Variety of Picturesque Standing Sets

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18596, 5 January 1935, Page 9

Variety of Picturesque Standing Sets

A NUMBER of standing sots which will augment, the already extensive outdoor filming facilities are to bo constructed as backgrounds for features of one American company's 1034-35 programme.

'The sets will vary from medieval castles and royal chateaux to a quaint Scotch village and a sleepy early California pueblo with its historic mission. . Most of them will be erected on the studio's 89-acre ranch in the San Fernando Valley, 20 miles from Hollywood, whore the varying typography lends itself to a wide variety of scenic background. While their number .and exact type cannot fie determined until play scripts are further advanced, Mr Van Nest Polglaso, head of the studio's art department, is drafting general plans for considerable const ruction.

"The Throe' Musketeers," the Moiian C. Cooper special "The Last Days of Pompeii," "The Little Minister" and "El Dorado," are certain t. bo among the pictures that will require big outdoor sets. For "The Three Musketeers," to star Francis Lcdorcr, French villages, castles and chatoanx of the seventeenth century will be required. What promises tri be a most spectacular sotting is the already tentatively, ■planned- .reproduction of much of the burled city of Pompeii for the Marian C. Cooper special. The nature, magnitude and variety of sots .required for this'production must await the return of Cooper from Pompeii, where the producer will conduct tirsihaiid research and gather material.

"El Dorado." which will star Francis Lodcror, is lo require a colorful variety or backgrounds carrying the Slate' of California through the transitional stages of sleepy pastoral community, land of outlawry, gold .seekers and vigilantes, ami peaceful American state. Some Of the most elaborate of these backgrounds will bo made as standing sets.

A .Scotch village will bo built for "The Lit lie Minister," the J. M. Barrio classic which will Star Katharine Hepburn, and will take its place among the colorful collection.of communities available for future backgrounds.