The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-06
HOLLYWOOD
NOTES
6v BOB THOMAS

We are now going to have a few
parties and thrusts with Jean Her
emans, who teaches the movie
stars how to slice up villains with
sword and sabre.
Jean is handsome Belgian with
a Charles Boyer-like accent and
a touch of gray in his black hair.
He is a dashing fellow with the
sword and daring with words, too,
inasmuch as he is willing to name
the best swordsmen among the
film famous.
His selections: Stewart Granger,
Enrol Flynn, Cornell Wilde, Basil
Rathbone, Robert Taylor. Mel Fer
rer and Tony Curtis. Among the
gals, he named Jean Simmons and
June Allyson as naturals with
fencing technique.
Jean has trained many of these
stars and routined them in the
fancy dueling scenes that appear
in swashbuckling movies. He ad-
mitted that movie duels are far
from genuine fencing methods.
''In the first place, an actual
duel would be too fast for the
camera, he explained. ''You
wouldn't be able to see the blades
in action. We slow down the move
ments and sometimes even speed
up the camera so that the action
viii be recorded.
also, for dramatic purposes, we
have the duelists make move
ments that wouldn't be seen in a
fencing match. We have to cover
lot of ground and make the duel
interesting and entertaining. II is
laid out like a dance number"
Jean accomplishes wonders, con.
sidering what he is up against In
,, a couple of months, he has to
make expert fencers out of actors,
most of whom have no previous
experience. The usual period oil
training is two or three years.
But / find they are very good
pupils" he added. ''They have a
tremendous task. They not only
have TO look like experts and re
member all the fencing move
ments They also have TO remem.
Der their lines and stay in the
proper positions while they move
around the set"
The fencing master has had only
two mishaps during his five years
in The studios. Both involved Stew.
art Granger. The actor nickec
Jean during a practice session.
Then recently the pair was en-.
acting duel for Prisoner OF
Zenda."
I'VE had a closeup where
aimed the point at his face and
he turned his head quickly" Jean
|fecalled. I'VE did the shot several
times and l was getting nervous.
An actors face, sharp point
it is no fun. But Granger wanted
me to aim right at him and make
+ it realistic.
During one take. he didn't duck
fast enough and the blade nicked
his cheek 1t was lucky that
was an experienced fencer, be
cause ! could pull back the blade
as soon as / saw i was hitting
him. thought | was in real trou.
BILE, but Granger was very nice
about it."
A member of the 1886 Olympic
Games team from Belgium, Jean
was the youngest fencing master
in Europe. He took part in the
underground at the beginning oil
the German invasion. Then he re,
sumed his fencing school, although
he was often badgered by the
Nazis.
After the war. he received four
offers o. employment within a
week. They came from Sweden
Holland, England and the U. S,
Jean chose the u. S. He became
fencing instructor at use and the
Los Angeles Athletic Club. His
abilities came to the attention OF
the studios, and he has staged
fencing scenes for such films as
The Three Musketeers'' and
'Scaramouche.