PLAYS FOR FILMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1934, Page 4

PLAYS FOR FILMS

GOOD MATERIAL SCARCE. The shortage of good screen material is sending up the price of plays and suitable novels (writes the Film Correspondent of the London “Daily Telegraph”). Two stage successes recently sold to the screen arc “Escape Me Never” and “Clive of India.” I heard that for the former Miss Margaret Kennedy will receive £7,000, plus a percentage of the receipts—this last being a concession which Mr Shaw, almost alone among playwrights, has been able to exact. For “Clive of India” the authors, R. J. Minney and AV. P. Lipscomb, have been paid £7,000. Although it is difficult in many cases to disentangle the actual figures from the inflated sums mentioned by publicity agents, I understand that the j following prices were paid by film 'companies for stage successes:—“The ■ Barretts of Wimpolc Street,” by Rujdolf Besier, 80.000 dollars, then worth £26,000; “Dinner at Eight,” by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman £20,000; “Men in AVhitc,” by Sydney Kingsley £12.000; “Sailor Beware,” (the New York comedy now shelved by the film producers as a result of the morality campaign) £13,500; “Party,” by Ivor Novello £8,000; The Ben Travers farces produced by Gau-mont-British (against royalties) each £5000; “Service.” by Dodie Smith, £6,000; “Tho Shining Hour.” bv J. Keith AVinter £9,500.

Where royalties are involved (as in the case of “Escape Me Never”) the author receives a certain percentage of the receipts from the film, with the sum mentioned as a minimum advance.

BUSTER KEATON. Buster Keaton, the film comedian, says a B.U.P. message, has filed at Los Angeles a petition for voluntary bankruptcy, showing liabilities £60,766 and assets of £2,400. BENEATH HIS DIGNITY. Charles Boyer, the distinguished French actor, is the latest foreign player to show what Hollywood calls “temperament.” and Oscar AVilde called “the responsibility of the artist to his materials.” He wenl to Hollywood under conjtract to the Fox Company, and was I allotted a role in “Captive Bride,” the | next picture to be made by Jesse Lasky. He refused ii, mi the ground that the part, was beneath his dignity. .Air Winfield R. Sheehan, production manager of the, Fox Company, is said ito have tried lo compel the French- i man lo obey instructions, and when) he failed, to have agreed to the tear-ing-up of the contract. B. LILLIE LOSES LAWSUIT. NEAV YORK, July 13. Miss Beatrice Lillie (Lady Robert! Peel), the actress, has lost her £10,01)0 suit against AVarner Brothers, the motion picture producers, ami other persons. She- alleged they had made unauthorised used in an abbreviated form of her “Show of Shows.” In 1930 Miss Lillie also lost a £20,000 suit against Warner Bros, for alleged damage to her professional reputation because she said, she was given only • minor parts. ~ (