Fancy Prices Paid

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 13024, 1 May 1940, Page 6

Fancy Prices Paid

Competition for important film stories has never been so keen as *t present. companies are bidding wildly for every successful play and are trying to buy novels from galley proofs to beat out their competitors. All are hoping to find another “Gone with the Wind-,” which is now hitting top records for all time in box-office receipts. Because of the demand for these plays and stories, prices are soaring and producers and authors are holding off for tne highest possible figures. One instance of late is the attempt by Columbia to buy film rights ~to “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” " successful play based on character of Alexander Woollcott. Sam H. Harris, Moss Hart and George Kaufmann have just refused a bid of 2 50,000 dollars, together with a percentage for the picture rights. Paramount,. Fox, Warners and R-K-0 are also said to be interested in the property.

gale of two plays for fancy prices was reported recently.

Warner Bros, paid 150,p00 dollars for the film rights to the Eliot Nugent play, “Male Animal,” which scored only a mild success at a local theatre a few months ago, but which caught on in New York.

R-K-0 has purchased George Abbott play, "Too Many Girls,” for a reported price of 100,000 dollars. Paramount has already signed two of the principals of this play, but didn’t take the play.