Variety (Aug 1934)

VAKIETV rICYUREi WuewUft Au|;ii«t 7, 1934 Metro Over m ed lynton lift In (lis l«nKthy ©plhluri on film' play j>li(triarisn»i>i, whtrein Judge W<>oliey in Federal towt (N.Y.) ruled in lav«>i- of M«>tro, tlicro arc • numbfir uf .interesting poiiits. to aiithipra jind prcMEIiucftrii wlilcb will '' sAiijtoWieys for Edward Sheldon And Mrs. Margaret Ayer Barnes, who sued Metro over 'Letty Lynton,' |«y they will apiieal from the. iciaibn khbeking o^t their cbiitp|il|ltit< Bholdon and Mrs, Barnes are the authoi-K of the Katharine Cornell play, -The l.)i.shonoiod .Icgej^ly infi:ln^ed u^n. ' / 't^ ':, '■Ai Ah0yi^iine''iif^ mmm ':^-' nied any legal coi^fi, Jii|d|fe Iftpoivty opining that Sheldon and TdrH, Barnes justifiably brought suit in ^in endeavor to iprotept their rights. The essiE^ne^ idt Ch« oiiinion la fttAt H treatment ot:M} Mnk •eflpt Is pre- uuihixbly nun-|>r6tectat)le by copy- li^lit or otlierwise. It is because of this conclusion, and from which liiiiterty for th^ plftiMI# Mtihors will appeal against Metrd-Oblawyn Pictures Corp., MGM distributing Corp,,^ t-oew's Inen, and the Culver Skimik Corp., wto^^^^ Joint de- fendants. J.' Robert Rtibln enlisted Nathan Burkan as associate counsel to the regular I^oeW-lleil'o il^l^ In this matter. - v ' ^■;^:.■-:■^■l^'■^(ltx•d Script - . lletro at !^jD0 tiMe^lu;i4 A jcon All drawn t<o putrehave th* rights to Sheldon and Mrs. Barnes* play, •Dishonored Lady,' for |30,000, this Alone betatg contingent upon a Hays •lAce okay. When ;W1U Haya nixed the script for films, Metro had the authors v.ork on a treatment to get around the Hays taboo, and it was Judge Woolsey's oh-servation in part 0C his opiiiion, DiAt their adaptation, -exprcifKly desigiried to m4M»iVBaytite iJioruls roquiicmcnt.'?, W'SiisJMoiOii A completely new work. ' The Court dwells upon the known legal premise that .mer.e iiilim-jm^ ACtt copyrightable iiAd olbiiefvli^Vt^^^ ifetro went to the. same source (Continued bh lMage 61) p9ff§m S^ M 22G Charging that 'WarnorR used the copyrighted Mexican eopg, 'Las CUttrto Milpas,* WfthoW p«l^iiHdMtioii In the picture 'Heat Lightning,;!; i^^^ Acosta |t«iif filed A bill pt AQtiity Against the producers lii FWiferal Court demanding damages of $12,- 6O9, attorneys' fees of $10,000, and A restraining order against further showing of the. .jfeatuye, until the ibng"iR'cHtntnatei|.'- Also named in the coniplaint are Mervyn LeRoy as director; Lep F. Fprbstein, Who did the ntuisieai seoi'e, Ahd ilei^ BalinAs, who iwtog t1»e ni^mher IW INDEX Th«»e Vallce FniM Warners ir holding a pubHc voting congest a'- to which male star should play the title role 1b Mnthony Adverse;' and a lot of ballots are piling., in for Biidy VAliee. * COMBO A lusr Hollywood, Aug. 6. Teaming a director and writer for an etotllii year is an innovation for P>arambunt« which is binding Wesjeylj Ruggles, iiireetdfy and Claud* Wn»* yon, writer. Having worRed together previ- ously on tivo stories, Ruggles in^\ slated on Av(^«lM in |rtp:-iww^ con- tract that HIi Irbtttd 'hAVe 't1he sole Qse of a writer during the life of the pact and specified Binyon, al- though . iNMHI;'' AciMiAt,: '''aiMM^: - 'thiiril^, SCrifa^.;■ ■„ ■ •'rrri-:; ■ Pnypbiitibh hit^^ been a theory for 9ticc^s8ful film , production a long time bnt has rarely been practiced. Argument for such combination was the work at Columbia of Frank Capra and Robert Riftiiin. LAW KAYOES WILLIAM •CONTRACT WITH AGENT Los AnMt-lcs. Ai4(. C- Contract of Warren William, and Ben Boyer, as agent, is voided by decision 01 8iUM9|4or !pou£l^^. j^^ Leon R. Yalilflch. " ^ ^ Boyer sued actor to determine status of a 1931 pact, William being then under live-year optional teHB^ to WArner; Bros, - Player told th« iMjti^ film Ai^mmt^ h^ been terminated, and new contract made that nullified the ipoyer paper. WILL MAHONEY Neliion B. Bell in the "Washing-; UiH ' Post"—sold:—VHfr. Mahoneyi ^otkM himself Into A ftate of limp exhAttatlbn At yesterdAy's first per-j formAnce. 1(U-. Iti^iMiy - to by tilray. of being onf "OT tlili l^iit> «rouc^ the American tlK^triiii, el^n bfliast, He} always has beeii th* iMMt 0f the; ■IttMPd^Ahiievdancers.'', ■.; ■...-■'■■'■■s. Direction- ^ ; r:,-'hlKI»yf«ir Theatre BW^• New York City fm Unlooseiis Boyer; On For 1 More Pictaire I Wa|r to Bfiil BUiriitti^. Aug. 6. Mcrvyii Le Rdylsldne up on the retake racket, ; AjJt^fr li^e jiibpots A iicene, the ^BriBiHo*^ ■ alwa^^ the script for that sequence Into bits. £tayt* it helps prevent re^ Holly woodriJ^yl. With Fox lAllIng to. ptek lipt ,op- tlbn bh 0hi(rfea' Boyier bii cbiMpie- tion of 'Caravan,' French actor leaves tonight (Monday) for New Vork en route to Paris where he Will resume picture work. He has A i«>nipt«ir«a contrjict nHth^ pAthe- Nat An, iMii^lAtedr whC'lB BofBArd Xat&n wait on the coast a fe% week* ago. Pat Patterson, his wife, under contnMt to Iiy>z, remains here to . do 6h*6 AKKre pleture, *lUi»ttW ,I«Yer/ then Joins , bof husbiih^ In ' Oc- I 4 • • • • BniH ....... Chatter .fjflitbiphil:''-.vi > V v>';'# r» i-;i>, ' £iXploita t inn . • • • V*V,***-*'* Film Itcviews; vv.-..>,.»». Foreign Film Ne^e-. i •« • :I'ioi^lgn.,'.;ShoW'/ 'l^e'iJrf ; tCUHC- ilcvicws .., r i r IHI (M u .sic. .■. > ■•>> • jn^idc^piifltw!^'; 4S ..62-.'.3 11 ■ToMiiVG~lirii|iitvS i'iSiVjiV.''; 44 ■ Insi<IC— Vuude ,........ 44 L^•Ki^''>^^^<? .•>■»•.»*•••♦•>■• • -/^S^^^ 'Literati ',^^.*y,f^iCi^f^k'*!)i^'.;. . Miu^if . . v... ...j9-:'#p. Now Ai ts . 4,1 Ncw.s from th*' iJajlii.H..« . tO .■ Nlte .'Cilubfc-'♦:.^^'i'..Wv^/^;**i' (>l)it ij.'iry ... .;,. » f < MJtdopi'S ... . ...,» , t ... f'Ir tliirt>S.';. V»i'. «.V-« > ^4;• * »>> ^ ' '^ . i\l\<i\\\>: 'i'^/..,. i■:<>.'*.■»".'■« ■»*$0-3,(< , '■ftJidib' 'iVepirrris','iVi-';';.v'ii''"' VjuJik vUle . M 41-4:; 49 Mil Merle Ob«r^C«i>g Over en Kerda's Loan 1..ondojn, Aug. €. Doiryl Zapudjlc^ ^fSffm:: Aailing back to Neir TMIt, deieft a de^l with Alexander Korda whereby he will borrow Merle Ol>eron for one picture. Miss Oberpn is onja long;-termer for KordA.'- '■{■■'■'rhS:^ "-'J": - ■•■^ ■ i. Ed Sutherland's *Miss.' ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ at Par • -A';-V\'--V\ Kollywood». .Aug.-'<l. Bddie Sutheiiand' has returned to I'arainbunt and will direct 'Missis- sippi,' mu.«iical i>ased on a Booth TarkloKton yarn. — Cast will be topped Uy W. C. Fields^ t^hy Rosil And (tuennie Smlt*,..i>'pfi(|^-/A*>d'--ili«^ iiiwre-writ- ing :W»'■t«iye»i■■^^-■^■::^^:'" MScM 6eet Actor Ivos Angeles, Aug. <5. Pat DeCicco, former husliand of ThelniA fi^Ddd, to; two we^kk VACAtibii iygenting to turn actor. After ihaklng a couple of tests for one of the gods In 'Night Life of the Gods' at U, he signed contract to play In picture. . Jt to ;hto fli^t A<itin« experience. msm'mf^t^i^^ AAys ngentinR will'.,b« 'ivst rAlM>tlb«r,'.' I^t e«perienee., V/ \ \ NoW. IW. 1-Niters Wheeler and WoolseyV piH(>pbpfd roadshow. Intended lof: A l^te of oiie-nlters:.. MirfwAVift.''' ''ife«MBfliJ V. .'||ol|y • wood, is cold. It WAf tif started about Sept. 1. Buddy DeSylva, Max Oordon and Leo Fitzgerald were interested In the?proJeet,-:"'v-/. >>•::•■ '.v-, ' $idneyft Quit Dr. giKmund .Sidney and l,<ee Sld- uoy are calling it quits. • ' Mrs. iSidney fti Sylvia f5ldney'» niother,,'the .doe her stepfather, thif C.ill* (1 l y I'nivrisal to i>ri p:in for htr luxt, VVitljiii Thi.s I'ros- *ni,' winch I' wiinis to rf-loas<> in I >» ceniher, MurKaret .Sullava.n t<'<'k .1 plane but »if New Torkl;Fri- flfiy'.fiJ).' ■ '■ iM^Oit ( iist vat .'it ii'iiiiiK. lIoHyWi'od, Aug; ' Chi* J^iUv tiir< nJ.: Ii I .< < iMoiTitf^in f(^t tut a vv'K'U's pt rKonnt at .Mi( liigitn, iJotroit, Au(^,.24. • .. f^ftlc thtn gpe^ t«< a|*i>f'fij^ ■ ill 'Ktf'ph/inl!jt'-V»hei^ ';th!i'^ lUilS^ tX^ BLORE, RHODES Holly^QOdt Avff. It. Riiidio hail gtveii Hitn TTeaTs To both p:ric Rhodes and Eric Blore from the le^it cast of 'Gay Divorce' and now in the studlo.'g .llhoi'l^^ tation of tlie play.'' ;!ll''.^-'■.'••'.'■■ ""' ^doh'trti^sjlij: Are 'for 'iHii: .'iii0filh«; SAILINGS A ug. 21 ( London to New York J ■■ :Augv:i|v'-j(L<3(h^ ItfarK <>»lretr (BrfetigairiaV. Aug. 4 (Nfw York to Tails) King Vidpr, Until Kchvyn,; li?4jrypy Th<?w, EltSsabeth * Ni<*ol«i: J^H^ (<'liaini>lain). ■'.■■■■W''t~.:\'-'-- . Ams- 4 (New YorU.>'Wii1"''6e)uiliy.', iPiMiilv taaWi* "jfoWeU. 'Wlllirt «* Htiig' ginf. Mrf. r narr MaefatideTi (Contc dl S^avoiu). :;■ Aug. Jl^b^ifift^h':'^^ Mr.; and Mrs. Dtirryi S&ht»?k Wardeil, Hcsis Iflwrteilyth, . Jiiiiijiat 1 ("•iji.tia! ;(PfvjriH).; ;;.',•,:' . --C, ■ ■ July. Si il^iondon lo Kydi1ey> Hit r^cnirtroii* i^rty f: FuitiiF and ;l^y'{a;.Onknd.'0i!l|« Hollywood, Aug. 6. William A. Brady and his son. Junior, left for New York Saturday night <4)r with the former tu^n-' Ing here agAtn in the wln««*i' $0 probably produce pictures. ^Before leaving here, Brady stated th«re' to A possibility of ('.race dibiy» Ci[ni^ Brady) appearing in two pictttireii this year:' Brady iayis thAt George Bernard .Siiaw Cabled him that Fox, RKO and Paramount are interested in Miss Oeorge mak- ing 'Captain Br<ts«bound;« Comv^fr- ilott'';;- nimo-^ ■m0m^--:'tm^^^ Ix»nora.' Brady quotes tiie Shaw cable as saving, 'If Grace George appears A|»^ syfieryUes my pliijr,,! UJKASOUTASOiEAD, WHUAM OR TOP^IS Los Affgeletr,' Atlir>"'C Univt-rsai has be* n shooting 'Imitation of h^fe,' the I'anny Hitrsi Atbry; fwr four weeks with- out using the l»Mto<: i«ftte. In the picture. Paul IMtHa had been chosen for the part opposite Clau- dette Colbert but over the week- end it yrm decided to choiipp...,'-. V■:;?■:•;..''• ;. ' / ■ 6tttdlb to dickering with War- ners to borrow Warren William and with Metro to get Franchot Tone in case the former is unav.'iil- able. Picture^d a six-week sched- ule with Mlia qolbek't fitting |^B> 000 for the Jabi bllt lt.'l^^ though John MT^taW '^li 'bb a week overtime in completing it with Colbert to get ?12,000 per week;. M ' .'iinir: ■ jwirtod. ■•'io^, ulajf'-.'il#n(^:-^;A',' Coast Car Hollywood, Aiig. <. James E. T'erry, fiO, employed in electrical construction division at Paramount studios, liriAtoutlai^ killed Bjaturday , night H) when his fear collided with another while he was; en route to his home in .South Pasadena. Widow an«l three sons survive. Another Paramount efuj^i^yee, Denlel Evahs, SS, scbnArio l^tM-. died in Hollywood Hospital Satur- day. Car he was driviriK colliding •with a parked car on West Ad.'ims street. Evans, a San FrancLscp at- torney, ihecbntljr' Joined; the Para- mount staff. He htts written several of the Bohen»lRh Club. San Pran- etocOr Hhows^ ' ■ ' : '■'' \ " V ' ■ ' . / IflCHOIS' CONN. SIESTA . Hollywood, Aug. 6. r'.-.li>^dl«y >}ichb^ taken a three liM>htli«*: leave of absence from the l(*lilhf Atolf tb yacatlpii 01)^ his Connoettoutf farm. He left yester- day (Stihdfty) for the eftst. Nichols fini.'^lied srriptlftt' '111 Hours a IJny' before leaving tlie flltUdid.^r':' .: •■-/'■.;'■:';'Ii, ' ''■..''.■;'' ;'': ■;' , : Mf P^OtS JO MATTHEWS .:':,; :'"'■' 1 lolly wood, Aug. 6. Mary Jo MattheWs, who came here after playing ip 'Txt 'Km Kaf Cake,' Broadway pl.iy, has »<r«n given ;i trim contract at Metro.: . Fir.'-t I'ieture unde<;id<.'.d« i ■ j. lioUywood. Aug, <!; , Ll< yil iliiniilton ifj hnyU ip IUiO>!, ;l le ha s. is tar t fed 'itif: tl ng in t wo H'WI ■fw'i'iCifi'vMlca^^^^ ,. Kitilii • X^^^^ due. tiini tije just, .*lory i^: ^.Ckioisrt!^;^^ ■ wmiTiBBEn ■■■■'•■^;■''^^'';'■■■■■■.^'■•^■.:'i*ollyw6od, Aug. i6;-;-; ;\ #ltHbSm Anthony Mrfluire win make as an independent venture a (Urn version of 'The Three Musket-' '; ■ eer.s' which he wrote for Floiflfrni ■ Zlegfeld, 4i,nd. to.; which he ..hfis Ac*.V;. qulfed rlght*.-''^; '■■■"■. I'roduetion oh 'Musketieis' is «liie t«) start at ITniversai within two week.s after Mc(!uire finishes 'Tim Great ^^iegfeia,' Playwright will fivt!. ;. <Ht-:-lhrio'- -imiofni^rr^^^ ; his contract with Univerfinl per- mits, and liKiires ho can finish the ' indejiontU-nt durluK tlu> intciirn, Ljvwrencc TibUett has been in-.. .. vited ta ■j^T^^.'i^Mr-lrote,^,y«hie!l^-'^lD^':y nis king iiang in the steigb brig*' inal. Itudoiph Frlml, who did thi^-' or igi nal tt^, yiKrm:-iti^:9citif^ melodies. ^ , ■ ;'. Iteieasb has mit vyet bf^h ; , ■ UNIVERSAL TAKES ON London, July &». ■;}: Ut|iV«l»al •'Itowl i« doing plenty* of siirhinfir here: tiatest are Willy Ca.stello and Betty Hamilton. In case bifCastello, Frank Ditcham . and Dave Bader liked him so much ";• ■. from the glimpse they jiot of hi««p:v:j^ in it cohtln^tnl flicker, that they'" - .«!ent him to O.irlsliad by plahc, to pret an O.K. from Carl I^Aemmlc, Jr. Soon as I^emmlo saw him lie signed him. without: bVcn > having : a.: lest / takbiil t'astellb is of l^Mtcli »«tra*- ': tion. -':_'•',■;■{''.; Betty Hamilton Is, iuriously enouf,'li, Americ.'in. and crasiied films for the hrst time in UnKland, dbifig: .:A''i^';;lMtii. 'tn-'i^ndon.';riimM' late^st; -'Oon: Juah.*.; ■ :H«tr iebih, i«--l!'ift'^ on the wby to rt^^lywpbdV^ '^^ COURT UPHOLDS AGCY. INLANDIIO^SP ■■'■:■■■ ■■■" ■■■>■.,, lx)8' Angeles; Au>r. d. Ad Schulbfnl^Charles K. I'eldman agency .wbn .t«n decision in its suit against Kliiuia LAhdi lor alleged' breach c>f i^jliti»Aet^;:iil|i9' |7,600 ta^. .r] cdnimissibmi^ Judge' tester W. Both holding the contiact valid and op- erative for almost four y<;arM to ' come. - '• ::v''";-v Court ai«K> entpred i,udgmbht ,fbr i; v plAintUf f€»r It.SM AS >cowmif»«libito accrued to date of filing Hiiit. Court complimented agency for its .1 i 1 iKcnt att)ii^l^maii:/1^^^ interests./?: , ■ J'--' '■■''^ CbmnitsslQhs 1^^^^ due werftA fbr-^ctUto'^|l}'|(lmB/at' Metro, Cb}ifii^:i; ■ biA,''^iimiriigt'«nd-'Radlb/ ■' t^^'-^ Leisen Switches, Off ^Mfflttff^ til SiiliiiY Pic Hollywood. Aiif?. 6 PVoni diieetiiiK "Mon.-ue' at I'.ii.i- mount, Mitchell Leisen huH been swit< h. (i to 'Bed Woman/ fitarriniF ' Sylvia Sidney. ^-^ 'Karph' Murphy. - recMifiy-iif; i'ip..-' ^ places on 'Men.ace.' For 'J in suit of Happiness,' whicl^ Murpiiy st.uted, full .screen credit wflt go to Ale«< ander liall, >vha Splurjres '>Iij?htingale* Yarn fpr YeiUer Prod. I'uranuiunt will spliirj-e on a filiit i)ase(l on the (;'iirn«;in Wat aetlvi- ■ ties of Flort nee Nif,'hlinKOle, .', ' Yarn, in being writjleti by .A titjwfMri^'" Fse of I.I'(M» cxtKiS by Warners duriiij.' .the last woOU l*'! "Hiji iKty / ■ Bike. ■,Ri«ier''■ ':bp<)Ktied tKt^' •■fiiijifl■.'i-tWiip:; ':■ the si.itis'.a to i;f>i%. ■■,Th!iA.;'%,^iEirirt(''->;-, time in sf'V'eriil rivcinllvs Cenl I'al • • «>;iMiHiu ti?-inr>' have hit 1.. i r;;;;l .•. . I'lruvcvt.>l;iy:Svfis-I'Vrili'y (:vv:wj*f'n.. iiU., 'aa^liiSm:^^ ;i(y^re M'orl*iiBi^4