HOLLYWOOD CLOSES PURSE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 258, 9 October 1931, Page 2

HOLLYWOOD CLOSES PURSE

SLUMP IN FILM RIGHTS CHANCE FOR ELSTREE Has Hollywood struck at last against the enormous sums demanded by dramatists and novelists, particularly the former, for the screen rights of their works? It would seem so, because the weeks pass and there is no news that either Mr. J. B. Priestley’s “The Good Companions” or Mr. Rudolf Besier’s “The .Barretts of Wimp,ole Street” will reach the screen, despite their great success in England and America. It is understood that the price asked for “The Good Companions” .s £30,000, and the price of “The Barretts” is not likely to be less. , One American producer who went to see the latter play said that it tyoulcl make an excellent film “if those confounded hoops could he taken out of ,it,” but it is improbable that Eliza.be'th Barrett will ever be seen in fihprt skirts or Browning in plus fours! f English dramatists and novelists have found Hollywood a wonderful ftilch cow, hut those halcyon days ffeems to be vanishing, and it looks as writers will be at last compelled to assist the native film industry. England has not been able to (Compete with America in the prices paid for film rights, but if that lucrative market crashes, Eiatree may come into its own.

£51,000 for “Broadway” Hollywood producers paid £51,00f) for the film rights of “Broaidway.” They paid Erich Remarque £45,000 for “All Quiet on the Western Front.” “Street Scene” cost them £30,000, and “Scrictly Dishonourable” £25,000, which was also the price paidi for “The Front Page” and “Cimarron!” “The American tragedy,” against the exhibition of which the author. Mr. Theodore Dreiser, is now trying to obtain an injunction, cost £IB,OOO. The price paid for Mr. R. C. Sherriff’s “Journey’s End” was £16,000. Mr. Rupert. Hughes received £15,000 for “Ladies’ Man.” For “Late Night Final” Mr. Weitzenkorn was paid £IO,OOO. Mr. Arthur Hopkins received . £IO,OOO for “Holiday,” and for his “Rebound,” in which Miss ina Claire has made a great hit, £7500. Dramatists and novelists, in demand ing such prices, have unwittingly done the screen a good service. They have forced film producers to explore the possibilities of creating original stories.