Variety (May 1936)

VAmETY PICTOIiEi ' "^eclnestlay. May- 6^'1936 Fix on All Tuklic Dofflain' Plots Washington, .May 5. Access .of. film producers to yar^s In the puijlic" domain was itiattrlfUy restricted Monday (4)' when the U. S. Supreme court refused to review decision of tlve Second Circuit Court pf— Appeals- -folding .. lha,]t,.. Mfitrp-: Gold wyn-Mayer infringed on the play, 'Dishonored Lady,' in making the picture 'L,etty Lynton.' . In effect, upholding the .rillfng. of judge \y6olsey in Npw. York, the. nation's Highest tribunal denied peV tltio'n f or" d writ of certioriiH jsbilght by - Metr.o'ink ^ffovt to both avoid damages , ana." fejstabllsh th6 right, of filnj: .prqawc;prs to . make unlimited use:. Pf. 'i^eas" .Ivhich copyright protection ria'si'Viplredi The (jburt-sy .fitand-Hv -a'Sivere Iblowvto thei film industry, which had; Joined hands;ih au.pporting. ,Metro in the hope ibf ptevehtlng legal barriers froni 'cur-v tailing' supply of , story material,- * T?h'e Supreme "court, as is In cases- wheNf- appeal^ are denied; ■' ' tfli^IciatioTn of Its own jeA^ : thfe ImpOPtaTlt-^ .cojpyright' '' ' 'the lidnsequence ■ of .is -^dJ compiel 'all lower cbuiits iih^ twe^^ '-low the.i if|SSs&nlnff..«'f,-Judgt/ Wo(»l - sey.- wh^' .held that .ada-ptiatiphs''of^ public d.bmiatfn>material ieite entitled- t,o copyrig.h.t. ptoteptionl Tlie-i^ppeaLwasi.ba thie con^. tentieli.tHat jrudgfei^yopJaey. erred in failing' to limit copyright safeguards to new niateriai and 'in excluding evidence that publio. domain stuff forms, .the 'comrnon stock Jn trade'-, of all dramatists. The court's .refusal constituted a signal 'victory for 'Ed^vard Sbeldoi and Mrs," Margaret AyepBaThes, au- thors .of '^Dishonored L,a,dy,' -"Who sued ^ for. punitive, damages under tjie V25O. minimum .infringement clause a$ well as for a-cut of Me^ti'o prpfits/and. attorneys* je^s. • t Industry: SuppbrtedP Appeal With 17 major prpduifers . giV added '■ s'upppi't x6 its cpnt'entioris,' .Sietro ih;;its petitipri the higii ctfurt claimed'. that" ,cppj^rig:ilt. cail"^ not. apjpty to a Msic."J^lot ..tpund^^ the public, domain, aiid inslste|d tjhiat Uie flim •'Version " Qf 'jLetty LyjUton' was radicalljr difffSreni.t .froni. tHe atoge. tre.aimenV.bf 'jLiady,' . jtotJii the fjini a]id'stage plays admittedly: were taken' frpm the historic story of the trial -of Maaeleirie Sfnlth 'in Gotland ,80 years ago for jpoi^.oning' ■ ' in j|th.eVpetil|on for T^View.'iaj^tro;' explllned thait' eff6i't6t;;w>^re^mad&i^^^^^ b|ay the stage~'¥ightsi but that Avheh this procedm^e'Was; unsuccessful a" njew ' script was 'pi'epareci- from, sp^eeh'. ri^hti' to the- nqyifel'. Mrs.; Belldc Ix)wiicles, '-which ;^ased bh the ski,m6' histoVii:al "i^arrii . The: ((itbal "for 'f)l.sKp,bpre^ii ' .Lady' ' fell tlirough wlveii the' fi^ys organlza-' ^- t|pn vefused to conSent/.to .^cv.eeri s|)me of the Immoral scenes artd ob- jectionable dialog... ' -ItIw produceri^giji^Jended there •were ninmerp.u?. <|fffe.repceg between' the stage and "screen versions and insisted that^.;. if|;itneqf|'^ parallelism were infringement " {He industry ■would be hpg-tled wJien it. came'to n^ake other Aims based -^on plots In thfe p^ublic domain. J iKlg-e Wpol- sey 'ftbted, however, that there Svere many places where the film ahd l^ay were identical qr. much the jf^me and held, that,these incidents ^•fcve foundation to the plagiarism cfiarge. .|The high court was- unmoved by MeU'o'H list of differences between the two works. Metro pointed out tjjiat its nim emphasized 'wholesome love' while the stage script dealt with, 'sexual emotions and indul- gence's' and the petition, further noted that the hei'oine in the pic- tiirt! was 'romantic* while the prin- cij)al female character on the stage wjas a 'tragic figure.' :The Wobl.spy decision, which stands ns a result of the Supreme cburfs nl.N to the appeal, held that; Wjhlle there was evidence the novel, the play and the film all came from Hie §ame basic source, Metro had iliade use of numerous Ideas and tileatments found in the stage wovk. Ap a .consequence, the Circuit Court ij4ld', the .studio could ^^ot plead Im- nfunity on the ground, the original iqea.Avas in the public domain. Discovered ; ' !Etolly%ood, Meiy'S. It may just bfe a coincidence, :but Just after Glenn Erickson - changed hls'frdnt nibnicker to " Lrejf,' PareClhouftt! took up his ' |trty Groupers'GiVe 'Awake'Pic the Sinirk ' ^ Baltlniorei: Ma-y - 5, ^ roup'- -Theatre' "cast" 'in '- 'Awake and';Sin!^/ wWch' ptayi^d fi"prci's''last ■tveek", "were inVitied ^in' a t>c?dy to the i^ew last' week ttit ''aavancA .'screen- ing pf tiie 'ifiim .version of Gd^^^ play. Qhly brie replacement in legit ! !.iVW|^kB\ isii^ian playihft role J.. Edt wark v^fe<i!n|bfei^ >ian<|iejd '.'"jeJiiri BorHHblli^J^;c(h offei^ to do^i;^ iila^.|: in .the film and aGcepted,''' -ipfhich a;mqiinja|,'-tb sojri}et-hing-|\treasoija^le Group gang Sat Jh a bunch and smirkied, sneereja and;,c?iacked cyni- cal . - all tliirgiuglx > pi(jturei V .iRemarks wet-e anip^iftedjvtvi'hen. Bfbih^ was befoire camera. Bbmberg was the second m^rn^'e'^ ,of theigroup to be 'seduced' by Hol- lywood's ".gqld." First was FrafichPt Tone, who went • to the GoastV hot long 'after acting company Avas foirmed.'amotig young Theatre Gtfild- iteS. Tone, one'of thie founders.-Is said tb be .'held not in' at airiTjad repute at present; On his trips'6'asi he . always drops around to iriqulrfe hpw things are coming along.'andv it is relJbrted, he not long; ago ''do- nated $5;0pQ tb the orgahizatibn: •Arthm* !pi-J«iCoU -F. FrfscolT, of O'Brien, MSING ON ROGERS' HIPP MUSICAL . Hollywood, May -5, ;-H. Bni'nside^'for 26 yoafcs pro-^ duc<er general .of spfectacTes- at > New i.York Hippodrome; will act as hls- itorlan and technical advisor on 'Universal's. musical based on the ! Lqhp . iji . jpfet" prodtyiiiort-- yeh Ol iChai'les k." Rbfeert,' story is 'being contbcted by -Ralph' Murphy • and Garr'ettt Port, with'former "slated to .direct. It may be titled 'Hippo- jdrbme' .for; release title. .Biirnslde ■is en route .here from N. Y. OberoD Scores First Hollywood,. May 6. j First round was Won by .Merle lObecbn in her .legal tilt with Selzr inick-lnterhatlonal-. when Superior: jJudge iRphert "'W. Kenny overruled .idemurrer.tb .actress';cont:plaint. I' Actress suing .fbr damage.o; iamqunting . to . $123,333.33, claiming Ito have .been.injured to that amount •throughi heihg dropped .from lead jpaiTt In company's iGarden of Allah.' I •> ■ ' .- ■ ■ ~ '■ Errol in Shorts Series 1, Hollywood, May 5. Lee Marcus launched first of Series of new .comedy shorts .bear- ing label qf Superba at Radio. Ru.Sfj Goodwin is directing from script on wiilch he collaborated with Monte Collins. -Leon Errol Is fea- turied. Supportln.g cast has Lucille Ball, Jane Hamilton, Alan Curtis, Vivlari Oakland, Bob Graves and Delmar Watson. RaX'lci-y, atlurneys i'uisu. Mrs.. Barnes and £5holdon, stAte.s Jthat Die TT. S. Supvcime. Court's af- firmation mean.s that legal fees in boih thp. trial court and the circuit court m'ust be paid by ;\letro, in ad- dition to the accounting of Iho proflt.s. lie estimates, roughly, a $500,000 profit on Metro's 'Letty Lyntqn' and doesn't believe that the film conipnny will engage in. negotl-' atlons >foi- .«;ellloni*nt I1I view of its disposition, piiur to trial, not to do Fidds ResBii{! in Ariz, ; ' Hollywood, May 5« .W. QjFieiis WiU'fake an extended.^ riest neiair T^won* i^rlz., ^.f ter a long' illrie.ss.\.'. Cf '. Acto^^wW^ keep lin touch with the studio should reta,kes on 'Fpppy' be necessai'y. Xan't umyngni i a Voice^' So Hden Kane Loses Par Suit Agaun The Appellate Division pf the N. T.. Supreihe Court.on Friday (1) unanimiqusly sustained the ruling of JHaitice,:Edwar^ -;jr. JJcGoldrich,; In dtigmissfng . the $250,000 action bfqugh't^ ,twq'. yieata- ago by . Helen (^opp-a-ipoq^).-Kane against ;Max Fleischer and'' Paramqunt^PubUx. This, declsiqil ,. prohibits Miss . Kane frqm further .Appeal. ' Mis'^s. .^Cane based her^ action, on the trouVids t<i'at "Fleisdhfet: ajfid Par used her voibe. and origjnaillty in the cartoons by Fleischer in his Out of the Irikweir shorts, without her permission, ijgi^e, iftlsq.:sOUg/\t an-:ln- junctlbn, Judg^'Care-w held nb one could copyright a voice, and Miss !-Kane dld-not-hold the ^copyrigh the' adtlbns of tlie. Fleischer char- acter.' '" ' ' "". bbll Siiit ,:'an., opinion . ii> . . he, aWajrded $.5,540. damages , tKe Flel§btier "Studiqsi,. Inc., Fleiscltejr Art iService, The;, , and the" Cameo jbbijl'iCq., y. S. Federal Judge Johri 'M.:' WODlsey ifi ^N.' X, yesterday; .(Ttiesday), branded the dei^endaht, Ralph A. Freuridlich, president of ?the Ralph- A. Freundil doll 1 makers; "a 'comtii'ercial parasite' and recommended that the. U. S. a,t-i torney investigate to see if Freundr lich could be prosecuted on cximi- hal charges. . ' The suit brought against Freund- lleh charged'he and his^company with infrirtigem^nt u()on tJie cojjy- righted cartoon-/'characters of .'Betty -Boop' whiclr.rMax Fleischer originated in the making of dolls'.- 'The- defendaiitB- oiaimed the iFlei's- cher copyright --wias invalid in- that i Helen Kane.' was -the: .originator ' of the character; . '•Freundllch .at the .trial impressed me as belonging < to the- common type of cqmmercial • parasite,' . .said •the Judge irt -his opinion, --who'en- deavors slyly to... beneftt from the 'work done and. the good l will- achieved by others.* Besides -the. award granted the plaintiffs, ithe court, directed the de- fendants-to pay $15,000 fees to the plaintiff!s counsel. Studio §and In Lop^pn, Too . Richai'd Arlen, r e c e 1111 y brought acvoss the ocean by Pstuntont-British, lias his as- ' si^nmeht. *' H6 I:^ going back across the bceaiii to Canada, to make 'The Great ivide.' Heap Big Snn-Dodgers, Sronze^v(^^ iHake^ SAILINGS May 20 (London to New York), Max Milder, David Griffith (Beren- ^garia'). ' May 20,(San Francisco to Tokyo), Tom p. Cochrane (TatiivSta Maril)'. '. ' May 13 (London to New, York), •J06 .Tackson, Joe Jackson, Jr. (Eu- r'opa); • ' ; May 8 (Havana, to Ver I'uz); Ed Perkins (Orizaba). May S CLos Angeles to Japan), Charles Herbeft (President Garr ■.field)."' . May; B (Xbw Y'brk to London"), Margbt' Gtahame,- Sylvia Sidney (Bereiigaria). i May 7 (London to New York), Jh. B.- Pole (Manhattan). . May 6 .iNew. York to London), frphn W. Hicks, Jr. (Washington). ..May 6. (London to Kew York), Harriet Hutchlhs, Raymond ftlngo '<Georglc). , May 4 (Mifxlcan cruli^e) Mr. and Mrs. Ross Lewln (Mildred V.'alsh) .(Antljs:ua). May .a ..(Xew 'York to^ Londort), Arturo ToscaninI,. Pierre jMonteux, Otto Klemperer., .Madeleine Monnier, Adolfo Bettl, .lack Curtis, Don Mese- reau (Champlain). May 2 (New York to Genoa), .Vrigna Enters (Vulcanla). May 2 (New York to Rio de Ja- nlero), Wallace Downey (Weslevn Prince). . May 2 (New York to Havana), Ed Perkins (Orlente), .May 2 (New York to Nas.sau), .Ar- thur SinShelmer (Munarg.o). Alay 2 (New York to London), Charles G. Stew rt, Wilfred Lawson (Europa). ARRIVALS Gertrude Niesen, Maui-lce Her- hilte, Paul Derval, Stanley Haynes, -\Irs.- Marthe-Jeanne Pettier, Mrs. Ernestine; Ronle, Norma- MacGee. Petor Lol-re, Eprthqld Vlertel, Greta i Gar bo, Gertie Citana, Don. Ross. ■ .■: 1 ■ 'lawiath, KlariiatTi Indians no'ki^tchu'm-;sun- shine. r^tif .. .. pOiOlroom,,, Xoo. much.Heapi big Red. Man all, pame i>aieface, so-iEqur malceu'p men.Wrei'e i-ushed' hete liy-plane fi*qmK-Hbliy'- ■wood tq ptit -a Biin -^an qn the -pan-Si the VaiilShing.'Americans; Worfelng- ^n Reliance's 'Last pf; the Mohicans.'; ' Paleface. Indlaiis are no ;good. for. pictures.^ Thjis was discovered aJtfK three.; ;days\:jwp^k ;^on■■;tiie^,plptli^)|^', wheSn' the 50- |iil^math lndian4^%t>^Hr Ing in the picture looked, like plati- num, blondes on the screen.. Ken Goldsmith,: sutifivvisor, ga-v«,f ^but .With', a (yetll ani^ Jiliqned t^»6?^it'tld.i"q In 'Hollywqod'' ask'ing...for the' fqiir makeup men pijonto, Face artists arrlyexl Ij^i^e-jilotitjle time andjs^jtit^d to daub .l^rphie-fori the- pahs'the nobie suh.-dodgers. LimE EGYPT'S $25,000 liAMAGE; CLAIM VS; M*G '-$25',O0O: for. alleged' libel iwas -filed Alqnday' (5) In "N. ^ . Supreime • attorney for Frieda tyfbtoulbs, the orig'I'ilal •Little: gypt* {igaihst Metro;-': the: dancer also - asks- .a • teraij.Draty 'iij-, jiinclion. tb stoprthe showing qftjie pijpture "The - Great iegfelia,; ^claim- iriig it is-damaging fo her I'ejputa- The. complainant ' states 'th'a't.Vshe; 'originated th^ cboch character;- 'at; th.e". AVor'ld's Fair in Chicago .In -139'^ aiid that *ev^r'.^Ince she and .'Little Egypt' were' syfroriymbus. She bb-^' jeets tq " the. part of the plci'iii'e in w'iiic'h Zlegfeld'ts supposed to send a wire to h'eV' manager sOggesting^ that 'EgypV 'lid Sandow, another character of iin'e" titne, be joirie'di in' a fak'6 mai'riage for publicity pur-, posbs, and- 'we'll Split 50-50 on " the baby.' All of which Miss'' StyVo- toulos .claims is; a libel agalnist her'. The .hearirig on the injurictibh \yill be held tbday (Wed.) bfefoi^e Justice Aaron J'. Levy! /■f Hollywood, May 5. Foll.q\yini^.^ai)noun.cementi, t>j a^cei-s* would'' ment ahiqng screen writers, and the formation of a committee to fore- stail any sucTi ♦mbyement within the ranks bf the Screen Writers Guild that , was headed , by James K. McGuinness, after yariouB state- ments ■were made pro. and con on the' issue fqi'' several days, a truce was effected at 'd^'riVe^hbur session .seartlng. . Wedrtesday (29)^'. ji'unnjng until early). Tj^iirsday morn^ Truce .camb.Syhqn tlie ad'rairiistra- tibn groii'p''agreed to pbstpbiie' vote on' legal'"^amalgamatipn * Wfth the Authors'- .League of America until changes in ;t^^?. cQnstitu,tiiQnv.4P.d -by- laws that'^had been .suggested: by the opposliig! Woes were hiafie. ^ It; wafe''agt'eea 'that -ihstie'gid' bf Mlie legal, amalgaimatlon- being. ejidprsed that.the Guil^i at its..raeeting in- dorse the 'principle of the "amalga- mation ' With tlie' A'utKb'r's* tea'gue. The iJhanges-'' that the"' MfcGuin- ness - ^ommittoe, which /. included, jphn L.ee,.M<T.l^ln, Pattersbi) ]VI,cNul;t, Robert Risk^n and' ifoWard Ei ■Rbgei's;-Sv'i'rite'd''w^re'.' '' ' "''■=■- ■ I;- Restrfctlbh * on voting ^po-wer by i members to jbe based pp. theip sqreen achieyen)eijt§.:; .Scope o£ .tl^is .plan tq be wqrjfiedi 9.ut. '"^mum qualifications..!:. 2. Provision ,tp .be .ma'de ,^n the SWG .^onstjiutiqn. foi; fut.V|r.e. .elec- tions .tha'tj^nqminations, qif,. plhtej-s land board members can be . made from the. floor; o| a meeting qr after' the official slate: is picked ijy the ribminating cbmmitteb. - .'3. 'That all .atiibiidinents' of Screen 'Writers'' Guild constitution be, ratified.' by - the' inembershlp^ ^ Tliat ,a strike ■vote, it any,, b© Itaiien'on'^'th^ "ybte pf 6« 2-'3'. fj.ef cent ot the"'e'ritii'e 'activ^ mehibersiiip aiid not oil that portiqn of members at- tending; a'meetiiig. 5. 'I'liat' the assessment 'system would'have'tb"be rect|ftfed Sq ih'at ,levib^" \V.ei''e' 'made' accqrdirig-'to. the' cla'ss 'that'-'hi^iiibers; ai'e 'in.'and not accor ing tp''their iridivi^uSl "eanl- i'iig power.'-''- .."'■ ■6. That, thb^'ccnsti'tutibn bf the League ' sphly be ameiided by a Uvq-ithir . V .;0f .tl\e. m^rhbers of jeach qf th6!(.th'ree.su^lds, .pi}£vma^^ ' '.(Cpn.tlnued on page;3^)[ '^HIliDREN'S HdjOR Prinz, Par Make Up ' i Hollywood, Ma:^ 5, plaqed ,u4itter" hew term cqptract at Paramount as dance d'.irectqr. LeRoy Prinz has gone east, with- Producer Lewis. Gen.sler to Start preparations, n picture ..linkup. Prinz's former contract with. Par ■expired several months ago,.wltli studio and director unable to get to- gether on renewal at that time,.,. Chan Back From Ch'na Hollywood, May 5. Returning after two months in the Orient, Warner Oland reports to 20th-Fox soon for start On next of bis series of three Charlie Clian pictiireis.' Title of first will.be 'Chra-lle ChaiT at the Race Track.' Oland had* to go. right out to hl.s home in Cai^penterla for a rest. 'Chan' being a popular character in China a'nd- .Tapaii^ he had to c.onre 'home fi'om his ivacallon to resit up. it was the Oland.s' first visit. Ruth Donnelly at Warners. Hollywobd; May '5-^ Ruth Donnelly - planed out from Ngav York to step in role previqu.sly aniiouncf-d for Jiary Boland In sup- port ot Marion Davie.s in 'Cain 'and Mabel" at Warners. Deal with Miss Eoland failed to jell. Five Fil Juyes Get' jC0ijfrt:: '', provai of ContrgctjB; 6. five • Hollywobd, May Cbntra'ct approval cbveHng juve players-was obtained past week by iiiree major studios. ^ MteEppets given coul-t s'anctlon tq dr«,w down weekly stipend oyer ■ varying; periods include: ■.'-•■'■ .- - George 'ttudd' Hjoi'thi" (George Ernest) -'at '26th-Fos --for" four* pics yearly. " ' Salary' stai't-fng ''at $150 weekly,'With four- optionis 'Mmnihg it up" to '$500. Same number of films will'be' Worked in by William Mahan and ' June CarlSori at 'same studio, pai^ scale ranging 'from $50 'tq $400 oH pifektips. Contraxst'. of Edna Mae--.: Durbin with Mett-o' also' drew tburt tskay. Youthful-singer-actress draws.down $125 week.;at start, with pay hiourtt- Ing fo< $600 Weekly over-seven year period bf deal. Jean Rogers, >.under her real name of Eleai,nor;-Lbv€gren, had added-qption amendment to her Univex'sai ticket okayed at $125 weekly salary. Dupont Fetched ^Son' Hollywood, May 5. First assignment for E, A. Dupont under new dil'ectorial contract at [^ara.mount v/.ill be on-Albert Lewis' prpductioii .of 'Soil .Comes Home,' Ceat'Uririg Tom rown. Recently swung over direct 'Forgotten Faces.' Phoebe in *Hussy' H'bllywbod, May 5. Phoebe Foster goes into Metro'.s "The Gorgepus Hussy'. Stage player due from New York May 15. Sol iesser's Gene Marvey Philadelphia. May. &- G'ene Marvey; shmer. under co/ tract w'iih fiol Le.s.'.-oi" for pix. Leaves for Coast in few daya