Evening star., 1932-09-18
HOLLYWOOD. Calf, September II.


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Arms" it will all seem very
smooth and easy and few in the au-
dience will realize that 16 different
departments, functioning full speed,
we're required to give resemblance to
this Hemingway story of war on the
Italian front.
Much of the picture has been made
on location" That means added effort
and harder work than sequences shot in
the studio where the quiet Of sound
stages Is assured and, the doors once
locked, only the At different breakdowns
which can occur to any picture, may
threaten.
Outdoors, those At breakdowns may
be multiplied indefinitely Forty miles
away from the studio, terrific amount
Of extra equipment must be ready and
at hand, in the event Of an emergency.
One Of the first complications Of 10
cation" work on such story is selection
the 400 are assembled on location, there
must be tent dressing space all ready
for them. Racks OF clothing will be In
correct condition and not misplaced,
floors covered with tarpaulin in the
event of rain and salamanders, or port
able stoves available in case the night
is cold.
Watching all these things while Helen
Hayes, the tiny star, sat curled up in
her car waiting for the word "okay,"
which would tell her that all was in
readiness, some dim comprehension of
the complicated system behind the
making Of motion picture comes over
one.
Painters drifted about retouching
flaws on the portable sets. The peasant
carts and motor vehicles were being
checked over by an army of workmen
SO that no unfortunte accidents would
occur. A powder expert was instructing
his men in the difficult work of carrying
on an artillery bombardment which
would look like the real thing yet
where every one would be kept within
lines Of safety.
For night shooting, readying the
electrical equipment of the cameras
and night lights is only one angle of
the work. Lights in the portable dress
ing rooms, in the dressing tents, and
throughout the outfields Of the work,
must be in order. All this necessary
costumed with as little waste of time
as possible.
Orders to the transportation depart
ment read as follows and are proof
that this branch of motion picture
making wasted no time that particular
day: I'VE will need transportation for
450 people and the troupe-motor busses
for the atmosphere players and so of
the troupe - twelve trucks for moving
equipment and six passenger cars. We
will need the two camionettes with tops
to work in the scenes. Two motor
cycles will work at the ranch with the
big tractor, which will pull the heavy
duty trailer carrying the gun. Have the
English ambulance ready. The ambu-
lance and guns will be used in scenes
at the studio during the day and must
be rushed to the ranch in time for the
scenes at the bridge"
On location I spied a place called
Hospital" I naturally thought it part
Of the scenery until realized that the
studios responsibility for this army of
extras occasioned the presence of a
doctor. nurses, bandages and stretchers
in fact, all the equipment Of a field
station
A squad OF police officers was on hand
to keep order In this miniature army of
vagrant souls collected from Hollywoods
vast world of atmosphere" talent 1t
seems it is not an infrequent thing for
arguments and even vast brawls, with
great numbers taking "sides" against
each other to develop during the wait
ing intervals in the making of such a
picture. These players, contracting each
other frequently, develop animosities
which often come to boiling point at
times most inconvenient for directors.
At Gary Coopers dressing rom. a
rack contained four uniforms, all pre-
cisely the same. He has to dive into
the river" the director said. Were
providing for emergencies in the way
OF retakes." Four times into cold water
on night like that isn't the most
luxurious thing In the world
makeup man worked busily among
the extras, darkening the occasional
too-pale faces. AL soldiers and farmers