RASPUTIN FILM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 November 1937, Page 4

RASPUTIN FILM

i.iiiel action settled [United I’i'chs Afruirialinii-ltv Electric TV 1 1" tr i-;i |ih —< ’opv ricrlit 1 LONDON. 1511 1 November. The Chegodielf libel action, alleging libel against. the Metro-( loldw.vn Mayer Pictures. Ltd., in eomierlinn with Inc film "Rasputin and the Empress." has been settled. Mr Norman Birkett. K.C. lor the plaintiffs, said that the film "Rasputin the Mad Monk" purported to portray the life and assassination of Rasputin and the plaint ills' names were linked with his as characters who were aliened to have been implicated in Rasputin's murder. Researches had cleared the plaintiffs of the imputations. Defendants regretted that the names bad been used inadvertently and had expressed regret for pain and distress caused to Prince and Princess Chegodiclf. In 1934 Princess Hina Alexandrova, otherwise Princess Voussoupotf. a cousin of the late Tsar, brought suit against Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, makers of the dim "Rasputin 1 and the Kmpress." and won a verdict of £25,0(10 damages. The basis of the action was the identity of Princess Voussoupotf with Natasha .a character in the lilm who was represented as having been seduced by the monk Rasputin. Princess Ilina complained when the lilm reached England, and the production was cut in the effort to meet her objection. In addition to damages. Mi Justice Avory granted the Princess an injunction against the defendants restraining them from distributing the film. The costs of both sides were estimated at £15.000. Subsequently Prince Alexis Pavlovich ChegodieiT sued Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr Pictures, Limited, for alleged | libel in connection with the film, re- i calling Princess Voussoupoff's action in j 1934 against (he "Daily Mail."