The Moving picture world (December 1920)

December 25, 1920 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1077 Robertson-Cole Denied Injunction in Suit Against Minute Trading Company SUPREME COURT JUSTICE Leonard A. Giegerich has denied the application of Robertson-Cole for an injunction restraining the Minute Trading Corporation, E. S. Mannheimer and Joseph Weinstock from exhibiting or producing "The Phantom Honeymoon," "For Love or Money," "The Common Sin," "The Loophole" and other motion pictures or selling any of the foreign rights to them. The plaintiff charges that in October, 1919, they made a contract with the Hallmark Pictures Corporation by which the latter transferred all its foreign rights for the pictures to the plaintiff, which contract was superseded in January last with a similar contract except that it permitted Robertson-Cole to retain all proceeds from the distribution of the pictures in question instead of a percentage of the proceeds as called for in the old contract. It is alleged that in June last Frank G. Hall, president of Hallmark, borrowed $100,000 from the Minute Trading Corporation and gave his note for $120,000, or $20.000 in excess of the sum borrowed, and as security gave the Minute concern the original negatives of the pictures. On July 14 last it is also charged Hall borrowed $20,000 from defendant Weinstock and gave him his note and the picture, "The Loophole," as security for the same, which Weinstock assigned to the Minute corporation. On July 18 last it is claimed the Minute Corporation offered these plays for sale despite the fact that Robertson-Cole allege they were notified of the latter's exclusive rights to them. It is also claimed that Mannheimer, an officer of the Minute concern, has announced his intention to sell the foreign rights to these plays, which Robertson-Cole say if carried out would involve them in great litigation, as it has entered into numerous contracts abroad for the sale and distribution of the pictures. On the other hand, the defendants contend that President Hall and the Hallmark Company defaulted in the payment of the notes and their property was foreclosed and was bought in by the Minute Trading Corporation, and that at the time of the making of the loans, and acquiring of the property of the Hallmark Corporation, defendants allege they had not the slightest knowledge of any existing contract with Robertson-Cole. Paramount fs Plan of Fewer and Better Films Gaining Favor, Says Cecil DeMille IONG run pictures such as we plan to produce under the new production policy of this organization are destined to crowd out weaker and purposeless photoplays, thus making 'fewer and better' pictures a fact rather than a phrase." There, in a few words, is Cecil B. DeMille's summary of future events under the new all-star production policy recently announced by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. Mr. DeMille has just sta-ted the initial production for Paramount under this policy— an adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler's play, "The Affairs of Anatol," with an allstar cast which includes Wallace Reid, Elliott Dexter, Gloria Swanson, Wanda Hawle., , Bebe Daniels, Theodore Roberts, Dorothy Cumming, Agnes Ayres, Theodore Kosloff and Julia Faye. Stage settings for this production are being designed by Paul Iribe, French artist, and a stellar staff of scenario writers headed by Jeanie Macpherson, Elmer Harrie, Avery Hopwood, Beulah Marie Dix and others are now at work on the manuscript. Interview Given Out In an interview given out on the eve of production work on this photodrama, Mr. DeMille said: "Just a few years ago the producer was delighted when his picture enjoyed a run of one or two weeks at a single theatre. Today we have relatively many production which play engagements from three to eight or nine weeks. "Barely six years ago, I made fourteen pictures in a single year. We regarded those as very good pictures at that time. To-day, working just as hard or harder, I find that I can only turn out three pictures in the same length of time. But the three pictures that I make to-day draw more patronage than the entire fourteen of six years ago. "Several years ago I tried the experiment of producing a picture without a star. My theory at that time was to get the actor or actress that could be found for the individual role. My forthcoming production is but the continuation of that idea. "As with the cast, so with the story and its author. Screen writing is the most difficult of all of the arts. In order that the story may be worthy of the direction and the cast, it is necessary to secure the services of the most capable and artistic of the limited field of writers. "It is not beyond the bounds of reason to say that the picture of the future may take a year or more to produce. If a picture produced under this system should play for three or six months — and our experience in the past has shown us that this is not impossible — a year spent on production work would be a year well spent. We are working constantly toward a realization in fact of our slogan of 'fewer and better pictures.' " "THANKS FOR THE TREE, SANTA.'" A Christmas bit from "Edgar's Little Saw," released by Goldivyn Rapf Leaves Selznick to Enter Producing Field Announcement is made from the Selznick offices that Harry Rapf, who for the past two years has been connected with the producing units of the Selznick Pictures Corporation as production manager for National Pictures, has resigned his post with that organization for the purpose of entering the producing field for himself, his plans being to produce feature photoplays under the banner of Rapf Productions. Mr. Rapf enters upon his new business venture with the best wishes for his success from Lewis J. Selznick, Myron and David Selznick and other members of the Selznick organization with whom he formed a fast friendship during his association. Before joining the Selznick forces two years ago Mr. Rapf was an independent producer. Mr. Rapf has had many years of association with the theatrical business and the photoplay and his many friends will warmly welcome his new enterprise. Must Exhibitors Learn Mind-Reading? When a child gains admission to a picture theatre by lying about his age should the theatre manager be punished by law, when it is evident that the child looks more than his age? On Monday night, November 22, A. V. Bothner, manager of the Majestic Theatre, Troy, N. Y., was arrested for admitting a boy to his theatre. According to information furnished Moving Picture World, he was relieving the ticket-taker, and a policeman, stationed at the theatre to enforce this ordinance, was standing beside him when the boy entered. The boy told the ticket-seller he was 18 years old. He looked the age. Mr. Bothner asked his age in front of the policeman and again he said he was 18 years old. Mr. Bothner accepted the boy's ticket and the policeman promptly arrested the manager. The case was fought out in the police court with a jury trial. The verdict was guilty and Mr. Bothner paid a fine of $100. The boy testified on the witness stand that he had said he was 18 when he's 13 years old. The mother testified she gave the boy money to attend the theatre, although she knew of the ordinance. "As the Humane Society prosecuted the case," writes Mr. Bothner, we thought it advisable to notify you so that you might gel through your valuable World a line or two to exhibitors, warning them to be careful, as this case is a test case. Of course, we are not mind-readers and cannot guess a boy's age. Then we think there is no reason why we should have been convicted of this misdemeanor."