The New York Clipper (November 1917)

38 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER tooveiriber£-i$l7 HOLD 3 IN FILM THEFT; ASKS $100^000 SAY "JOAN THE WOMAN" STOLEN The Cardinal Film Co. kaa secured an indictment- by the Federal Grand Jury on two caunts against Fred Becker, Lewis Weiss and Leo Singer on the charge of conspiring to infringe upon the copyright at ''Joan the Woman." The three men were brought before United States Com- missioner Hitchock last week and were held in $2,000 bail each. A civil Bait growing oat of the case will be settled this week when Judge . Man ton, in the United States District Court, is ex- pected to hand down a decision in the case of the Cardinal Corp. against the Crystal Film Corp. and others, which, the plain- tiffs in the action claim, will result in the elimination of several undesirable figures in tbe film business. The Cardinal company is a subsidiary of the Famous Players-Lasky Corp. and produced "Joan the Woman" early in the year, under the direction of Cecile De- Mille. The Crystal concern has a plant at 430 Claremont Parkway, Bronx, pro- duces film productions and manufactures negatives for the trade. The evidence submitted to the Grand Jury tended to show tbat Fred Beck, Louis Weiss and Leo Singer, the chief defend- ants, brought a negative to the Crystal plant and ordered a reproduction to be made at once. Beck said that the film was called "Tbe Woman" and it had to be returned within twenty-four hours, the papers in the case state. The negative was manufactured by the Crystal company. Later, Beck, Weiss, and Singer distributed the film, the papers set op. The film "The Woman," or "The Lady" aa it was later called, proved to be the Cardinal picture "Joan tbe Woman." Beck is said to be connected with the Regent Film Co., the affidavits allege. The film was later seized by United States Marshal McCarthy. The Crystal company and Jo- seph A. Golden, its president, claim that they are innocent parties in that they did not know the picture was 'stolen and that they simply manufactured the negatives for the other three defendants. Nathan Bnrkan, attorney for tbe plaintiff, is ask- ing $ 100,000 damages and the profits that accrued to tbe defendants from the sale of "The Lady." THEATRE SUES VITACRAPH The Majestic Theatre Company, of Brooklyn, has brought suit against the Vitagraph Company of America for $3,- 000 damages which they claim for the al- leged breaking of a contract involving the presentation of "Womanhood, the Glory of a Nation." The theatre claims that it entered into a contract with the film producers in which they were to house the feature for one week for half the gross proceeds, on condition that the picture would not be shown at any other house for eight weeks. This the Vitagraph failed to do, by their own ad- mission and showed it at Keeney's and the Flatbush Theatres, the Majestic people maintain. HIGH COURT DECISION READY The Circuit Court of Appeals will decide this week upon the plea of the Mutual Film Corporation and the American Film Company to have the verdict against them, in favor of Robert Stodart, the -scenario writer, reversed. Stodart is the author of "The Woodman," which he claims the fibs, companies produced under the name of "The Strength of Donald MacKensie." The lower court had given' him a verdict for $1,100 plus all the profits. LOSE POINT IN FILM SUIT The Pawnee Bill Buffalo Ranch Feature Film Co. lost its first step last week in its suit against James V. Ritchey, the film distributor, when Judge Walsh, in the City Court, ruled that the company must show in detail where Ritchey had sold his pictures and how much money he had collected. The film company is suing for $1,000, which they claim is due them under an agreement calling for SO per cent, of the gross rentals of their films and 6$ 2/3 per cent, of the gross sales of the State rights. Ritchey alleges that he did not sell the pictures at ail and asks for a. bill ef particulars. In this he is upheld by the court. , BACKER FORMS NEW COMPANY San Fbawcibco, Nov. 2.—F- E. Backer, president of tbe Mammoth Film Corporation, who has been in. the West since last August, with headquarters in San Francisco, has formed a company there for the production of a picture with a new idea. He expects to begin produc- ing January 1. Tbe bookings at the Mammoth are reported by his Eastern manager to be numerous and satisfactory ns to price. " ■ ■ , • CORRIGAN SUES PEERLESS FILM Emmctt Corrigan last week 'began a suit for $50,000 against the Peerless Feature Producing Corp. for alleged breach of con- tract. According to the complaint filed in the County Clerk's office, Corrigan signed a contract with the defendant corporation for three weeks at $125 per day. Be as- serts he was to be starred in their films and was to be widely advertised by the de- fendants. "THE MARIONETTES" UNDER WAY Clara Kimball Young's third production under her own management will be "The ■Marionettes." This was to have been the first, but a misunderstanding with the Charles Frohman .estate arose over the production rights. This matter has now oeen settled through the French Au- thors' Association. Emile Chautard has been appointed director for all future films produced by the Young organization. "GRAIN OF DUST" REACHES The Ogden Pictures Corp. has just com- pleted "The Grain of Dust" after seven weeks' steady labor. Some interesting bills had to be paid while this feature was produced One was for $103.40 for eat- ables actually employed in the sets, while the electric light bill amounted to $975. Forty-two thousand feet of negative was actually used in taking this picture. PRICE RAISING SCORED Spokane, Wash., Nov. 3.—Labor Com- missioner Hoff scored the picture houses of Everett and Salem, both nearby towns, for raising their admission prices, with the war tax as an excuse. He cited this as an example of the "ghoulishness" of ex- hibitors. DIRECTOR SUES 1 FOR WIFE'S LOVE George F. Dcmarest, a film director, began last week a suit for $100,000 for loss of the affection of his former wife, who was known to the stage as Perlabelle Whitney. George D. Smith is named as defendant. - - MAMMOTH TO HANDLE IVAN FILM The Mammoth Film Gorp, 729 Seventh Avenue, has just arranged to distribute through Southern New Jersey the latest Ivan feature, "Married in Name Only," with Milton Sills in the star role. ENNIS JOINS MeCUURE FILMS Bert Ennis, formerly of the press de- partment of "The Warrior" and "Mother," -has been appointed publicity director for the McClure pictures. FIRST NATIONAL GETSBREN0N PICTURE CIRCUIT BUYS "EMPTY POCKETS" The First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., has obtained from Herbert Brenon the distribution rights of the hitter's feaV taiw film. "Empty Pockets," written hy Rupert Hughes. The transaction was ap- proved by the entire purchasing board, composed of 8. L. RothapfeL of New York; 3f. L. Tally, of Los Angeles; H. 8. Schwalbe, of Philadelphia; Fred Dahh- ken, of San Francisco; Aaron Jones, of Chicago; Robert Lieber, of Indianapolis; E. H. Hulsey, of Dallas, .and J. D. Will- iams, of New York. Mr. Brenon adapted "Empty Pockets" for the screen from Rupert Hughes' novel of the same name. It has a compelling mystery story, the action is swift and the screen version is very effective. It displays varying phases of New York life and is exceptionally well staged. The principal male role is played by Bert Lytell, who played the title role in "The Lone Wolf." Included in the cast are 'Barbara, Castleton, Susan Will a, Kather- lne~Galanta"and Percy Betts. "GRAIN OF DUST" CAST COMPLETE The Ogden Picture Corp., which is pro- ducing "The Grain of Bust," tmve com- pleted their cast under the direction of 'Harry Revier and Jesse J. Goldburg. Ramsey Wallace, who played the lead in "Polygamy," ' will play opposite Lillian Walker, the star of the present produc- tion. Corena Uzzell, who played the lead- ing role in the picture version of "On Trial," Miss Edith Day, George Henry, Jacques TyroD, Redfield Clark, Cecil Fletcher, Marjorie Vonnegut, Charles El- dridge, R. Wangerman and Lawrence Evart complete the cast. BRENON TO DIRECT ROBERTSON The producer who is to make the film version of "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," with Forbes-Robertson, was discovered to be none other than Herbert Brenon. The English actor arrived in New York about ten days ago with the avowed . intention of picturizing the Jerome K. Jerome stage play,. in which he scored one of his greatest successes, bat did not comment on the director with whom he woald work. , NEW HART FILM FINISHED Thomas H. Ince announces the comple- tion of William S. Hart's new photoplay "The Silent Man," in which Mr. Hart ap- peared for the first time without his horse "Fritz," whom he recently retired to a life of ease. TRIANGLE RELEASES READY The Triangle company has just com- pleted three, films which. will be released shortly. They are "Indiscreet Corinne," starring Olive Thomas; "The Fuel of Life,'' with/ Belle Bennett, and "Regenera- tion," featuring Alma. Ruabens and Walt Whitman. Others arc ready to> be snipped to the distributing centers, ineUdiu* "The Sudden Gentlemen," "The Ship of Doom," "Fanatics" and "The Leantfn' of Jim Benton" and "The Maternaljasark." Jack Dillon is directing Olive TjUunaV latest feature, "Betty Takes a- Hand," by Katherine Kavan&ugh. Included in the cast are Charles Gunn, who ■ is playinp opposite Miss Thomas, George Hernandez', Diana Garrillo and Frederick Vroom. In this story Miss Thomas, as a poor little girl, suddenly find* herself in a> position where she can have almost anything she wantB. WEBER FEATURES AT BROADWAY The Broadway Theatre will -show- on Nov. 4 "The Price of a Good Tima," the latest Lois Weber production, with Mil- dred Harris and Kenneth Harlan in the leading roles. The play was adapted by Miss Weber and Phillips Smalley from "The Whim,", by Marion Orth. It de- scribes the life of two department store girls when they are suddenly taken into the home of an aristocratic but degen- erate family. The cast includes Helene Rosson, Ann Scbaefer, Alfred Allen, Adele Farrington and Gertrude An tor. Allen Seigler is the photographer. WANTS BILL OF PARTICULARS The Paramount Pictures Corp.,. Inc., has demanded that Rudolph W. Van Raven, who is suing it for breach .of com tract in the Supreme Court, file a bill of, particulars. The Paramount' signed a contract with Van Raven last year for the tatter's employment at a salary of .$80 a week. Two weeks after the plain- tin' was hired, be claims that he was dis- charged without reason. • SPITZER STILL WITH KING-BEE Nat H. Spitzer, vice-president and sales manager of the King-Bee Film Corp., has denied the rumor that he was about to sever his connection with that company to take up the exploitation of the new Leah Baird features. Spitzer says that his connection with the Baird films has nothing whatever to do with hit' activi- ties in the King-Bee Corp., to which he is giving all his energy and time. NEW YORK TO SEE HERBERT PLAY "Her Regiment," a musical play by Victor Herbert and William Le Baron, comes to the Broadhurst next Monday, with Donald Brian heading a cast which includes Audrey Maple, Josle Intropodi. Norma Brown, Hugh Chilvers, Frank Moulan, Frederick Mannatt, Sydney Jar- vis and Pauline French. Joseph Weber is the producer. WILLIAM A. BRADY, Director-General. WORLD-PICTURES Present U The Adventures of Carol » Story by Julia Bamhanu ... Dirwctad by Hariay Knobs.