Behind the Scenes at Hollywood

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 2

Behind the Scenes at Hollywood

MR F. COUSINS’ IMPRESSIONS OF THE FILM COLONY.

Because of its film colony, Hollywood is one of the most modern of American cities, was the opinion expressed by Mr Fred Cousins while addressing the Palmerston North. Citizens’ Lunch Club yesterday. There were several studios, including M.G.M. and Universal, Which would have as many as 20 working stages as well as numerous outside sets. The film industry was controlled financially by Jews.

As most of the actors and actresses were not of a commercial turn of mind they had business managers to sell them to the public. The New Zealand actors, Ra Hould and Colin Tapley, for instance, had been pushed ahead only on account of their business managers who attended to the commercial side of their careers.

Mr Cousins touched on the difficulty of getting into the studios when he said thousands of Americans lived only next door but never had the opportunity of entering a studio and saw the stars only by crowding around doorways. Usually scenes were filmed either on the stage or specially erected outside sets, which could produce the required atmosphere although only faked. Whole streets would be erected with buildings tvhich consisted merely of house fronts —with no backs or rooms. For ‘ ‘ Showboat ’ ’ an immense pit was dug • and filled with water. The showboat travelled along rails at the bottom of the pit—drawn by a windlass at one end. Storms at sea could be produced mechanically on an artificial lake, while a city could be made to appear to burst into flames in a second or two by an ingenious gas-pipe system which went from building to building, with a nozzle in each. A film would be taken in small sets, the speaker continued, each set, or section, numbered so that at the conclusion, should any set be a failure, it could be re-taken. Men were employed everywhere in large numbers and there would be a great deal of noise. At the sound of a whistle however, everybody would stop and there would be complete silence. When the set was finished the whistle was blown again and everybody would immediately recommence their work.

For under-sea pictures, such as '*Monsters of the Deep,” a huge tank would be used. When deep sea fish from an aquarian were put in this tank they would make immediately for the bottom. On the floor of the tank there would be a thick glass window where the cameramen would be stationed, so that the fish would appear to be coming straight towards them. After filming a picture many sets would be left standing because it would be thought that there might come a time for them to be altered and be used again.

M.G.M. studios possessed their own lion farm, where Mr Cousins was able to see the lion familiar to the audiences at the commencement of every M.G.M. film. On this farm there were also dromedaries and camels necessary for desert scenes, and other animals such as the apes used in “Tarzan” films. Also water races faked to represent rivers and river boats as might appear in “ Sanders of the River” were all there. Mr Cousins met at the Lakeside Golf House many film sthrs who, he said, appeared to be no different from the actors and actresses that came around our way. Hollywood stars do not like themselves to get cheapened by making too many pictures, as they realise the public would sicken of them very quickly. The majority of stars were very temperamental and if the day were too hot or they were not in the mood they would refuse to take shots. Stardom, Mr Cousins observed, does not last long for them, so they make the most of it while it does.

M.G.M. would have as many as 3000 workers in their studios—they were indeed a complete colony in themselves, for they had their own post office, and so on. Supers came from all parts of the country round about and Los Angeles. Many aspired to be stars but even the caddies from golf links were supers who might earn 7 dollars a day. Supers were graded according to their ability, so thai^“front row” supers would get more than 11 back tow” supers. In conclusion Mr Cousins said he would not care to be a film star. The monetary side dominated everything in their lives and whatever publicity stunt was used in their name it would seldom be true, but merely serving a financial purpose. Mae West, for example, probably pursued a certain avenue for that particular reason.