Imperial Valley press., 1936-09-20

You must approach this set gingerly,
amazing and tricky network of electric ca
hidden by the dark, and second, you ha
suspense hangs in the air.
This set, by the way. is the most talked about
In the film city at this time. No one suspicioned
that four important ladies of the screen, espe-
cially the Misses Gaynor, Bennett Young and
Simon, could work harmoniously in picture in
which no one player has greater share OF
honors than the others.
And so Hollywood, accustomed to dramatzing
feuds rebelons etc. figured that a furious
feminine war was scheduled to burst most any
minute. But as you emerge out of the dark into
the glare made by some 40-odd lights focused on
a Hungarian apartment, the doves of peace are
everywhere in evidence.
AS Director Edward H. Griffith finished
rehearsal with the four laughing girls, you in
veigle him into a corner and ask how come the
four get so well together.
What did you expect, hair-pulling contest?'
retorts Griffith.
</oU admit that that was exactly what you
had in mind After all, you say, these girls
are accustomed to playing star roles, with their
names in top lights. And in this picture through
some miracle of casting, they're sharing four
equal roles.
That's the trouble in this town." said Griffith
Everybody looks for trouble, and I'll admit I'm
a picnic of Sunday y-school pupils
But how" you persist, did you manage to
get four such big names to contribute tneir
talents to one picture? ?"
THAT was Daryl Zanucks stroke of genius
said Griffith Il don't know how he did it any
more than you do
you leave Griffith to watch the girls at rest.
Miss Benefits maid has brought in tray with
tea for four and the girls are grouped about
an impromptu table. Constance pours. 1hey
drink. And Loretta starts the laugh party Off
with a neat joke which seems to strike Janet
harder than any.
And SO they chatter drink tea and laugh for
at least Is minutes until Cameraman Hal Mohr
calls them to the set for scene
And this my friends, is the set where all the
explosives in Hollywood supposed to have
been stored.
Hollywood cameramen, who have experienced
the harassing personal and technical problems
incident to the photographing of single femi-
nine star, should study the diplomacy OF Hal
Mohr.
Mohr. winner of the last Academy award for
the most distinguished photography of 1888, Is
at present lensng four of the most camera-wlse
feminine stars in the business for Ladies IN
Love-"
These four stars have had long experience in
the business. and it is their business to be pho
tographed to advantage. AS stars they have the
right to demand and receive, certain favoritisms
in lighting and camera position
10 MAKE smooth this difficult job of pleasing
four extremely wise young women Aanuck
and Griffith borrowed Mohr at the highest salary
ever paid cameraman at their studio
This is the toughest job I've ever had" said
Mohr "The girls in this picture are stars IN tnelr
own right and so far as I know, this is the hrst
time in wears any one of them has shared roles
in a picture.
Zach. too is an individualist insofar as type
is concerned The light that would suit Miss
Caynor's type is wrong for Miss Bennett, VINO
needs a hot light, and that same light woulo
prove disastrous for the Misses Young ana
Simon.
"My problem is to light each to the best ad-
vantage. naturally and this is relatively easy
when only one player is in the scene.
"But when two, three and four of them are
working at the same time, my troubles are
enough to weigh down Atlas
How does Mohr overcome this difhcuity! /
worry two days before a scene with the four
comes I'D and wien it comes I'm all prepared
with lighting chart and an additional crew
of electricians" says Mohr
.1 have one electrician assigned to each
player and after the general lighting scheme
has been set it is his job to follow his particular
star with a spot lamp especially adjusted for
that player.
"Rv this means l am able to give each her
distinctive lighting At the same time can give
each girl the favoritism which her position as
a star warrants"
Tn this difficult Photographic test, Mohr has
discovered that Miss Bennett demands the most
light because of her skin texture, although
really hot" light, necessary for her race, must
never hit her extremely blonde hair.
Ass GAYNOR needs a medium lighting
NJ scheme, but her hair must be burned to
bring out highlights. Miss Young demands the
least light of ALL but her eyes must be watched
They are extremely luminous and large and are
ant to reflect lights which enlarge them abnor-
mally.
MISC Simon is darker than the other three and
requires light whose intensity is somewhere
between those used for Miss Gaynor and Miss
Bennett.
Remembering these facts is Hal Mohr's busi-
ness.
Gwen Wakeling, noted stylist, worked severa
months designing S35, 900 worth of gowns-gor
geous new style departures, for these foul
famous actresses.