Moon Science

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 286, 30 August 1935, Page 18

Moon Science

JJOONS are the specialty of one man in Hollywood. When he reaches for the moon, he not only gets it, but he can hang it up where it belongs. Russ Pierce, of the Paramount property department, has a large assortment of moons on his astronomy shelf in all sizes and of all kinds. When a director telephones for a lunar body, Pierce asks, “What kind? New, first quarter, full or last quarter?” J’HERE is quite a difference between the first quarter and the last quarter mbbns. '■ The first points to the left and the Other to the fight. In romantic films the lovers usually meet under the full moon, as-in novels. At the end of the month the moon should be like a nail-paring, with points to the left. For Marlene Dietrich’s new Paramount starring picture, “Carnival m Spain,” Pierce hung out the biggest and fullest moon available, and this ora plays quite an important part in the story). The moon is not used as a rule for London scenes, because of the fog. Sea films demand plenty of stars—and always one large one to steer the ship by.' Films set below the Equator require the Southern Cross. Pierce has 10 barrels filled with stars for anv emergency, and his setting of the moon and stars for pictures over the past five years has never been questioned.