MAKING MOVIES IN CHINA / WARNER MOVIE STARS / POMPEII / BIRTH OF A BEAN

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1930s

Creator: Keystone Co.

Description: This reel of short, silent films features three fascinating movies. These were "novelty shorts", typically sold with Keystone Co. "toy" home 16mm movie projectors that were being marketed in the 1930s. First, "Making Movies in China", released by Keystone, shows the making of an historical dramatic motion picture in China. The identity of the filmmakers and cast shown remains a mystery. There were a number of feature films made in China in the 1920s and 30s including Tale of the Western Chamber (Xi Xiang Ji) (1927), The Peach Girl (Taohua Qi Xueji) (1931) and Song of the Fishermen (Yu Guang Q) (1934). Here, a hand cranked movie camera (1:00) records footage of actors in elaborate costumes. At 1:54, "Birth of a Bean" uses fast motion effects to show the growth of a bean plant. At 5:31, "Pompeii" provides a visit to that famous archaeological dig, and shows city streets and the figures of victims who were killed after Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. Sights shown include the Marine Gate, Amphitheater, Basilica, Baths, and more. At 9:02, Warner Brothers Movie Stars parade for the camera including shots of the original WB Studio at 5800 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. At 9:36 a studio sign advertises Don Juan being shown at the Egyptian Theater. (The movie premiered there in 1926.) Stars shown include: John Barrymore (9:46), Mae Marsh (10:00), Harry Myers (10:15), Ernest Lubitsch and Monte Blue who worked together on The Marriage Circle (10:20), Baby Priscilla Moran who made her film debut in 1922 (10:40), Marie Prevost (11:00), Alice Calhoun arrives by car (11:15) and signs a wall at (11:25). At 11:36 Dolores Costello walks at a Hollywood premiere followed by Irene Rich (11:48). At (11:52) the Warner Bros. studio is shown at night.