The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

iv:THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS, QUESTION OF FILM INSURANCE. Renters’ Claims for Fire Damages. (By our Newcastle Correspondent.) HE destruction of a quantity of films near Sacriston on Easter Monday had a sequel at the meeting of the Northern Branch of the C.E.A. held in Newcastle on Tuesday of last week. There was an attendance of several members from the Mid-Durham area with a view to obtaining the opinion of the branch upon the claims that had been made by renters in respect to the films that had been destroyed. It appeared the films were being taken in a motor lorry by a carrier, and that for some inexplicable reason the films had burst into flames. A small quantity only of film was saved, which caused several exhibitors to have to arrange scratch programs as best they could. While the lorry was insured, its contents were not. From one exhibitor Gaumont’s had claimed £29 7s. 9d., and the International Cinematograph Corporation, Ltd., had claimed £60 15s. 9d. It was stated that these claims were based on the original length of the films destroyed, at 3d. per foot, though there was no evidence to show that the films, when destroyed, were of their original length. In the course of a discussion on the liability of the exhibitors, it was stated that 29 films had been destroyed in the fire, and 29 members were affected. The total amount of the damage was put at anything between £4,000 and £5,000. The films were on their way to Langley Moor, Willington, Crook, Coundon, and Bishop Auckland, and the fire occurred at Sacriston. The lorry was totally destroyed also. Mr. J. M. Rae, of Crook, expressed the opinion that if the films had been carried by tbe North-Eastern Railway Company instead of by a carrier, the exhibitors would not have been liable to pay damages because of clause 10 in the contract, which states that ‘‘ the renter shall be deemed to have made a due delivery of the film to the exhibitor as soon as and when received by him or by any person duly authorised by the exhibitor to receive the same on his behalf, and until the said film shall be so received the exhibitor shall not be liable in any way for any loss of or damage to the film.’’ That clause put all the liability on the renter so long as the film was on the railway. On account of the high railway charges and the uncertainty of railway transit several exhibitors, witb the consent and approval of the rentcrs, chartered a .carrier to collect their films, and the renters were now seeking to make the exhibitors liable for those films which had been lost in the fire. The advent of carriers had not been followed by any alteration in the form of contract. Mr. F. W. Morrison pointed out that the whole question of liability must turn upon the form of contract governing the hire of each film, and it involved a legal point that could not be settled by discussion alone. He laid stress upon the necessity for exhibitors to cover themselves against risks of that nature, even to the extent of including the messenger who collected their films, in their insurances. In his opinion it might be desirable that the exhibitors concerned should send their contracts to the secretary for submission, through the general secretary, to Mr. Norman Hart for his advice. Mr. J. Coverdale Bell stated that there were many instances in which the exhibitors had requested renters to send films by rail, and they had been sent by carricr instead. Mr. Morrison replied that the renter would be liable in that case, but in the case under discussion the carricr was engaged by the exhibitors. Mr. J. S. Snell quoted from a contract which definitely absolved the exhibitor from all liability so long as the film was not actually in the possession of the exhibitor. Mr. Alfred Smith (secretary) and Mr. F. W. Morrison both pointed out that the production of the contracts signed for the (Continued at foot of next column.) May 5, 1923. BUT NO PANIC, Audience’s Orderly Exit.. N alarming explosion occurred last Thursday night at . A the Grand Assembly Rooms Pictures, New Briggate, Leeds, but, happily, no one was seriously hurt. It happened on the stroke of eight o’cloek, when the first ‘‘ house ” was about to be concluded. The audience, about 500 in number, were startled on hearing a loud explosion in the vicinity of the operating box at the back of the auditorium on the ground floor. They rose quickly to their feet, but, fortunately, no panic took place, and the lights having been turned on, the whole aia making an orderly exit, reached the streets safely. Subsequently it was discovered that part of the film which was being shown had caught fire. The operator, Thomas Maston Rollinson, tried to extinguish the flames, but the box filled rapidly with fumes, and he made a quick escape. He had just shut the door of the box when the explosion occurred. The back wall and door of the box were blown out, and smoke and dust filled the hall. The operator succeeded in extinguishing a small fire which was still burning inside the box. Fortunately, the assistant operator had previously left the box to switch on the lights in the auditorium. The operating box is a brick structure of single brick thickness. The back wall was blown out by the force of the explosion, and the remaining three walls were badly bulged. The picture house was cleared, the second house performance abandoned, and it will probably be at least a week before the house is reopened. By then various alterations, including, probably, a change in the situation of the operating box, will have been made, EXPLOSION STROHEIM’S BRITISH STAR. IBSON GOWLAND is playing the part of McTeague in Erie von Stroheim's first production for Goldwyn, from the novel by Frank Norris, which will probably be retitled “‘ Greed ”’ for screen purposes. He was engaged by cable to this country, and is described by Stroheim as ‘‘ the one actor in motion pictures to fit Frank Norris’s description of the Polk Street dentist."’ Stroheim ought to know Gibson Gowland’s capabilities. He gave him his first big chance as the Alpine guide in ‘‘ Blind Husbands,” which, by common cousent, was as remarkable a feature of the film as Stroheim’'s own portrayal of the philandering Prussian. damaged films was all the more important in view of what had been produced by Mr. Snell. Each and every claim must depend upon the wording of particular contracts. Mr. Norman Hart had suggested a liability on the part of the carrier, but he was not insured. Mr. Rac said the exhibitors had insisted upon the carrier insuring himself against risk, but he had done it for a month only, and proposed to charge the cost of so doing against the exhibitors who engaged him. Mr. F. W. Morrison moved that the exhibitors concerned requested to send their contracts to the secretary. Mr. J. S. Snell seconded, and remarked that the one outstanding fact was that exhibitors must in future take great care to see that they were covered by insurance against any risks that might be incurred. ‘The Secretary remarked that he had certain particulars in regard to insurance of that nature, and the terms appeared to him to be advantageous to the members of the Association. The resolution was approved.