BEGAN LIFE AS CLOWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 January 1939, Page 5

BEGAN LIFE AS CLOWN

SUPPLIER OF THRILLS. Sam Lee. 42-year-old stunt specialist, who has been seen in many English films, started life as a clown. From an early age he toured with the “big lop," but he grew tired of the circus because he was always called upon to fall abotit. and make himself a general nuisance and he got no credit for his pains. So he joined the army and was made a gymnastic instructor. When quota pictures were started in 1926 he thought he would turn his falling ability into money. He left West-cliff-cn-Sea, where he was in charge of a private gymnasium, and came to London. His first small part was as a man who fell from a second-storey window in "The Return of the Rat." The director was so pleased with his acrobatics that ho gave him another small part. His first film tumble earned him £3.

Unlike many stunt specialists ho has never been seriously injured, although two unpleasant experiences have come his way. His arm was dislocated in "The Return of Bulldog Drummond,” and he broke his leg in "Where There's a Will." But his narrowest escape was when he was appearing in "Windbag the Sailor." On location at Falmouth he was called upon to jump from a jetty when a boat, still tied up was Steaming away. At half speed the jetty held

the steamer, but when full speed was put on. it tore the jetty clean away. So quickly did it happen, that Sam was left a split second to jump for his life.