Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Jul 1930)

10 June 28, 1930 It Took Warner's Six Month To Gain Film Rights M. G. M. To Break Production Records For "Bride of the Regiment," Recently Produced Here EDITOR'S NOTE— Producers never realized what the talkies would get them into when they started making 'em, for instance, royalties to song writers, publishers, authors, electrical companies, technicolor companies, and now the writers are demanding and will receive royalties from the producers. Samuel Goldwyn was the first producer to agree to pay, and watch the rest of them have to follow the leader. "She's a rum 'un, the law." as Sam Weller once remarked — or was it Mr. Weller, Senior? And she has become rummer and more complex than ever, so far as motion picture producing companies are concerned, since the arrival of sound pictures. Take the case of "Bride of the Regiment," for instance, which First National has just released, and which recently had its world premiere at the new Hollywood Theatre in New York. Eighteen separate legal documents— signed, sealed and delivered, as the phrase goes — repose in the archives of that company's law department. All of them had to be executed before the cameras and microphones could be set up for the first day's shooting. For "Bride of the Regiment" is an adaptation of a very famous light opera of a few seasons back which was produced in many countries, and all sorts of rights and interests had to be sought out and satisfied before a clear title to the complete screen rights could be secured. First of all, the operetta, written in German and first produced in Berlin, bore the title "Die Frau in Hermelin." Later it was presented in Vienna, Paris and many other continental cities, as well as in London, where it was called "The Lady of the Rose." Then the Shuberts brought it out in New York as "The Lady in Ermine" in 1922. Then it was made a silent picture with Corinne Griffith as star. When First National decided to produce it once more as an allTechnicolor talking picture, the first step necessary was to obtain the silent rights, which were held by Corinne Griffith Productions, a separate firm which formerly released through First National. That assignment made, negotiations had to be opened in Germany with the original producers, also with the German music publishers, also with the authors of "Die Frau in Hermelin," Rudolph Schanzer and Ernest Welisch, and with the composer, Jean Gilbert — that name being the pseudonym of Max Winterfelt. With all these interests cleared, and the sound rights secured so far as the German copyright holders were concerned, the next step took First National's legal representative to England, where the British copyright proprietors, Ascheberg, Hopwood & SPEAK FRENCH AND GERMAN ATTENTION— SING EXCELLENTLY MOTHER NELLIE ANDERSON GL. 0534 Crew, Ltd., the London producers, British Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., and the English adapters, Frederick Lonsdale and Harry Graham, had to be dealt with. With their interests satisfied, the rights of Great Britain and Australia were taken care of, and First National could draw a long breath of relief. So far so good. But the American dialogue and musical rights to "The Lady in Ermine" were still to be obtained. In the Shubert production, new music by Alfred Goodman and Sigmund Romberg had ben added to the original Gilbert score. More contracts were drawn up and signed. The American publishers, Harms, Inc., likewise entered into the proceedings. At last, after six months of investigation and dickering, First National's title to "The Lady in Ermine" — or, as they call it now, "Bride of the Regiment" — was absolutely clear, and the picture went into production at the company's studios in California. Vivienne Segal is leading woman in "Bride of the Regiment" as it is presented on the screen. Allan Prior and Walter Pidgeon have masculine roles of equal importance, and the cast also includes Louise Fazenda, Myrna Loy, Lupino Lane, Ford Sterling, Harry Cording, Claude Fleming and Herbert Clark, as well as large chorus and many extra players. 111 CLOSE MARGIN The noted composer, Nacio Herb Brown, spent $23,000 of $27,000 he received in royalties, in three weeks. DENIES No "ban" has been issued against the film, "Ingagi," by the Association of Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., according to a statement issued yesterday by Carl E. Milliken, secretary of that organization, who characterized reports that the Hays association had barred the picture as entirely untrue. In describing the present attitude of the association toward the film, Milliken stated that decision to show it rested with the member companies and that the association does not issue a "ban." Investigation of this picture by the National Better Business Bureau has disclosed the fact that several scientific organizations have objected to it as misrepresenting animal life in Africa. Nat H. Spitzer, president of the company which produced it, claims that 85 per cent of the picture is authentic, with only the connecting links made in Hollywood. 1 1 1 BETTY COMPTON WINS LONG TERM CONTRACT WITH WARNER BROS. Betty Compton, who has just finished "The Legacy," a Vitaphone short subject, has been awarded a long term contract with Warner Bros, on the strength of her excellent work in her first screen vehicle. Her second picture, which will be of feature length, goes into production shortly. No Stop in Activity, Regardless of Current Rumors Amidst all the rumors and counterrumors as to business conditions, comes an announcement from the studios of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that the present summer will break all past records 'for season production by that organization. Twenty productions, both American and foreign, are in process of completion at the Culver City plant. These are said to cover every phase of entertainment, musicals, melodramas, comedies, society dramas, western, etc. An average of eight productions under way at once has been maintained by M-G-M for months, and will be continued throughout the summer. Current activities include the first Grace Moore starring picture based on the life of "Jenny Lind," "Way for a Sailor," starring John Gilbert; "Forward March," starring Buster Keaton; "Remote Control," starring William Haines; French language version of "Olympia," with Andre Luguet; King Vidor's "Billy, the Kid"; "The March of Time," M-G-M all-star, eye and ear show; "Like Kelly Can," all-star, and "The Great Day," starring Joan Crawford. Directors of M-G-M who are working on new stories include Jack Conway, preparing "The New Moon" as a starring vehicle for Lawrence Tibbett and Grace Moore; William C. DeMille with the well known best seller, "The Passion Flower"; Lionel Barrymore, who will direct "Never the Twain Shall Meet"; George Hill, now resting from "The Big House" and preparing for "The Dark Star" in which Marie Dressier and Wallace Beery will appear; Edgar McGregor and Nick Grinde, who did "Good News"; Charles Brabin and Arthur Robison. 111 Mosconi Bros. Handling Dance Ideas for Meyer Service Abe Meyer, president of the Meyer Synchronizing Service, Ltd., has completed arrangements with the Mosconi Brothers for them to supply dance numbers and chorus ensembles for future productions that are under the supervision of the Meyer Organization. The Mosconi Brothers are preparing several troupes of experienced dancers that will be routined in their school and delivered intact as a group to be used for motion picture work. The Meyer Synchronizing Service will act in a supervisory capacity for music and sound effects for the pictures being produced by the Companies subscribing to the Meyer Service.