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JEFFERSON CITY, MO., SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1938Pineville is Back to Normal But Other Films May be Made in Missouri SoonA group of Jefferson City Women went to Pineville recently to wetch the filming of Jesse James. The observations of one along with the prediction that other films are soon to be made In Missouri follows.It’s been a hard job but surely, if slowly, Pineville is getting back to normal again. And, as for Noel,—at last, the rush is over. The summer hotels and restaur-ntg that fill the little resort have decided to call it a season. But, what a season!Long years from now grayhaired Missouri grandmothers and grandfathers, will be telling their grandchildren of the time that Hollywood came to McDonald county and a new and handsomer Jesse James rode again-for the benefit of the camera.When the Fox Twentieth Century Film Company decided to muke “Jesse James” in the home state of the Missouri desprado who to many is a reincarnation of R«bin Hood, Pineville and Noel gasped with astonishment when it found that their own McDonald County, far in the southwest corner of the state, had been chosen “for location.”Henry King Director “A wonderful place to depict the Jife and history of Jesse James,” Director Henry King, who had made “In Old Chicago” and was to be In charge of this saga of Missouri, decided. Sites for train robberies, country weddings, bandit hideouts, including an ideal homestead “for the James boys’ old home” were plentiful. And so the train loads of equipment necessary to make the picture moved in from Hollywood.When, a bit later, the Fox Company announced that the title roles of Jesse and Frank James were to be given to Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda and that Randolph Scott had a prominent part in the cast with Jane Darwell, Nancy Kelley, new starlet, and the highly entertaining meek Mr. Donald Meek, the populations of Missouri, -Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma became interested and overnight McDonald county found its place in the eyes of the world. Film Company Expends $250,000 “A quarter of a million dollars has been spent in this section by the Fox Company,” one of the officials told this reporter after six weeks of filming the picture.“The company remained on location much longer for making ‘Jesse James’ than in making other films,” Lon Chaney, jr., who has a part in the picture as one of the James boys’ gang, said. Chaney declared they had had a wonderful time in the hill country but that Hollywood wouldn’t be hard to take. “The people in Missouri have been friendly and cordial and there have been many more than we usually run into when on locatiun. We like Missouri but it will be good to get home,” he said.Movie Fans Start TrekWhile McDonald county was interested in the economic effect the making of the picture was to have on its business life and the employment of numerous unemployed, the middlewest was interested in a trip to the Missouri Hollywood to see Ty Power and Henry Fonda.Ai the same time hill folk were pulling de..r?pit old rigs and buggies out of their barns and growing handlebar moustaches or beards, movie fans were packing their bags for a trip to Noel and Pineville.ProsperityHill people who were employed (and in one scene about 400 were used) benefited to the extent of $2-.50 to $10.00 per day. When a site was chosen for location, the film company paid well for its use and in addition, the fortunate owner could always depend on collecting a quarter from every spectator who wanted to view the filming.It was a lucrative idea and the tourists always producedMany are the stories in Noel and Pineville of the effects of the new prosperityThe Widow Crowder, who had “brought up” four children the hard way found her financial worries ended when her rambling frame house was selected for the James boys’ home.” To further aid her. she was privileged to supply food for v:sjtors. Hordes of people food for visitors. I won’t have to worry a sain as long as I live.” she told he’* neighbors And then because the crowds and the ex-c’temer.t were too much for her egtn? bodv, she suffered a rervous prostration Her funeral sendee was held from her now famous home jus^ a Sunday or two before the second and final unit of film folk cn-nn!cted their i^b.Maidens Versus Matrons But the movie fans! They came in unending caravans from the first davs of the filming to the last. Hotels, tourist cottages, rooming houses were filled to overflowing. Restaurants served an unending stream. A gay throng, many it is to be confessed, were of the feminine sex. And. amongFinish Jesse James Film at LakesideLAKESIDE, Mo., Oct. 7-Plans for the filming of a spectacular scene in the Missouri made movie “Jesse James”, by the Fox Twentieth Century Film Company, brought several busses, trucks, and a stream of motor cars loaded with actors, technicians, and equipment from McDonald County to the Lake of the Ozarks this week. The company arrived Monday and continued till Thursday “shooting” pictures.According to Fox Company officials, the region was selected especially for the thrilling leap of a horse and rider into the deep waters of the lake. A stunt man and trained horse were brought from Hollywood to perform the exciting jump, which, in the completed version of the film, will be seen as the escape of the famous outlaw.The stunt was performed by Cluf Lyons of Hollywood who is paid $750 for each of the two jumps he made for the filming of the scene. The feat was achieved from an elevation of sixty-one feet and was said to be the highest jump ever made. The first horse jumped by Lyons was killed, when the lasso was too long ir. forthcoming. The second horse went through the perilous ordeal safely.Lyons left the horse during the plunge but mounted him again in the water. In the picture he will appear to make the jump with the horse.During their stay at Lakeside, the film folk quartered at a hotel in the vicinity of Arrowhead Beach. The locations filmed were in that vicinity.The filming of scenes occupied the major part of the week. After their days’ work the Hollywood folk enjoyed the recreational facilities at Lakeside.The unit returned to Noel and Pineville late in the week. After completing a few final scenes they plan to return to Hollywood. The picture will be released about December it was said.their number were scores of respectably married and middle aged women.“Who are the most movie struck?” We asked the question of ruddy Constable Bone as he called for quiet.“Women,” groaned the constable. “I have handled ’most a hundred thousand folks since they started this picture and I’ve had three times the amount of trouble with women that I have had with men.”PinevilleThe filming was made in Pineville, county seat town with a courthouse fortunately enough like that of the old Clay county structure to have cinched tl.e picture for McDonald county One scene was made in Neosho. Many we re made in the vicinity nf Noel and Southwest City.Like many other small “county seats” Pineville is built on a square and during the filming the town was transformed, from a quiet village of today to the less quiet one o? “Liberty in the ’70s.” Paved streets were covered with dirt. Hitching posts appeared outside of stores that had been reconstructed. Signs, “Feed and Harness,” “Empo r i u m,” “Liberty Weekly” and numerous others appeared over old fashioned doors and on windows. In one corner rose the ‘Dixie Belle Hotel” especially built for the occasion. From the outs’de it was an imposing structure From within it was a sketchy affair.Film Street SceneA street scene was being filmed the day of our visit. The movie crew, as hard working a gang as anybody ever saw anywhere, toiled tirelessly moving reflectors, arc licrhts, cameras and other many people. Huge lights were “Keep back of the ropes.” they would admonish the spectators and then explain that there was to be some fast riding through the streets.Villagers, visitors and extras watched the filming. The latter group were local talent and they took their parts with utmost seriousness. As they got ready for their “part” the women in their billowy skirts, and sun bonnets took the arm of a bewhiskered escort who wore the long coat tails and broad brimmed hats of the Missouri townsman of the '70s. or walked together.Technical Team WorkThe director, as he instructed them, spoke mildly, and without the magaphone we had definitely expected. The technicians, electricians, cameramen and other Hollvwoodites moved swiftly and quietly about on their jobs, giving an eye to all of the proceedings and assisting unobtrusively. It wassomething of an inspiration to see them work. No friction; no noise. Occasionally there was a jesting remark that brought laughter from the extras, who were to walk down the board walk and scatter at gun fire.Sen. Lon Kelly Assists Another scene was made that day. This time it was Senator Lon Kelly, who gave his law office, for “a take.”The one story building located on the corner of the square in Pinevii'e where Senator Kelly conduct* his affairs, suddenly hummed with the activity of many people. Hugh lights were moved in and put into operation. Someone appeared and carefully polished the windows.Another placed black tape on the stove pipe to eliminate a glare. Carpenters got busy. A man crouched at the windows and cautiously peered out. On the board walk in front of the building, cameras were placed and then replaced. A man with a gun climbed on top of a ladder. “They are going to shoot,” somebody said. The crowd drew back. i “Ready” called ihe director. The* office inside had been cleared and again the crouching figure appeared and cautiously peered out. At the moment a shot was fired and the glass shattered as the figure fell back.A Real Bullet “That was a real bullet” plained Jim Denton. Fox publicity man who had watched with us.“But the man might have been killed,” we said, and understood at last why there was a doctor on the set.“Not this man,” said Der.ton. “That was another man. He is an expert and l.c can split a hair. He came in from Hollywood this morning.”The second unit of film folk had just arrived to finish up the fJlnvng and the tirst unit, soon to return to Hollywcod, was at another location.To Hollywood and Back “The scenes filmed are put on a plane and sent to Hollywood at the end of each day’s work. They are developed and returned and then they are shown at the show house in Noel which has been properly equipped during our stay here,” Mr. Denton said. “In that way we know If any retakes have to be made. All of the out-^ door scenes will be made In Missouri where trees and country side suit the story. In California we do not have the hickories and other native trees that add realism to the film.”Denton, whose business included being nice to visitors and reporters, directed us to the other set, over a circuitous and very dusty country road to Elk river where a cave scene was being made. Two little boys in overalls were on hand to ask for a quarter, as we drove through the clearing. Across the gravel bar on Elk river the filming was in progress and a steep descent down the bank had to be made. Constable Bone was again on hand.Skeedaddle The constable, a native of McDonald county, had been in some of the pictures himself and will be seen in the completed film as the bartender. He was enormously interested in his job of maintaining quiet and respect for the boundaries, beyond which none were elected to pass.“Stand still folks he would admonish,” as the whistle for silence blew. “Stand still where you are. Don’t move.” The overhanging rock ledges of the cliff were an excellent background for the scene that was underway here. A man lay motionless across a low boulder. The discovery of his body by three men with guns, was in prospect. From among the spectators a dignified matron and her daughter edged closer.An amateur photographer advanced to the river edge. Constable Bone waved his stick. “Skeedaddle,” he said.He said it again, and many times that day. He had said it so much that he had got to be known among the movie folk, as “Skeedaddle.” “We ought to have Skeedaddle here,” they would tell each other on another set when the visitors got to be too much. Visitors Follow Locations But the hope of all visitors, as they went from one location to another, (and they followed the movie trucks with their equipment, in caravans when the word came to move on), was to see Ty Power and Henry Fonda. Nor were they disappointed for theij^ scenes were many and they werJPf a hard working duo. The film stars, like Director Henry King, and his assistants, like Jim Denton, the publicity man, like the “technicians,” looked and acted like normal human beings and they were even better looking off screen than on. in the estimation of this spectator.After the hard day’s work that* (Continued on page 14)
Newspaper Details
Jefferson City News and Tribune
Jefferson City, Missouri, US
Sun, Oct 09, 1938
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 04 Aug 2024
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