RASPUTIN FILM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1937, Page 10

RASPUTIN FILM

ALLEGED LIBEL

SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCE!}

CHEGODIEFF CASE

(United Press Association—By Electrla' TelegraDh—Copyright.) (Received November 16, 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 15. The Chegodieff libel action, alleging libel against the Metro-Goldwyh-Mayer Pictures, Ltd., in connection with the film "Rasputin and the Empress," has been settled. Mr. Norman Birkett, K.C., for the plaintiffs, said that the film "Rasputin, the Mad' Monk" purported to portray, the life and assassination of Rasputin and the plaintiffs' names were linked with his as characters who were alleged to have been implicated in Rasputin's murder. Researches had cleared the plaintiffs of the imputations. Defendants regretted that tha names had been used inadvertently and had expressed regret for pain and distress caused to Prince and Princess Chegodieff. .

In 1934 Princess Ilina Alexandroya, otherwise Princess Youssouppff, .. a cousin of the late Tsar, brought suit against Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, makers of the film "Rasputin and the Empress," and won a verdict of £25^000 damages. The basis of the. action was I the identity of Princess Youssoupof? with Natasha, a character in the film who was represented as Having been! seduced by the monk Rasputin. Prin« cess Ilina complained when the film reached England, and the production was cut in the effort to meet her objection. In addition to damages, Mr. Justice Avory granted the Princess art injunction against the defendants restraining them from distributing- tha film The costs of both sides werflj estimated at £15,000. Subsequently Prince Alexis Paylovich Chegodieff sued Metro ; GoldwynMayer Pictures, Limited, for alleged libel in connection with the film, recalling Princess Youssoupoff's action in 1934 against the "Daily Mail."