Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

OCT. 1, 1932 Divorce By Mail Is New Hollywood Industry James Cagney and Warners End Dispute Over Salary INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS OPEN HOLLYWOOD OFFICES —MEXICAN DIVORCES IN NINE DAYS— BY MAIL The firm of international lawyers, Riccardi an Aguilar, which recently sprung into the forefront of public notice through their influence in having had passed the "mail order divorce laws of Mexico, have opened offices in the Equitable Bldg. in Hollywood, where according to Constantino Vincent R.ccardi, the local member of the firm, they have averaged six to nine applications a day during the first week. Judge Francisco D. Aguilar, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mexico, maintains the Mexican headquarters opposite the Stale house in Sonora, Mexico, where the cases are filed and disposed of. Riccardi explains that these divorces are similar in legal effect and identical in wording with the Reno laws with the exception that the matter of filing the complaints establishes residence in Mexico, nine days after which the divorce is granted, in secrecy, if desired. In these Mexican divorces, no alimony is ever considered except in cases where children are involved or the wife or husband incapacitated. Riccardi emphasises the fact that no cases will be prosecuted by them unless absolute fairness to all parlies involved is arranged in advance. This firm of lawyers while licenced to practice in many states in U. S., confine their activities exclusive to Mexican courts and are maintaining American offices for ihe purpose of facilitating local divorce mailers especially in Hollywood where marital difficulties interferes with business and works an injustice upon innocent parlies not directly concerned. Recently, Riccardi and Aguilar ironed out a marital difficulty between Lina Basquette and Teddy Hayes. Hayes, believing h'mself a free man, married Lina Basquette. It appeared however, that Hayes was still married to Gernon Hayes, who, it was said, had taken steps to have him prosecuted for bigamy. Before the criminal action got under way, however, Riccardi and Aguilar arranged the divorce from Lina Basquette, returning Hayes to the status of a monogamist. Nine days after, the divorce of Gernon Hayes and Teddy was affected, whereupon it is now bruited that Teddy and Lina are shortly to be remarried. Another interesting case of Ada Hopper, UFA screen favorite from Berlin, who came to Tucson, Ariz., the previous head office of the international lawyers, and had her marital disturbances soothed by the painless process of separation. Countess Cattarina Catalano of Milan and Florence, Italy, is another who represents the recognition that nobility has given these Mexican divorce lawyers. She received her divorce from the Count in record time. There are 13 grounds under which divorce may be granted in none of which is it necessary for either of the principals to appear other than by representation. That these divorce decrees are valid in this country is evidenced by the decision of the Supreme Court of New York: THE INSIDE ECPE SMILES FOR EXTRAS A 'Say it with a smile policy" today went into effect at the casting offices of the RKO Studio in Hollywood. As ordered by Fred Schuessler, casting director, every applicant for work, whosoever he may be, will be received, heard, and given opportunity to qualify — regardless. If you can't be pleasant you don't belong in this department," Schuessler informed members of his staff. "Give everyone the same consideration. The screen's next Constance Bennett quite likely may ask for work at this studio. It's unlikely, but not impossible. I'd hate to think we'd turned her away." • • • • • ROY D'ARCY worked in the Fox Production "Sherlock Holmes," which was arranged by the Lichtig and Englander offices. Expressing their confidence in Preston S. Foster as potential star material, executives of Warner Bros. -First National studios notified Foster that his option had been taken up. Foster is signed on a seven-year contract with Warner Brothers, with six months options. This is the second option taken up on Foster's contract. • • • • • THE GOODYEAR BLIMP '-VOLUNTEER," was listed as one of the principal props for "Hidden Valley," Monogram Western on location was al Lone Pine with R. N. Bradbury directing. The cast signed by Trem Carr includes Gertie Messinger, Francis McDonald, Ray Hallor, John Elliott, Arthur Milletl, V. L. Barnes, George Hayes, Jose de la Cruz and Dick Dickinson. Wellyn Tolman Was the scenarist. « • • • • BEN HENDRICKS, JR., was today signed for a featured role with William Haines in "Let's Go," currently in production at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Hendricks recently completed a featured part in "Rain." "Let's Go" is being directed by Harry Pollard. MRS. MARY E. BURDICK lost her brother, John W. Foley, who passed away suddenly. Years ago Mrs. Burdick was in charge of the wardrobe department for the D. W. Griffith Studios. • • • • • ARTHUR DAVID HILTON, formerly of Universal, and who edited the first of the Tom Mix series, is editing for Van Beuren Corporation at RKO-Pathe. "REALITY" WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE LESSON-SERMON ON Sunday in all branches of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass. The Golden Text was from Psalms: "From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." One of the Scriptural selections in the Lesson-Sermon included the words of John: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath g'ven us an understanding, that we may know h,m that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." A passage^ from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, stated, "The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, more formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease, and death." WHAT THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE MOST DIFFICULT STATE IN WHICH TO OBTAIN DIVORCE DECREES, HAVE HELD IN THE CASE OF MEXICAN DIVORCES. Several cases have recently been decided in which Mexican divorces have been considered. Mr. Justice L. B. Faber, of the New York Supreme Court, held in the Weber case (August, 1929) that New York citizens who voluntarily submit to the Mexican jurisdiction, by sending Powers of Attorney there, are estopped from later contesting the validity of the judgment. The divorce was one of Campeche, rendered for incompatibilty. This decision is in line with Starbuck-Starbuck, 173 N. Y. 503, 1903. Jean Malin, noted theatrical man of New York arrived in Hollywood last Thursday where he arranged with Riccardi and Aguilar to obtain a divorce from his wife, Fay Hymen, also prominent in eastern theatricals. They were married in 1931 and lived together one day. The grounds given were incompatability. The papers left Thursday night for Mexico and the divorce is assured within nine days from date of filing. Malin is noted as having been the man who brought fame to Walter Winchell. Reprinted from American Bar Association Journal, November, 1929. • • • ON LOCATION D rector Ed Cahn and the entire cast of "Laughter in Hell," including Myrna Kennedy and Pat O'Brien are on location at Sonora. John Stumar is photographing the picture for the Big U. STAR GOES BACK TO WORK FOLLOWING ALL NIGHT SESSION At two o'clock Wednesday morning, after an eight-hour sess!on of the Arbitration Agreement Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the breach between James Cagney and his employers, Warner Brothers Picture Corp., was peacably patched. In a statement from Frank Capra, chairman of the committee, he says: "James Cagney and the Warner Brothers Picture Corp., have reached a complete and friendly settlement of their difficulties and have formally notified the Academy's Arbitration Committee that the actor will resume h:s contractual relations with his employers immediately.' Those in attendance for the studio were Jack Warner, Darryl Zanuck, chief executive in charge of production at Warner Brothers, and their Attorneys Ralph Lewis and Herbert Freston. Appearing with Mr. Cagney were George Frank and Attorney Austin Sherman. In addition to Chairman Frank Capra, the following members of the committee heard the case : Fredric March, Henry Herzbrun, Joseph I. Schnitzer, J. A. Ball, Ralph Block and Oliver H. P. Garrett. Cagney, it will be remembered, left the Warner Studio last spring when he demanded more pay following a sudden and spectacular rise to fame, and the studio refused to demand the increase. Cagney, it seemed, claimed the active life of a star is short and he wished to profit by his popularity while film fans were interested in him. He presented his claim to the academy, feeling justified that Warner Brothers had no hold on him seeing as they assertedly failed to excercise an option on his contract and that the studio could not suspend him because there was no suspension clause in the contract. Those members of the Industry and especially the academy who heard the case should be highly complimented for the splendid manner in which they patched up the whole affair. And screen fans will also be happy to see their favorite, James Cagney, once more in the limelight, for we understand the Warner Brothers have great pictures lined up for him. "SEX TAKES A HOLIDAY"— sounds suitable for a Mack Sennett production and we hope it will get as good a cast as when produced originally. 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