Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-27
-Che Daily Movie Magazine
THRILLS GALORE
ATTENDED THE
FILMING OF FLOOD

.TINUSUAL incident and accident,
~ with much Of the strenuous life,
gave the cast Of "The Call of Home"
more than the ordinary number and
quality of thrills while they were en-
gagged In filming the spectacular food
scenes at the huge Baguna dam near
Yuma, Ariz.
The text Of the scenario, which was
written by Eve Unsell from George Ag-
new Chamberlain novel, Home" de-
scribes the destruction Of South Amer.
lean valley by flood, and the heroism of
Garry Lansing, who checks the flood by
opening the hoodgatcs of a dam.
Louis j. Cashier. who directed the
production, sought long and carefully
for location that wouTd give him the
chance to properly stage the flood
scenes, TO give them the realism por-
trayed by the novel. A semi tropical
setting was required. and this limited
the search TO the Southwest.
He finally selected the Leguna Dam
et Yuma, Ari1.. as the proper site, and
with corps OF technical workers and
players who were to participate in those
scenes, he went to Yuma, and with the
consent of the Government officials in
charge Of Iaguna Dam, n replica of a
practical impounding dam was con-
structcd milo or more below the huge
retaining wall that holds back an al
most inconrCIVablc quantity Of water.
The work on this temporary dam
brought its share of troubles. Big mo-
tortrucks were mired in the soft clay
and in the sand, and almost snperhuman
efforts were required to release them.
Sometimes they would slip and slide
dangerously on the SEmy grades, aud
,1.A fFIy
the workmcn lcapcd TO safety aud no
one was injured.
WHEN the small dam was Completed
w the players were rehrarsed thor.
oughly and when all was ready the
eameramen were set at points Of COM
parative safety, and the signal to 'l"t
CO. was given.
Government officials at tho Laguna
Dam. on receiving this signal opened
the big food gates. and millions OF gal
Ions of water went rushing and tearing
down the valley, destroying the village
that had been built for that purpose,
and assaulting the temporary dam that
Cashier had just finished.
Ramsey Wallace, rs Gerry Lansing,
made the heroic fight described by
Chamberlain in his novel, and in the
face of grave personal peril opened the
gates of the dam. thus delaying its de.
struction by the wall of water that had
piled up behind 1t.
Wallace said aftcrward that money
could not induce him to play another
such scene. When the flood gates were
opened the dam held just little longer:
and Wallace was rescued from the HOOD
of tawny waters by Norma Nichols as
Marguerite, the South American girl.
DEOPLE came from fong distances to
I watch the preparations and the
shooting of these scenes. Arrangements
had TO be made with the Federal Gov
ernment to use that portion of the Col
orado River and it's banks, and the I'M
pounded water in Laguna Dam for the
scenes, but Director Cashier says that
.this trouble was more than compensated
sor by the niagnihcence and impressive
mess OF the scenes.
Lyle Ferguson. graduate Of the Uni
versity of California, who was operat-
ing a scientific farm in the Yuma Basin.
and who had a wide reputation as
stunt swimmer, took part in these
scenes. Interest Is added TO this state
ment by the fact that Ferguson was
drowned only few weeks later while
engaged in performing another water
stunt for another picture.