MAE WEST AUTOCRATIC

Evening Star, Issue 22249, 29 January 1936, Page 9

MAE WEST AUTOCRATIC

QUARREL WITH FILM CHIEFS There is trouble between Mae West and the Paramount film company. Unless American reports are exaggerated she will go to another company as soon as her present picture, ‘ Klondyke Lou ’ is finished. Paramount complain that Miss West is too autocratic and temperamental.She has always insisted on writing her own stories and dialogue, and lately she has been demanding more control over the direction, the choice of supporting players and cameramen, and other matters ordinarily left to the director and producer. Friction between Miss West and Ern Lubitsch, production head of Paramount, ended in his turning ‘ Klondye Lou ’ over to an assistant producer. The trouble began when her cameraman was given to Bing Crosby She complained that the substitute did not understand how she should be photographed, and lighted. Another cameraman was allotted to her, but he had worked only one day when the assistant to her first cameraman was called in and given the job. Differences about the treatment of the story then arose. Miss West fell behind with the script, and worked on it, it is said, in time that should have been devoted to “ shooting.” _ The studio notified her that if she did not work on it at home and keep ahead of production another writer would be assigned to the task. Another complaint by the studio was that the production was 23 days behind schedule. ‘ Klondyke Lou 5 was to have cost £160,000. Owing to delays and Miss West’s successful demand for double, salary because the company'was not ready to begin work at the stipulated time, the cost will be £200,000. '' For the making of this picture Mis* West is being paid £2,000 a weekj Should she do another picture this will be reduced to £I,OOO a week, but she is now being offered by her agent ta other companies, and it is considered that she and Paramount will part.