Risky Moments

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 880, 25 January 1930, Page 25

Risky Moments

MAGIC IN MELODY Lovely Lopokova’s Voice LONG BRITISH TALKIE “Dark Red Roaes,” the first full-length talkie by British Sound Productions, which was presented recently, showed that English firms are happily not relying on back-stage or music-hall life for dramatic material with which to introduce music and song. Mr. Sinclair Hill, in making this picture, has most ably utilised both the camera and new adjuncts of sound, observes a London critic. Miss Frances Doble, as the wife, is flattered by the attentions of a musician (Mr. Hugh Eden) and her husband (Mr. Stewart Rome) is seriously disturbed. Treated without the heavy and melodramatic emphasis, interspersed with weak banality which here mars the development of the story, this should have been a firstrate picture. As it is, despite the unsatisfying plot and occasional roughnesses of characterisation, “Dark Red Roses” has some exceptional merits. Most of the acting and of the recording is first-rate; so is the photography. Perhaps the pigeons in the garden coo a trifle enthusiastically, and the gardener and the husband sing too much, as though glad that at last the screen permits them vocal expression. One delightful interlude in the picture introduces Mme. Lopokova and M. Anton Dolin as the dancers in a ballet staged at an entertainment which the principal characters attend. Mme. Lopokova also has some talking to do, which she manages in the prettiest way in the world. Hers is the most melodious of feminine voices yet heard on the screen.

“When we reached the proper altitude I scrambled to the top wing,” wrote Grace. "And here my troubles began. “First a button tore from the shirt ot the pyjamas. Ot course that let in plenty of air, so I had to fold my arms to keep the thing from blowing completely off me. Then one of the legs split. I reached down to try to cover up the bare leg and the shirt blew in two — right down the back. Well, it took less than two minutes for the wind to completely undress me. A fine situation to be in! Directly above a city of a million and a-half, without a stitch of ' clothing. The pilots were laughing, so was the cameraman, but I couldn’t and uick urace still can’t see so much humour in the situation. Shivering and dis-

A DAREDEVIL’S CAREER “Doubling” for Well-Known Stars AN adventure on the tip of a flying airplane’s wing is described by Dick Grace, a noted American film “double, - ’ who lias been associated with feature picture-making for many years, in his recent book, “Squadron of Death.” He carried out the stunt clad only in pyjamas. Grace’s exploits are lent a certain grim interest by the recent air tragedy in which a Fox director and cameramen were hurled to death during the filming of a stunt in mid-

air when a “double” was replacing the star, Warner Baxter.

gusted—and no way to get down decently. 1 got back into the seat and a.rgued with the pilot, and I can hear him laugh yet! Well, he finally lauded us at another field and he kindly let me use his leather jacket, and when we came to our own field we taxied light into the hangar. Ananias In Action Over I listened while a man who claimed to be a stunt man was narrating some of his harrowing experiences. He was describing how he had made a change from an airplane to an automobile. It was a very difficult change, from the wing skid to the back seat without the use of a rope ladder. He told of the difficulty they had in getting into position, and how when he finally let go he hit the bare boards of the back seat so hard that it knocked him out. When they went into the projection room to see it everybody waited impatiently while the rest of the “dailies” were being flashed on, and as one shot after another appeared and no “change,” the troupe became impatient. Then came the shot (the last one on the reel), and instead of the beautiful change they all expected to see, there was nothing but a plain, blank piece of film. The cameraman had forgotten to open his iris! The stunt man who was telling the story said he almost fainted as he saw that useless piece of film. So did I as I heard him tell it. The story was correct all right. There was only one little mistake—l was the one who had made the drop! A Movie “Heroine” One actress who was known as a daring girl on the screen made a tour of a vaudeville circuit and, very dramatically, told of the great perils she went through to give the public thrills; how much punishment she subjected herself to to produce dramatic moments, how she loved to do It. “Just for you, my dear public,” I can still hear the chant, “and I hope when you see my pictures you will realise that I, at least, take these extraordinary chances that you may have your thrills.” Then she showed flashes of the various stunts she had done for 10 or 15 years. Ye gods! Every one of them was the work of her stunt man, who is down and out and broke at present. And I can still hear her holler, “Mama! Mama! Mama! Oh! I’m so afraid! Mama!” when they had her tied by about six ropes and a couple of belts as she hung over a 10-foot cliff. Of course I do not mean that some stars do not do their stuff. Tom Mix does and always has done most of his work. So also does Hoot Gibson, who is one: of the best horsemen in the world. Ken Maynard and Buck Jones all do their own risks with horses. Buddy Rogers and Dick Arlen both flew many hours with a pilot in “Wings.”