John Adams High School - Clipper Yearbook (Ozone Park, NY)

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gg IGHTSH . . . Action . . . Camera! And another mo- tion picture goes into produc- tion. Perhaps it will emerge from the cutting room in the form of light entertainment, perhaps it will preach a moral, but at any rate it should represent another step forward in the path of motion picture progress. From the very beginning, Holly- wood, the accepted home of motion pictures, has held a certain mystery, a hidden glamor for the movie fan. Lives of film stars are discussed in movie magazines, new pictures are pre- viewed and reviewed, and the motion picture field of actors, directors, extras, stunt men, stand-ins and thousands of others forms a history to which new pages are constantly being added. One of the first pictures lending dra- matic framework was The Great Train Robbery, also one of the first dramatic adventures of life in the wide, open spaces. This started the ball rolling. In 1907 Ben Hur be- came the first narrative film taken from a novel. In 1908 Pathe insti- tuted a news film which was presented in a little theater in Paris. The Way of a Man, was presented the follow- ing year featuring Mary Pickford and Arthur johnson, the screen's first matinee idol! Most of us derive great enjoyment from seeing ye olde slapstick come- dies. Well, a typical comedy of the day was Dirty Work in a Laundry, the film which really brought Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd to the fore. In 1911 t'The Tale of Two Cities made its Way to the screen, a three- reel picture with the narrative basis, and in the same year a two-reel film of Romeo and Juliet was presented, said to be the first film adaptation of Shakespeare. As early as 1912 color entered the films, but 1913 is import- ant because in that year Charlie Chap- lin officially entered pictures in The Kid's Auto Race. In 1914 the famed Tillie's Punctured Romance was pro- duced starring Marie Dressler and Charlie Chaplin. Short slapstick com- edies began to grow into feature length. But the movies were progressing. In 1915 The Birth of a Nation represented the culmination of the D. VU. Grifiith technique and in 1920 Douglas Fairbanks entered the scene with light romantic roles. In 1925 Paramount produced The Covered Wagon, and the following year Will Rogers appeared in the burlesqued version, Two Wagons-Both Cover- ed. In 1925 M.G.M. presented The Big Parade, America's film epic of the war. In 1928 the talkie, neglect- M 4

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when she was angry, but drew her voice in deeply, so it hurt you. He was regular though. All around O. K. Hick, Bud questioned suggestive- ly, have you enough money? Sure, Hick boasted, as he jingled some coins in his pocket. Sure, And I can get a job in Brownsburgf' You hope. You write to me Hick, Bud urged. You know I won't tell anyone where you are--if you don't want me to. Sure Bud, I will.', Wispy rain- clouds left cold calling cards, angered the low fire, then swept inward tow- ard the mainland. Meaningful ripples of molten gold tinged the edges of the now brightening clouds. Murrnuring, the friends still talked. But darkness still held sway-and they dicln't wish to break its stillness. They both jumped up as they heard a click behind them. The street light, Hick sighed. Five o'clock. The witches gathered their broom- sticks and their mantled cloaks and sped away with a great a-swish to wait another night. They made coffee on the smoulder- ing logs and gulped the savory bever- age heartily. Bud recalled other times when they had breakfasted together, over camp-fires. That time they went around the island in Hick's sailboat. It took them a whole week. Bud rub- bed his hands in the warm glow that the memory brought him. He kicked cold sand over the fire, which died re- luctantly on a great puff of blue smoke. Good wood, Bud said. Spruce, he guessed vaguely, carefully studying one of the charred logs. Maybe hem- lock. Yea, Hick replied. Bud nodded wisely into the im- pending storm, Something's comin'. Snow, Hick stated positively. Wliile they returned the sea-washed coffee-pot to its destined spot, lashed the canvas more securely to the hull, and made fast the locks and lanterns, Bud whistled. Soon crowds of white- robed messengers flurried their warn- ings across the rippling dunes, and left deposits at the base of sand banks, like talus at the foot of greater slopes. The fresh wind too, started to playg teas- ing the light Hakes, then tossing them north and south. The bay, though, declined to do more than lash obediently at its margins. Good, Hick called to his friend. This wind'll wear itself down in no time. And the snow clouds are break- ing now. As Bud raised the bow, Hick shoved a smooth round log roller under it, and together they shoved the boat to the water's edge. Solemnly, earnestly, they shook hands. Hick jumped into the skiff, sculled expertly until he had passed the sand bar, then drew his oars and started his long journey. Bud walked easily along the beach, whistling. Wlieri he reached the point where Beach Street met his own street, he turned to watch Hick. Once again, for the last time, they gave their salute. Bud turned, sauntered up the road. Hick stopped rowing, just for a sec- ond, to watch Bud. I Steady guy. Regular fellow. Hick bent to his task.

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ed for over 10 years took on new importance and caused much comment in film circles. The next year the talkie went musical with Broadway Melody and in 1929 turned toward serious drama with Jeanne Eagles in The Letterf' But it was Al Jolsorfs jazz Singer which caused a sensa- tion with its premiere at the Warner Theater in New York City. Motion pictures continued to ad- vance and we come now to very recent years. A major event in the American field was the premiere and release in 1934 of Becky Sharp, produced entirely in technicolor. Here is a list of some of the better pictures produced since 1922. In 1922, Orphans of the Storm, 1923 The Covered Wagon, 1924 Thief of Bagdad, 1925 Gold Rush, 1926 Variety, 1927 Beau Geste, 1928 The Patriot, 1929 Disraeli, 1950 All Quiet on the Western Frontj' 1931 Cimmaron, 1932 Grand Hotel, 1935 Caval- cade, 1934 Barretts of Wimpole Street. And while we're discussing facts, the several picture studios all vie for honors when it comes to producing fine films. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has present- ed features like Ah, Wilderness, Tale of Two Cities, Rose Marie, Great Ziegfeldj' Romeo and Juliet, David Copperfield, and San Fran- cisco. R.K.O. Pictures has produced Top Hat, The Informer, and Roberta The Fox Movietone News is an ac- complishment. With Lawrence Stall- ings as editor, and Lowell Thomas, narrator, the film produced by Truman Talley depicts current news events and brings the world to you. Universal has given us Show Boat, and Diamond jim. Films like Ruggles of Red Gap,', Les Miserables, and Lives of a Bengal Lancer, were offered by Para- mount. Warner Brothers has followed one hit after another in producing An- thony Adverse, Louis Pasteur, Captain Blood, and Midsummer Night's Dream. Important factors in the movie in dustry are the Annual Awards pre- sented by the Academy of Arts and Sciences to the outstanding Actress, Actor, and Production. Shall we re- view the winners of recent years? Year Actor 1927-28 Emil jannings Way of All Flesh 1928-29 Warner Baxter - In Old Arizona 1929-50 George Arliss Disraeli 1930-31 Lionel Barrymore A Free Soul 'I I5 11 .l.i1.-1- - 44