Variety (March 1921)

u PICTURES ^H Friday, March 25, 1921 3T HIMMEL DEPENDED ON U. S. CAPITAL FOR FILM TRUST Promoter of Franco-American Cinema Corporation Testifies HU Oftiy Funds W*re Loarir of 1,200,- 000 Frt. in France—Sues Americans. • Paris, March 22. Andre Himmelfarb, promoter anc! directing manager of the Franco- American Cinematograph Corpora- tion, the $109,000,000 concern which was designed to dominate the world Held of the screen, admitted before an examining magistrate that his only cash for the enterprise was 1,200,000 francs borrowed from J. Rivbry in France and he depended upon American capitalists to finance the venture. Himmel asserted he had not a cent when engaging to buy options on immense masses of film and de- pended entirely upon the promises of New York men to finance these operations. He says he had a letter from Gustav J. Fleischmann of New York, a director in the company, directing him to buy up as much French and other European film as he could*. It was later that J. Rivory decided to come into the enterprise. The arrest of Himmelfarb with one hundred million dollar capital, on the arrival of the "Savole" at Havre, from New York, came as a surprise to many. The young man was at once brought to Paris and a preliminary examination held. Himmel indignantly protested at his apprehension, declaring he could ac- count for all funds confided to him and that he had? always acted In good faith. As a matter of fact, he explained, he had started a suit against the Anlerlcan directors 'who had deceived him." He was certain if the Americans had not dropped him he would have succeeded. (At this point Himmel wept.) Confirm Charge. The examining judge confirmee? the charge against the accused of swindling and ho was ordered to be detained pending the judicial in- vestigation. The complaint was filed by J. R'.vory who had deposited 1.200.000 francs in the Equitable Tust Company ip Paris, representing 700 shares in the monster corpora- tion. When the plaintiff learned this money had been withdrawn by Himmel he rushed to New York and immediately on his return brought the charges which led to Himmel- farb's arrest on his arrival on French soil. The suit filed against the Board in New York is said to involve Fleischmann, MacDougali Hawkes, Castello, Miller anc? other directors. Himmel declares he spent the money legitimately in the preliminary or- ganization of the corporation, op- tions, etc. It is stated the great propaganda banquet held in Paris, attended by the big people of the Society of Authors, members of the Academy and other literary lights, cost over 26,000 francs. The speeches on that occasion, praising Himmel on his wonderful achieve- ments, are now recalled and some of the people would like to see their names off the toast list. Blanche Sweet as "the woman in the case." Mrs. Nellan's lawyer placed in evidence a property set- tlement dated June S, 1920. It pro- vides Mrs. Neilan should receive $200 weekly, a new limousine, and $50 weekly in trust for the educa- tion and care of their son. The property settlement Is approximate- ly $50,000. Ed Flanagan and Ply Moran are supporting Beb« Daniels in "The March Hare" for Realart. Cay lord Lloyd, brother of Harold, has signed a contract with Hal E. Roach to star in a series of one- reel comedies. Margaret Armstrong (Mrs. Pat tie Mannon) has been granted a de- cree of divorce from Joseph P. Man- non on the grounds of desertion. Sidney C. Smith, one of the "Hall- room Boys" has filed an action for divorce from his wife, Ruth Smith, alleging a statutory offense. The Screen Writers Guild is about to purchase a club house in Hollywood. Tue Guild now has a membership of 200. Nigel de Bruller has been engaged for the role of Richelieu in "The Three Musketeers." Mr. and Mrs. Tom Moore have re- turned from their honeymoon in Honolulu. Peggy Hyland is back In Los An- geles after having completed her contract abroad with the Samuel- son Films, Ltd. William Forrest Cornett, who was divorced from the screen favorite, Moliie Malone, in 1919, has remar- ried. His second wife is Julia Con- tilt Smith, a Denver society glrL Dasie de Verdie, a soloist, who has appeared in all of the larger picture houses here, has started suit against Dr. C. C. Smith, local den- tist, to recover $150,050 damages for the loss of her voice. Her husband is also suing for $50,000. She al- leges that the dentist's carelessness j*aa. tb^, cause of. ,her. .losing her voice after he had treated her. Irving M. Lesser is to distribute the series of 24 Scattergood produc- tions to be made by Edna Schley. They are to be two reel comedy- dramas based on the Saturday Eve- ning Post "Scattergood" stories. Three are already completed; they are "Scattergood Makes a Match," "Soothing Syrup," and "Down the Line." The balance are to be de- livered at the rate of one a month for the next two years. Albert K. Smith and his wife are making a flying trip to New York. They are to return shortly and make their permanent home in California. Oscar A. Price is here and in al- most daily conferences with Wil- liam McAdoo. Price is tht presi- dent of the Associated Producers. Ford Sterling, the picture come- dian, sailed for . Europe Saturday on the "Olympic" for a vacation abroad. Mr. Sterling completed his contract with Special Pictures Cor- poration some time ago, he stated before leaving. STOLL CO. CLOSES; ATTACHMENT FOLLOWS Executive Staff Notified Satur- day—Attorney Acts Quickly, More than a flurry of excitement permeated the offices of the Stoll Film Corporation of America last Saturday morning when the then . existing executive staff received no- tification their services were no longer required. Ralph Proctor, general sales man- ager, who has a contract until next October, placed his claim in the hands of Attorney Nathan Burkan, who attached the corporations bank accounts, films on hand, projection machines, office furniture and everything in sight. The attach- ment debarred the Kcsscll Labora- tories from cashing a cheek for $13,000 paid for film printing. Sir Wilfred Cook, said to be Sir Oswald Stoll's personal representa- tive, arrived from London Monday in time to witness the attachment proceedings, and Jeffery Bernard, managing director for the Stoll Film. Co., of London, sailed for home Tuesday. Pat he Exchange has taken over the distribution of the English pro- ductions sent to America by the Stoll Film Co. Wild Men of Africa * - \ COAST FILM NOTES By FRED SCHADER. r Los Angeles, March It. The Thompson Buchanan play, •The Bridal Path." has been screened under the title of "Look Before Tou Leapt" by Goldwyn. E. Mason Hopper directed. ■ , ^ ■ The cast for "The Ace of Hearts," a Gouverneur Morris story, which "Wallace Worsley Is to direct for Goldwyn, Includes Leatrice Joy, Lon Chaney, John Bowers, Hardee Kirk- land. Boy Laldlaw and Edwin N. Wallack. •The Grim Comedian," an orig- inal story by Rita Weiman, is the next feature Frank Lloyd will di- rect for Goldwyn. Frank Mayo's next Universal fea- ture will be "Three in a Thousand," a Ben Ames Williams story, to be directed by Fred LeRoy Granville. Eddie Polo's latest U serial, "The Seal of Satan," part of which was shot in Cuba, has been .finished. J. P. McGowan, who directed, con- cluded work on the serial last week at Balboa. Louis Gasnier has started on a new special for Robertson-Colp. Mark Strong is his assistant and Joe Dubray is at the camera. Ises were kept. The idea behind It is to get all of the stars to make single or two-reel pictures directed against censorship, which are to be given to the exhibitor free of cost. Just how Oliver Morosco expects to get away with some of the things that his press department would have one believe is hard to under- stand. Within the last week 26 plays were named as having been turned over by the producer to the scenario department of his newly- formed picture corporation for adap- tion to the screen. There are sev- eral In the list recently filmed by other companies which undoubtedly paid for the right to do so. For in- stance, there is the Jack Lait play, "One of Us," filmed by Famous Players, with Wallace Reid as the star. Some one ought to check up on the Morosco copy before it is sent out. Metro has purchased Anthony Hope's "Prisoner of Zenda." J. Parker Reed, Jr., has re-engaged Mahlon Hamilton to play the lead opposite Louise Glaum in "R 8." Raymond S. Harris hag been en- gaged by C. L. Chester as editor of the Chester Productions^ Mrs. Tod Browning (Alice Wil- son), has decided to return to the screen. She will have an important role in David Butler's next produc- tion forihi-First National. All of L. A. was treated to ma- terial for a new gab-fest with the publication here of a series of love letters as evidence of Burritt S. Mills in an action for divorce from his wife, Mrs. Christine Red Mills, in San Francisco. The local papers carried the letters verbatim. They contained the names of Wallace Reid, Cullen Tate and Dave Howard. The latter wrote the greater part of them. PARAMOUNT- VANDENBEROH Exploration Series FROM a region hitherto impenetrated by white men, Dr. Yandenbergh has brought pictures more thrilling than'any thriller, more dramatic than any drama. You will gaze upon a hundred things that no white man has ever seen before. You will see more strange and amazing things than you have see in all your life before. The New York Globe says: "One of the real events of the screen year. More thrills In a single flash than a drama could have In all Ita lv* rpels." FAMOUS PLAYt KS IASKY CORPORATION .-.—. etc* • ■ James Kirkwood has departed from Los Angeles. It Is reported that New York Is his destination and the object of the Journey Is to close a deal whereby he will be- come a Famous Players star. j / No. 1—"Jungle Dancers" No. 2—"The Lion Killers" Edited and Titled by TOM McNAMARA No. 3—"Slaylnf the Hippo- potamus" No. 4 —"The Land of the Pygmies" Halted and Titled by ERNEST MA A3 Bill Craft la leaving Los Angeles to become director-general of tl.e Canadian Feature Film Productions. The company will specialize in out- door northwest dramas and Craft will carry an organization with him that he will recruit here. The name of the star of the organization is not yet announced. O "Charge It" will be the title of the next Clara Kimball Young feature which is In the course of making at the Carson studio. Paul Hurst and Louis Chaudci have formed their own producing company and will make a five-reel feature at Independence City, for- merly the D. W. Griffith lot. Louise Glaum called an antl-cen- feor meeting for last Saturday at which it was said that all the stars would attend, but no one could dis- cover where the meeting was going to be held, which made it difficult _ to find out If the press agent's prom- Conrad Nagle is to be the lead- ing Juvenile in the next DeMille spe- cial and he will play opposite to Dorothy Dalton and Mildred Harris. George Stewart has been engaged by Metro to support Alice Lake. rtuth Roland has returned to Los Angeles. She will start work at the Hal E. Roach studios on "The Gold- en Canyon," a new serial, on April 15. Clarence L. Brown, who has been acting as assistant to Maurice Tourneur, is to be given an oppor- tunity to direct a picture on his own. Mr. Tourneur is to finance the production. . • \s) [yM ^' The Marshall Neilans are di- vorced The action was completed In court here last week with the director not entering a defense. During the hearing, the mother of Mrs. Xeilan stated her son-in-law .was .infatuated with anolhec woman and the court obtained the name of ( - -