Universal Weekly (1928-1930, 1933-1936)

12 Universal Weekly January 28, 1928 Canadian Press Takes up Cudgels For Protection of Universal’s Version of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” Ray Lewis, Editor of Canadian Moving Picture Digest, Urges Arbitration To Settle Re-issue of Old Films Under Publicity of New and Expensive Ones “T TNIVERSAL will soon release U1 their version of ‘Uncle Toni’s Cabin’ in Canada. “I have not had the pleasure of reviewing this picture, hut the ‘stills’ which I have seen, and the unanimous press approval on the merit of the production, inspires me to caution exhibitors to reserve a Universal ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ booking. “WE CHILDREN of a grown-up ' ' generation remember the days of Uncle Tom, Simon Legree, Little Eva, Topsy, and the other characters including the Eliza, who so successfully crossed the ice. “But our children, the children of today are ready for ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ to whom this story would be as fresh and interesting as it ever was. “SPHERE is a protective system inJ troduced in our Industry which secures producers who utilize uncopyrighted material for production purposes. “Registration at the ‘Hays’ Organization offices of the title, secures for the producer protection from the pernicious 1 policy of trading upon someone else’s publicity, or invested capital. “WE REMEMBER the day when * V one picture produced other versions of the same material, to the financial detriment of all the producers concerned. “An example was the simultaneous productions of ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ Another habit of the Industry, for which there is at present no cure, is the releasing of cheap productions of a title, which has recently gone into production; and upon which the present producer has spent a vast sum of money, in order to make the picture possess outstanding quality; and receive world-wide publicity. “TN CONNECTION with Universal’s ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ Mr. Laemmle claims that he has been subjected to just this kind of unfair competition. “Unwilling to buy up at an exorbitant price, old film of ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ the owners of such film have endeavored to precede Universal’s ‘ Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ bookings, taking advantage of the Universal publicity to sell their cheap production to exhibitors and the_ public; ;and thereby ao ing Universal considerable financial damage and injury. “T BELIEVE that conditions of this kind should come under the jurisdiction of an Arbitration Board, who should call in such old films, deciding with the owners upon a just and equitable price for purchase, by the producer interested in clearing the market for the presentation of the new production. “The same i-ules which govern other arbitration matters should govern such proceedings. “TF PRODUCERS wish to re-issue * old films let them do so on their own initiative and capital. The fact that ‘junk’ is shelved until someone gets an inspiration to produce a new version, is an indication that the possessor of the old film is trading upon the investment which the new version is exploiting ; and the financial advantage to the possessor of the old film, under such circumstances should not be taken into consideration. “The re-issue of some ’old timers’ is not to the advantage of the Industry as a whole; and in many cases the release of an old film, following the announcement of a new version is maneuvered, not by the producer of the old version, but some ‘sharper,’ who is in this Industry just to make money out of such business tricks. He gets a hold of the old film because there is a possibility of a purchase by the new producer. “Mr. Laemmle claims that such a state of. affairs transpired in connection with Universal’s announcement and production of ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’ ” Making of Hugo’s “Man Who Laughs” To be Broadcast THE production details surrounding the filming of a special motion picture will be broadcast over station WPCH at the Hotel McAlpin in New York on Thursday, January 26th, at 6.45 P. M. Nat Rothstein, advertising executive of the Universal Pictures Corporation, will describe in detail the making of “The Man Who Laughs,” an adaptation oi the famous Victor Hugo story which will shortly be completed and be shown for the first time on Broadway in March. A short time ago Rothstein described the making of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” with such success that the station received a deluge of mail in praise of the entertainment, which brought about the return booking on another picture. Carl Laemmle’s 22nd Anniversary