Hollywood’s guardian of animal actors

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 16

Hollywood’s guardian of animal actors

By

RONALD CLARKE,

of Reuter, in Los Angeles

Actress Carmelitta Pope has endless film horror stories to tell — of a horse being blown up by dynamite, dogs being made to attack seals, and of animals being killed purely to provide blood for fight scenes. Ms Pope has become Hollywood’s guardian of animals, a bustling member of the American Humane Association who spends her weeks reading scripts and watching films for any signs of cruelty. Hollywood has pretty much cleaned up its act, but we still have problems with films made overseas,” she told Reuter. So far this year, her association has declared four films, all made abroad, “unacceptable” because of animal cruelty, and they will be picketed if shown in the United States. In past films, galloping horses and camels have been tripped with wires, dogs forced to swim in icy waters, and sheep driven over cliffs. Animals have died on film sets simply from stress, Ms Pope said. Five field officers of the American Humane Association now go on film sets to ensure animals are not being treated cruelly. “The officers, who wear uniforms, have the power to arrest, but we find publicity is a pretty good weapon,” Ms Pope said. The association won the right in 1980 to be allowed on all sets of films being made in the United States with trade union members, to be notified in advance of films involving animals, and to receive

advance scripts. Ms Pope not only reads the scripts but watches films with members of the classification and ratings administration who decide how films should be classified for public viewing. Ms Pope’s association is the only organisation given this privilege. “There was just so much cruelty in films in 1979 that we went to the Screen Actors’ Guild, the actors’ trade union, and said we can’t let this continue,” Ms Pope said. “When we pointed out the abuses that were taking place, the guild was shocked,” she said. “When the guild next negotiated with film producers on a new labour contract our provisions to protect animals were included,” she said. “The producers accepted our provisions wholeheartedly.” “We have just reviewed the latest Clint Eastwood film, ’The Pale Rider,’ which has horses in it,” she added. ‘There is nothing in the film that would need our supervision.” Ms Pope says that she was recently told a horror story by the actor, James Whitmore, about a Western film made several years ago. “Whitmore said the actors were on their horses every day and became fond of them. A scene at the end of the picture called for the horses to be shot,” Ms Pope recalled.

“When the scene was filmed the actors were horrified to discover the horses really were shot. The actors were told it was just as easy to shoot the horses as to

sedate them.” Ms Pope said that she became involved in animal welfare in films because she always loved animals. “I learned of some of the dreadful problems for animals in this country when I made a tour in 1972 discussing pet care,” she said. “When the American Humane Association invited me to be its director in Hollywood, I did not hesitate before accepting,” Ms Pope said. “Having a show business background has helped me. I understand the egos involved when I talk to producers.” When she is not watching films and reading scripts, Ms Pope helps to raise funds for her association, which ■ organises picketing outside cinemas showing films deemed unacceptable. “Now many writers ask us whether something involving animals they want to include in a script is possible,” she said. “One script recently called for a horse to rear and twist in the air. Well, that is impossible for a horse,” Ms Pope said. Her association also received anonymous tips from members of film crews who believe animals are being treated cruelly. The association checks every complaint.

Audiences, Ms Pope said, like to know an animal in a film stunt is not suffering. “They know stuntmen go home after a day’s work,” she said. “So why should animals suffer?”