We’ve seen it a million times from the front; here’s what an early version looked like from behind the camera.
The beginning of the Hollywood era: the filming of the MGM screen credits, 1928
Hope there’s a trainer somewhere off camera…
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Playing in the World Game 
Big Kitty. My little one is enough of a handful when she decides my foot needs attacking…
Interesting that they shifted around all their equipment to catch the light – this intimates at both morning and afternoon filming sessions, they did not flop the negatives. And the photos most undoubtedly staged by MGM, because the sound man could have just as easily set up the mixer and table on the outside of the cage – then his Bacon aftershave wouldn’t be an issue.