The Life and Adventures of Carl Laemmle (1931)

VICTORY 123 United States should be distributed only to manufacturers within the combine. (9) [This must be given verbatim.] Instead of selling films outright as had been the custom in the trade preceding the formation of the combination, manufacturers adopted a uniform method of leasing the films in order that, by writs of replevin [replevin: defined by Chambers as an action "to recover goods destrained upon giving a pledge or security to try the right to them at law"] that might recover possession of the same, if the exchangeman or exhibitor violated any restrictions imposed by the combination. Hundreds of replevin suits have been brought as a means of terrorising exchanges and exhibitors and compelling them to observe the rules against distributing or displaying independent pictures. (N.B. — the ominous tone in "terrorising"; N.B. also the implication of "independent" pictures.) (10) In its good time, the Trust formed its own distributing exchanges, known as the General Film Company. It became the sole distributing agency of the defendants. [A very displeasing word that, "defendants."] This had been accomplished by the purchase, at the Trust's price, of nearly all independent exchanges. When an exchange thought the price inadequate, it was starved of supplies, and forced to go out of business. In case the court might be interested in