NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1927, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL.

SAILORS AS FILM ACTORS. PORTSMOUTH, Feb. 5. A battery of camera men, who had been prevented by rough weather from landing on the Nab Tower, to-day “shot” Coronet battle scenes as best they could from a tug which rocked uneasily at anchor in the vicinity of the famous mystery tower which replaced the old lightship off Spit head. The cruiser Yarmouth, which is preparing to leave for China, was out on steam trials, and as she is the sister ship to the Glasgow, which took part in the Coronel battle in 1914, the Admiralty allowed British. Instructional films to take the opportunity to make a section of the. film reconstructing the Coronel and Falkland® naval engagements which they are producing. The scenes taken to-day showed how

tln> Glasgow sighted the enemy and engaged him at Colonel. Sailors became film stars for a while, and played war .scenes with a zest that neither bitter winds nor rough seas could lesson. Gleefully they painted their faces with a pinkish colour, served out to them by the producer. liefore facing tin- camera. DEALING AATITI A CASUALTY.

When the action began depth charges exploded near the Yarmouth and shells burst along her sides and in the ship All. of course, were dummies, but they produced a very realistic effect, which it was the object of the photographers wrestling with sea-sickness, to record. Other scenes were shot in the Yarmouth. A signalman came down from the bridge reporting that the enemy had been sighted. While the mock battle was at its height luck came to the help of the producer, Mr. Summer. A flotilla of destroyers, with grey seas jumping all about them, steamed by in the distance and this gave the producer an enemy fleet to work in the picture. Film acting was a novelty which the sailors seemed to enjoy although there had been uo rehearsing they were quick to se what was icquiicd and they did it efficiently. In a few weeks time many of the sailors who were film acting to-day may he chasing pirates in gunboats up the Chinese rivers. Soma parts of the film are to be made in the Scill.v Islands and others in the Mediterranean, for which purpose the Admiralty are lending ships. Some of these will be destroyers camouflaged to represent German light cruisers.