CARTOON-MAKING

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 27 March 1935, Page 10

CARTOON-MAKING

NEW PROCESS DISCOVERED PRACTICAL THIRD DIMENSION Discovery of a process which, he claims, brings practical third dimension economically to the motion-picture screen, is announced by Max Fleischer, Paramount film cartoonist. Although lie had been perfecting his - device during the past two years, Fleischer icmained silent- until after he had tested it out in parts of various of his cartoons released through Paramount during the last few months. There are samples of the process in such Paramount “Colour Classic” cartoons as “Poor Cinderella” and “Little Dutch Mill,” which are now being released to theatres throughout New Zealand. The iilusory effect, however, can be used in feature to even greater advantage than in cartoons, Mr Fleischer states. Heretofore pictures could attain the same only at prohibitive cost. Fleischer estimated his method would not increase production budgets over 15 per cent. . Based on the theory of shortening the perspective point in the camera, the Fleischer process realises this by means of- a huge machine, weighing over a ton, and composed of 500 working, parts. Until patents, for which lie applied some time ago, are granted, the cartoonist intends keeping all details a secret.

Graft! With a face as straight as her five years would permit, little Shiiley Temple told Gary Cooper, who is starred with her in Paramount’s “Now and Forever,’’ at the Opera House on Saturday and Monday, that all liei leading men gave her presents, at the conclusion of their pictures. So, when “Now and Forever” was finished, Cooper" hied himself to a department store and personally selected five toys for the child star. Thej brought -Shirley’s total up to twentytwo dolls, five teddy bears,. sixteen books and some dozen mechanical toys all extorted from her leading men. In “Now and Forever,” Shirley plays the role of Gary Cooper’s beautiful little daughter, who reforms him from a reckless swindler lo: the man she wants him to be. Games Between Scene*. -

Because of the time required to adjust the lights, cameras and sound equipment for each separate “shot in motion picture making, it naturally follows that film players have a good many leisure moments on their hands, even during the busiest production. Accordingly, most screen personalities have developed their own ways of keeping themselves entertained. Janet Gaynor, for example, is a devotee of games. They keep her occupied, she finds, and offer a complete relaxation from the emotional stress of previous and forthcoming'.scenes. During the making of “Change of Heart,” which is shown at the Opera House to-morrow and on Friday, she is generally to be found playing “squares,” “ghost”.or rummy with James Duun oi Gingei Rogers, who are also in the picture, or with James Gleason, the dialogue

director. Charles Farrell, on tlie other hand, has only polo and flying as his hobbies —and, as neither of these can be practised very well on a sound stage, he spends most of his spare time during the picture in catching up with current literature. Among the Gangsters.

Gary Cooper has become a Hollyw'ood “big-shot” since his success in “The Lives of a Bengal Lancer.” Paramount are taking a lot of trouble in finding just the right stories for him. His next (specially hand-picked by the Paramount story department) will be “Doctor Socrates,” by W. E. Barnett, the novelist. Gary has the part of a doctor who is forced by gangsters to attend to their injuries, but eventually brings them to justice. The dialogue and atmosphere should be authentic, for Burnett was the author of that other successful gangster picture, “Little Caesar.” Gary Cooper made one of his greatest hits in “City Streets,” which also had a‘racketeering background.

Two thousand extras were employed by Walter Wunger, producer, in his production of “The President Vanishes,” a political war drama.