kahns
furniture out or the danger zone Never,
furthermore, had h9 witnessed such
technique in passing buckets.
Best OF all-from the standpoint OF
every one but the press agent, who
didn't seem impressed with the affair
AZ sll--was the fact that the camera
man kept his head and continued grind
Ing out reels and reels showing actresses
sloshing water around as though they
liked 1t and developing wonderful emo
tional powers on finding their gowns In
peril OF catching fire. Perhaps they
realized they were s:,ll performing before
the camcrl-hut certainly the 400 per-
sons connected with the studio who par
ticipated in the thriller showed more
talent In this movie vehicle than any
before,