REALISM OVERDONE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 8

REALISM OVERDONE

BURNING OF A “MOVIE” MAORI VILLAGE EXCITEMENT AT OHIWA Dominion Special Service. Auckland, August 3. A Raupo whare filled with ti-tree and saturated with crude oil and benzine proved more inflammable than was anticipated by the producers of a Maori film, "Tauranga,” when engaged in the filming of a scene at Ohiwa, near Opotiki. Tlie story on which the picture is based calls for the burning of a Maori village, and for this purpose a large meeting house, chief's whare, eight smaller wliares, two store-houses, and three watch-towers were builts As soon as the stage had been set, witli “dead” warriors lying about the village, tlie cameras were placed in position, and tlie order given for tlie opposing tribesmen to rush in with flaming torches and set fire to the village. Within a few moments the set was burning fiercely, roaring Hames and dense smoke making the scene unexpectedly realistic. Soon the heat became intolerable, and under cover of the smoke the “dead” sprang to life and ran for safety. Throughout the scene the director; Mr. Collins, and his two photographers, Messrs. W. Cline and 11. Smith, held their positions, notwithstanding flying embers aiid almost suffocating heat. Each received painful burns, their clothing also catching alight. Tlie Maori actors, who were scantily clad, suffered from scorching. Some of them gave a remarkable demonstration of their recklessness by rushing at tlie flames and dancing a haka. Fortunately none of the burns were serious enough to call for the services of a doctor, a wellequipped first-aid outfit being sufficient.