BRITISH FILM COMPANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20354, 10 March 1928, Page 11

BRITISH FILM COMPANY

MANAGER CLAIMS DAMAGES. CASE SATISFACTORILY SETTLED. (Pres* Association—3y Telegraph—Copyright., LONDON, March 8. (Received March 9, at 5.5 p.m.) The films case has been settled, Williams receiving an unnamed sum satisfactory to him, as well as costs. Defendants withdraw every aspersion and suggestion against Williams, and express the opinion that the only cause of the difference was that the company had insufficient capital to give full scope to Williams’s undoubted abilities ns a highly accomplished producer and organiser of pictures. The Judge added that he joined in the hope that the result of the litigation would be that Williams in no way would be impaired in future in exercising the abilities which he undoubtedly possessed.—A. and N.Z Cable.

Financial secrets of Britain’s attempt to compote with Hollywood were revealed in a claim for damages by Mr J. D, Williams, formerly in the film business in Australia, against the British National Pictures for wrongful dismissal. Sir Patrick Hastings, for Mr Williams, said that he was an American, and one of the founders of the First National Company. He was engaged as managing director for ten years at £SOOO annually. He set about establishing a big prosperous business to rival America. It was expensive, because in the film business the stars demanded exorbitant salaries, and the best suite of rooms at the best hotels, not only for themselves, but for their mothers, who generally accompanied them. The company charged Mr Williams with extravagance, and its only defence seemed that he refused to obey the orders of the committee? established to run the company.