The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-11-14
WHAT'S WRONG, ROXY?
C. ASHLEIGH.

1t appears that the great Roxy has been here
and has left-deteated.
In the October 18th issue OF Moscow News,
he is reported to have stated that the surging
life of MoscoWS streets could never be caught by
any lens" Practically, it is added, 1.-THE greatest
picture in the world today-and we can't get til
Thus, it is reported, spoke Samuel L. Rothatel,
New York theatrical manager who, accompanied
by various st@ge and technical experts, has spent
two days in Moscow
But 1 don't feel quite satisfied with his ex-
PLANTATION. Why could the life OF Moscows streets
never be caught by lens? Why can't they get the
greatest picture in the world today?
To advance technical reasons is, quite frankly,
all poppy cock. There's no reason in the world
why any decent lens should balk at foscussing the
pregnant turmoil of Moscows streets.
What about the early picture THE Man with
Move-Camera"? It's pretty old now, and it
could have been better; but it did show Mos
COW is good nourishment for the travelling box.
And, most OF us remember Berlin where really
first rate cameraman showed what he could 40
with that city. Why couldn't it be done with
Moscow? What is there SO intriniscaly and n1ys-
terousy impossible, Mr.. Rothafel, that the city
simply cannot be filmed?
OF course Moscow can be filmed And we hope
it will be. Now, it is a transit stage-the
new city is emerging, casting aside the husk OF
scaffolding. Old buildings are falling to make
room for new. Moscow in Observation-Disclosures
good l. tie for whoever decides to do the job.
1t might be worth while preserving the record OF
the Moscow of today, for SO soon it is going to
be edged aside by the Moscow of tomorrow.
"The surgng life" Is that what's wrong?
Do the Moscow crowds move too fast for the
cameras eye to catch them? We know they don't.
We have seen pictures of New York and we know
that New York workers move about lust as fast
on the boss's business as the Moscow ones do on
their own. Is the tempo of Moscow street life
really too fast for the camera? The camera
which can seize the flash OF a flyng-fish flight,
can follow the athletes vaulting leap CON-
tain an army in battle or caterpillars crawl on
the stem OF plant?
Is it that there are too many people on Mos
cows street, Roxy? Or do they move too fast?
Surely, surely, there are bright lads III Hollywood
who can hadle all that?
Or do the lads and girls in Moscow walk too
upright? Heads in the air and chests out? Grin
ming freely and shouting companionably Work.
ers who walk like kings? Electrifying the streets
with their warm mass energy? Older people who
have known slavery and have smashed it?
Younger ones who have never known 1t Thou
sands and thousands, not an idler among them,
walking along to work, from work, TO and from
pleasure, having a good time, working for them
selves, playing for themselves, kissing nobodys
coat tail--FREE!
Is that something that can't be filmed? What's
wrong with the lens that can't catch that?
Well, well, maybe it's not the cameras fault,
after all. Nor the camera -man's II he were al
lowed to go ahead.
Roxy says. however that its Just can't be
caught.
SO suppose wen have to do it ourselves