The Fatty Arbuckle case (1962)

added, "we don't know whether or how much an acquittal verdict has changed their minds." When Arbuclde started to get angry, Lasky said, "Wait a minute. We are here to decide what is best for everybody. I'm not saying these narrow-minded people haven't changed their minds. I am only asking, have they?" "Then," answered Arbuckle angrily, "I say to hell with them. I had eighty million fans. We can give away a hundred thousand. Can't we?" "It's not that simple," said a public relations man. "Sometimes a few clinkers can influence everyone else." "Well," replied Arbuckle angrily, "such a gutless crowd I didn't expect to see." "Now, wait a minute," Anger said to Arbuckle. "Hear them out. So far it's just been talk. No decision has been made yet. You want to make pictures. If they aren't in the mood I know others who are." (But that was manager talk. Arbuclde's future was in this room and nowhere else.) Lasky said, "I'm hiding nothing. All our cards are on the table. We've made no decision. That's why we're here. We want to discuss it until we can make ah intelligent decision." Arbuckle sat down and slumped. "Well this I didn't expect to hear. „ I'm an innocent man. You're talking to the same Arbuckle who made millions for you before September of last year— and will make them again." "I believe that is true," answered Lasky, "but is nowright now— the time to make Arbuckle pictures while the case is still fresh in everybody's mind?" "You see," said the press agent. "People don't read carefully. All they know is that you were mixed up with some girl in a hotel. Then you were acquitted. In fact some of them probably wonder what 'acquitted' means." "Well, that's the end," said Arbuckle disgustedly. "I never heard such idiocy. Come on," he said to Anger, "let's get out of here." "Wait," said Lasky, somewhat alarmed. "I have a couple of suggestions. We aren't all negative." 137