While driving through the plantation to Peter’s “bungalow,” their way is barred by the patriarch of the local wild elephant herd. The old bull has been a source of vexation going back to the days of Peter’s late father, a legendary martinet and control freak who is still held in awe by the local natives and respectfully referred to by friends and acquaintances as “governor.” |
Friday, March 20, 2009
Elephant Walk #2
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6 comments:
These are the Cole Bros. herd that went by baggage car from Peru to Hollywood and that is Cole-Ranch Herd Babe with the phonet tusks and all the scenes of the stampede, etc. were all done at the studio. P,J. Jones was the capt. and Little Bill Cox was asst. This movie and the stampede, etc. was the forerunner the following year of MGM Jupiters Darling. This picture was for Paramount, however George Emerson was the guy behind the scene. I was not involved in going there as we had other commitments in Peru, but made the march to and on return back to Bunker Hill. The rail siding in Bunker Hill could not be used [different railroad co.], so we had to hike into Peru and back. About some thirteen miles and the return was at night. AQ side note; P. J. [Paul] had been a bull hand around McClain and others and had been Asst to Larry Davis and Frank Orman elevated him to Capt. He was an alcoholic, but had married Ringling and Cole menage rider and show broad Barbara Petrie and she got him on the straight and narrow for the time and he did a capable job, but the married slipped and so did PJ. Later Barbara would marry Maxie Morris [Deep Sea Red] and they would present excellent first class seal acts all over the world and would retire to a farm-home in Calahan, Fl.
On the evening return to Bunker Hill my Dad gave out a cash bonus to the hands that made the trip from start to finish [some ten or twelve guys] and they immediately got into a crap game in the bunkhouse and lo and behold the next morning they were all tapped out and the hand that zinged them had vamoosed in the night. Just like in the military and it was back to cookhouse, bunk and $7.50 per week.
This movie was like a thirteen day shoot, wheras on Jupiters Darling with Bert Pettu, Lou Regan and myself, plus hands was twelve weeks. All of this was done during the Cole ownership of the Chacago stadium Arthur Wirtz Orig.
Great stories John
Chic
Fascinating background--and probably real-life is better than the movie. Great story and great writing! Glad to see your back contributing to the blog, John! Just like sitting by your trailer with a few beers!
Dick Flint
Baltimore
ELEPHANT WALK provided an amusing hey-rube with Mabel Stark one day at the Compound. We had gathered in front of her tiger cages before her show when Parley Baer walked up. He was updating publicity on the Compound elephants on CIRCUS BOY and FRONTIER CIRCUS, and I casually inquired of the herd on ELEPHANT WALK. Parley innocently advised they were the Cole show herd, and Elizabeth Taylor had held her own in her scenes with them.
"I'll be go to hell if she did!" Mabel railed. "No such of a damn thing! Only woman ever to do an animal picture was MAE WEST!" Mabel had doubled Mae in arena shots for I'M NO ANGEL (Paramount, 1933). The two had become friends, and for Mabel, no other woman star had worked with animals, period. I was an avid student of the films which had used Compound animals and trainers, but wisely kept quiet about Dorothy Lamour in THE JUNGLE PRINCESS (1936) and Barbara Stanwyck in ESCAPE TO BURMA (1955). Parley gingerly suggested Elizabeth had indeed done ELEPHANT WALK, right along with George Emerson, but the Old Sister wasn't having any. Intransigent by now, Mabel levelled peevish glances at Parley and I the rest of the afternoon.
Mabel was right about Elizabeth Taylor not going anywhere's near an elephant in ELEPHANT WALK or even going outside of the studio soundstage. A double was used for the exteriors, which were all filmed as long shots. (Her closeups were all filmed in the studio in front of a process screen.) And a stunt double, filmed at a distance, was used for the scenes during the elephant rampage in the house.
Wow, great stories guys.
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