Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-11-28

\ fuIness- Tel me why you have engaged
me-"
"WeIl," ne replied soberly. when you
came out from your interview with
KATE the story was written on your
/ face with a camera-wen, III create q
1 part for you and I'll go broke II you
can't smile like that on order"
'T Think can, Left you'll sccld
me-" she faltered. Goodnight"
Well" said Lee Tenny st dinner
/ the following night, What do you
/ think Of my story"
sTt's beautiful. It sounds so real."
1T isl he replied gravely. It's the
I life story Of a girl knew In Nevada
I'm going to hole up for a week with
a typewriter Quite a Job. use the
hunt and peck system"
She saw no more OF him for a week;
then he turned up at her apartment
with the continuity and dialogue fin
ished and handed her another weeks
wages.
vann0y read the finished script and
marveled at its accuracy and the clever
dialogue. Lee Tenny had the gift Of
saying much in few words-the result
Of his early environment, doubtless.
His metaphor and smile were quaint.
original and humorous. yet there was
no striving for humor; his dramatic
scenes were pungent, compact.
A week later Lee Tenny had his cast
assembled on the cold sound stage Of
a studio in Poverty Row. He read them
the story, handed each member OF the
cast his part and dismissed them to
study their lines, while he set forth
in the flivver TO hunt outdoor locations.
This was accomplished in three days
and on the fourth day a bus loaded
with the cast set forth for the loca-
tions.
Now, Lee Tenny had carefully pre-
pared his budget, but he had been
shooting on the picture only three days
when 1t became apparent to him that
foggy and overcast weather was going
to raise the devil with his outdoor
photography and consequently his
budget. So he moved back to the studio
to shoot his interior scenes while wait
ing for the customary brand Of South
ern California sunShine-and found
himself In the midst Of a studio strike /
that lasted week. But the weekly SAL I
aries went on just the same. When 1
finally he got into production again he /
worked the cast nadly TO make up for /
lost time, but drive as he would the /
work dragged and slowly and inexor-
ably his damnable budget caught up /
with him and passed him, with % out
side scenes still to shoot
In desperation he sold his Maybe
horse for $4,000 and after shooting
three days discovered he should have
reshOt certain scenes half a dozen
times particularly those in which
Vannoy Mara's wistful, twisted, tear
full smile was supposed to appear. So
he went back over the outdoor loca-
tons again and became so peeviSh and
of,1 he crr1roH 4V1
earnest and quite broke her heart
with the result that she achieved all
the dolorous quality to the smile that
Lee Tenny demanded and expected.
With the outdoor scenes all shot to his
now he returned. to the
studio, cast up his bank balance and
discovered he Stin had 10 interiors to
shoot and $35 in the bank.
When the company was dismissed
hat night Vannoy came into the bust
ness office and found her employer
caring his hair. mo cash, no credit"
ne walled, but I'm never licked until
Pm counted out. The lab viii trust me
'or the last thousand feet and I'll have
% stand off the cast for the last
weeks wages. I'll have to hire some
heap director to do the last 10 inter .
or scenes. He, poor boob, win suspect ,
lothing and will shoot them in q week.
, QHAllA t4AAH AA4tA1C BAoAhCocs AZ . w
low for me-and now I'm sick"
Suddenly. for the first time in two
weeks his old humorous grin came I
Jack, driven forth by an impelIing and !
brilliant idea Listen, Vannoy, old
Iariing," he shot at her suddenly. "Are I
on game to play a part not in the !
,icture?"
I'm game for anything ought to I
e. I'm overdrawn on my salary $500 +
hanks TO your improvidence and gen. +
roSity. have that $500 still"
Give it to me-" he ordered. "IT re- :
uire 1t for my hospital bill"
20 Lee, do you have to go TO the hos !
ital? Are you so Ill as that2' :
mo, I'm not. But I'm going to a +
ospital Just the same. TomOrrow's
ay day. I'll make out the pay checks r
onight and leave them all stacked
eatly on my desk, where you are TO :.
iscover them at noon tomorrow. But :,
aeyu not be signed. I'll be on the set \
{ o'clock tomorrow morning ready :,
} proceed as usual, but I'm going to \
E sick. Something tells me I'm going =
} have a severe pain In the region OF n
" appendix After an hour Of moan >
lg and grooming III have you tele- a
hone for the relief director, who VIII i