FORTUNES IN FILMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 50

FORTUNES IN FILMS.

NEW YORK, May 9. Interesting statements concerning the salaries paid to cinematograph stars have been made by witnesses before the Federal Trade Commission, which is investi gating allegations that the Famous Flayers’ Corporation is a trust and is restraining trade. It was stated that in 1917 Charlie Chaplin received £200,000 each to pro duce eight pictures. While this was the largest contract ever made, it was the cheapest eventually, because Chaplin, under the terms of the contract, paid for the completed negatives, and was responsible for all salaries, expenses, and scenery. Between _1917 and 1918 Mary Pickford received £70,000 each tor three pictures in which she starred—a total of £210,000. Norma Talmadge received £62,000 for each of eight pictures, and later received £70,000 each lor eight more, making the enormous total of £816,000. For 12 films Constance Talmadge was paid £20,000 each, and for another 12 she received £30,000 each, making her total receipts £600,000. Katherine AlacDonald received £120,000 for acting in six pictures. In the follow ing year she received £480,000 for starring in 12 pictures. Olga Petrova received £128,000 ior appearing in eight pictures. Jack Pickford received £20,000 each for four pictures; Anita Stewart, £16,000 each for four, and then £20,000 each for four more, plus a share of the net profits. Marshall Neilan was paid £16,000 each for eight pictures, plus a share of the profits. Every contract referred to was similar in its terms to the Chaplin contracts, the stars paying expenses. Some stars received as much as £IO,OOO as a bonus for signing contracts, while all were given large advances.