Harrison's Reports (1928-1928)

96 HARRISON’S REPORTS clear star substitution, and you don’t have to accept it. "THAT CERTAIN THING” (.January 1) : No facts are given to tell if it is a substitution. "THE WIFE’S RELATIONS” (January 13) : No facts are given. “LADY RAFFLES” (January 25) : The Book says that this was to be a story by Alfred Henry Lewis, and was to have Priscilla Dean as the star ; the finished product has been founded on a story by Jack Jungmeyer and Fred Stanley, and has Estelle Taylor in the leading part. A clear star and story substitution. “SO THIS IS LOVE” (February 6) : The Book says that this was to be the story of a gold-digger by Gertrude Atherton; the finished product is a pugilistic picture by Norman Springer. A clear story substitution. “A WOMAN’S WAY” (February 18) : This was to be a story by Thompson Buchanan; the finished product is by Izola Forrester. A clear story substitution. “THE SPORTING AGE” (March 2) : An insert in the trade papers gave this as a story by Charles K. Tennant ; the finished product is by Armand Kalitz. It is a clear story substitution. “THE MATINEE IDOL” (March 14) : The original title of this one is supposed to have been “Come Back to Aaron.” No facts are given in the Book. “THE DESERT BRIDE” (March 26) : This is the new title of the picture sold as “The Adventuress.” The Book says that “The Adventuress” is a Frances Marion story ; the finished product “The Desert Bride” has been founded on a story by Ewart Adamson. It is a clear story substitution. “BROADWAY DADDIES” (April 7) : The Book says that this was to be a story by Grace Atkinson ; the finished product is by Victoria Moore. A clear story substitution. “AFTER THE STORM” (April 19) : No facts are given. “GOLF WIDOWS” (May 1): Trade paper inserts stated that this was to be a story by Henry Clayton Cooper ; the finished product is by W. Scott Darling. A clear story substitution. “MODERN MOTHERS” (May 13) : The Book says that this was to be the story “Perils of Divorce,” by Rachel Crothers ; the finished product has been founded on a story by Peter Milne. A clear story substitution. “NAME THE WOMAN” (May 25) : This was sold as "Bridge.” No facts are given in the book to help one determine whether it is a substitution or not. The remaining Columbia pictures will be analyzed when they are released. Fox Substitutions “PAID TO LOVE” (August 14) : This is not a substitution as far as the 1927-28 program is concerned, but it is the picture that was sold as “Gaby” or “A Royal Romance” in the 1926-27 program. At that time Fox attempted to deliver “Stage Madness” in its place, asserting that it was the same picture as “Gaby” or “A Royal Romance,” which was contrary to facts. Those who bought this picture as “Gaby” or “A Royal Romance” and lost it to their competitors are entitled to redress. “CHAIN LIGHTNING” (August 14) : No facts. “SINGED” (August 21): Not a substitution. “TWO GIRLS WANTED” (September 11): Not a substitution. “THE JOY" GIRL” (September 18) : Not a substitution. “THE GAY RETREAT” (September 25) : Its original title “A. W. O. L.”; not a substitution. “PUBLICITY MADNESS” (October 2) : Not a substitution. “EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE” (October 9) : Not a substitution. “HIGPI SCHOOL HERO” (October 16): Sally Phipps and Richard Walling were promised, but the picture has been delivered with Nick Stuart. The changes in cast, however, are not important enough to warrant any exhibitor to refuse to accept it. “PAJAMAS” (October 23) : Olive Borden and George O’Brien were promised; Olive Borden and Lawrence Gray have been delivered. Cause for complaint with those of you with whom George O’Brien is a drawing card. “VERY CONFIDENTIAL” (November 6) : No facts are given. “LADIES MUST DRESS” (November 20) : The Fox “Salesman’s Work Sheet,” “New Form S-4-5M-50 June 16 1928 to a pad 6-3-27-A,” promised this picture with James Tingling and Mary Duncan; the picture is being delivered with Virginia Valli and Lawrence Gray. I don’t think the star substitutions are of importance to entitle you to a “kick.” “WOLF FANGS” (November 27) : No facts given to help one determine if a substitution; only that it was to be a dog story. “THE WIZARD” (December 11) : Not a substitu tion. The original title was “Balaoo.” “SILK LEGS” (December 18) : The Fox Annual Announcement promised it with Albert Ray as the director ; Arthur Rosson has directed it. Director substitution. There is not, in my opinion, enough justification for you to “kick.” “COME TO MY HOUSE” (December 25) : Not a substitution. “GATEWAY OF THE MOON” (January 1) : This is being delivered in place of “Luna Park.” According to the Fox Work Sheet of June 3, 1927, this was to be “A vivid, colorful story of carnival life with Victor McLaglen, Greta Nissen, Charles Farrell,” and was to have Mr. McLaglen in a role “which runs second only to that remarkable characterization of Captain Flagg in ‘What Price Glory.’ It certainly took great nerve on the part of Fox Film Corporation, after such promises, to attempt to deliver a "rotten” picture of jungle life, even though it has Dolores Del Rio in the leading part. A clear story and star substitution. ’’WOMAN WISE” (January 8) : No facts to help one. “SHARPSHOOTERS” (January 15) : This is supposed to be merely a title change, from the original title "The Girl Downstairs.” But according to the Work Sheets of May 9 and of June 3, 1927, the story of “The Girl Downstairs” was to be by May Edginton, whereas “Sharpshooters” has been founded on a story by Randall H. Faye. It is a clear story substitution. “SOFT LIVING” (February 5) : Not a substitution. “A GIRL IN EVERY PORT” (February 26) : This is supposed to be the new title of “Balaoo.” “Balaoo,” however, was to be, according to the Fox Annual Announcement in the trade papers and in the Fox Work Sheets, “An American Adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s Tremendous Parisian Stage Success” (which is the picture “Wizard”), whereas the story of “A Girl in Every Port” has been written by J. B. McGuinnes. A clear story substitution. How can two different pictures be “Balaoo”? “SQUARE CROOKS” (March 4): The original title of this picture is supposed to be “Widow-in-Law.” But according to the Fox Work Sheets, “Widow-inLaw” was to be a comedy, was to be directed by Albert Ray, and to have Edmund Law, Mary Duncan and Sally Phipps in the leading parts, whereas “Square Crooks” is a crook melodrama by James P. Judge, was directed by Lew Seiler, and has Robert Armstrong, J. M. Brown, and Dorothy Appleby in the leading parts. It is a clear story, star and director substitution. The board of arbitration of the New York City zone, in the case of Fox vs. Brandt’s Theatre Enterprises, of Brooklyn, N. Y., decided a few weeks ago, as Mr. William Brandt has informed this paper (his letter was printed in HARRISON’S REPORTS last week) that “Square Crooks” is a substitution and that the defendant was not obligated to accept it. “DRESSED TO KILL” (March 18) : The original title of this is supposed to be “Silk Hats.” “Silk Hats.” however, was to have been directed by Raoul Walsh, and to have Victor McLaglen, Madge Bellamy and Edmund Lowe in the leading parts, whereas “Dressed to Kill” has been directed by Irving Cummings, and has Mary Astor and Edmund Lowe in the leading parts. A star and director substitution. “WHY SAILORS GO WRONG” (March 25) : The Fox Work Sheets do not give any facts to help one determine who was to write the story. “The Film Weekly,” of Sydney, Australia, however, gives J. McGuinnes as the author. The finished product has been founded on a story by William Conselman. Manifestly it is a story substitution. But I don’t think an American arbitration board will accept evidence imported from Australia, even though we know that such information in the “Film Weekly” was furnished by the Fox organization and therefore it is correct. I don’t think it is worth-while “kicking” on this one. ( Concluded on inside page )