RUSSIAN PRINCESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21743, 7 March 1934, Page 9

RUSSIAN PRINCESS

ACTION FOE LIBEL JURY AWARDS £25,000 FILM COMPANY SUED HEAVY LEGAL COSTS By Tcleizriiph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 6, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, March S A jury to-day awarded Princess Irina Youssoupoff, wife of Prince Felix Youssoupoff of Russia, and daughter of the Grand Duke Michailovitcb, £25,000 damages. She had claimed 2,000,000 dollars from the Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer Film Corporation, alleging that the character of Princess Natasha, in the film "Rasputin and the Empress," was so thinly veiled that people throughout the world recognised the character as herself. Princess Irina telephoned to her mother, Princess Zenia, at Windsor, from her solicitor's office, announcing the result of the action and expressing delight at it. Prince Youssoupoff says he refused offers to participate in the film and to re-enact the killing of Rasputin. The couple, after telephoning to other friends, repeatedly posed for flashlight photographs. Injunction Against Picture

Mr. Justice Avory, in refusing a stay of proceedings beyond to-morrow morning to permit of an appeal, ordered a sum of £IOOO, paid into Court by Princess Irina, to be handed to her solicitors.

The Judge entered judgment and granted an injunction restraining defendants from publishing the film as complained of in the action. It is estimated that the legal costs, embracing both sides, total more than £15,000, including Sir William Jowitt's brief for defendants. This is supposed to be £2500 a day with a "refresher" Of £250, junior silk £IOOO, with ers," and two juniors with £750 each and "refreshers." Sir Patrick Hastings' fee is said to reach four figures, with "refreshers" in addition. Assassination of Rasputin

The story of Prince Youssoupoff's assassination of Rasputin, the sinister priest at the Russian Imperial Court, was revealed from first-hand sources when the question of Princess Youssoupoff's identity with the film character, Princess Natasha, was discussed at the hearing of the action. Sir Patrick Hastings, for Princess Ixina, stated that Rasputin, before lie was killed, boasted that he was plotting with the ex-Kaiser to induce the Tsar to abdicate before appointing the Tsarina regent, when Rasputin would bo the supreme ruler of Russia. Prince Youssoupoff was aware that the Imperial family and the police were powerless to intervene with tho Isar at the front. He decided that he and his friends would rid Russia of R2lSputin. • Prince Youssoupoff lured Rasputin to a cellar in his great Moika palace, and gave him cakes and wine containing enough poison to kill 20 men, and shot him. Rasputin recovered, and the Prince j shot him again and threw the body into the river, making no secret of the occurrence.

Prince and Princess Youssoupoff were eventually exiled from Russia. Evidence of the Plaintiff

The jury having inspected the film, Irina, who is staying at Windsor with her mother, the Grand Duchess Zenia, gave evidence of. her relations with the Tsar and his family, .and her ordeal during the revolution, when she and her husband lost everything. She had no doubt, she said, that Natasha, who, she inferred from the film, was assaulted by Rasputin, was meant for herself. She sometimes wore a nurse's dress when visiting hospitals. So did Natasha. The object of the present litigation was to clear her character, not to make money.

Sir William J'owitt suggested that the whole manner of Irina's life made it fantastic to suppose that there were any relations between Rasputin and herself.