Welles Demands Release Of His Film

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 179, 26 April 1941, Page 16

Welles Demands Release Of His Film

QRSON WELLES, the unpredictable boy wonder of the entertainment world, broke a long silence regarding his controversial “Citizen Kane” a few days before the last New Zealand mail left New York, when he sum-

moned reporters to his hotel suite and issued an “ultimatum” to RKO that unless the film was released promptly he would institute legal proceedings. Stating that he has a “25 per cent interest in profits from the film” and Hint these, not to mention his reputation, were being jeopardized by delay in releasing “Citizen Kane,” Welles issued a statement saying . “Under my contract with RKO I have .the right to demand that the picture be released and to bring legal action to force its release. RKO must release ‘Citizen Kane.’ If it does not do so immediately, I have instructed my attorney to commence proceedings.” Disciplining any desire on his part for “sensationalism,” Welles said he was compelled to make a public statement because he felt “the picture would not be shown due to pressure being brought upon RKO by other studio executives for its suppression.” This, he said, was due to “allegations that the picture was based on the life of Wil-

liam Randolph Hearst.’’ He flatly denied that. this was so. Welles said he approached George J. Schaefer, president of RKO, and offered to bay the fihn, but that. Mr. Schaefer, said the company was not interested in making such a deal. Welles said one major studio and several bankers were ready to put up 1,000,000 dollars to purchase the film, in which RKO invested 800,000 dollars.

Mr. Welles's statement, which he read in the presence of reporters to Mr. Schaefer in Hollywood, elicited no comment immediately from RKO. RKO has never stated that it would not release the tilm. It was scheduled by the company for distribution on February 28, when a 50.000 dollar advertising campaign was launched in six national magazines. The film has apparently been shown privately, and “Life” has praised its novel and effective technique.

Jj’RANCES DICE has one of the oddest roles vet in “So Ends Our Night.’’ In the opening sequences she is in front of the camera three minutes without speaking a line and merely nodding her head.' She is missing till the finale, and then comes in for a two-mlnnte deathbed scene. Here she speaks sparingly. Yet her performance stands out above all the others in the cast, it is said.