A FAKED FILM

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

A FAKED FILM

EXPLORER TAKES ACTION. A LIVELY CASE.. . ’ . There were shedding of tears and an exchange of angry,, unpleasant ! words in the Chamber of Federal. Judge Alfred C. Coxe, when Carveth Wells, the lecturer and explorer,: and Mrs. Wells, his wife, complained • that Samuel Cummins, exhibitor of • “Jungle Killer,” a sound film being shown at the Central Theatre, had added so much irrelevant and “fake matter” to the picture that the words spoken now from. the screen “sounded ridiculous” (says the New York Times). Mr. and Mrs. Wells had been the original speakers of the words, having made the “sound track” of the picture in an effort to “debunk” “big game” films. The situation was so bad, Mr. Wells complained, and Mrs. Wells tearfully backed him up, that besides ruining his theme, the - additions, and also certain eliminations, now. made it appear that he and his wife did not know the difference between a rhinoceros and a flamingo.’ “Why, it’s outrageous,” said the former president of the Explorers’ Club. “In the present hippopotamus and rhinoceros scene everyone hears me talking about flamingos. “In another. scene a herd of zebras is shown at a moment when is say: ‘There is a gazelle.’ It makes me out a perfect fool. ‘.‘Another thing I object to: When the sound -track, was originally made Mrs. Wells pointed ...out that gorillas were being shown for the first time on the screen. ‘That’s the first gorilla, picture I’ve seen,’.'she said. But since then there have -been other gorilla pictures. We censored this part of the sound track and told Cummins ..to take it out. -'.He kept it in just -the same. Really, it makes us a laughing stock.” <. ■. THE WRONG WAY. . Another objectionable addition to the picture put in without Mr. ■ Wells’ authorisation was the snake scene, the ex-plorer-said. ■' ■ , ? v ' “In its original form,” Mr. Wells said, “it was interesting. The snakes were fighting and one devoured- the other, swallowing it all. ■ “This-man,” : sajd Mr. .Wells, pointing to ’ Mr, Cummins, “showed the fight backward so that it; seemed as if the swallowed: snake .was. being regurgitated—most unscientific.” Mr.' Wells- explained that he consented;' to “synchronise” the picture without realising when he entered into the agreement that some 800 feet of the film, ,as has been charged, belonged to Frederick Beck Patterson. That part of the film has been .cut out' as a result of . an action brought by Mr. . Patterson against ■ Mr. Cummins, and -the latter, according to Mr. Wells, filled in at random with extraneous matter completely irrelevant to his theme that? jungle beasts are not as ■ ferocious as some have painted them. - “There' were a number -of shooting scenes in the original picture,” said Mr, . Wells,' ’who is - opposed ‘to shooting. “But these are eliminated in the picture now.'* ,1. , , The only shooting, he; said, had been faked, tile target being! a stuffed 'lebpard which was pulled over by a string made to fall* on the ground.. - - -AFFECTED. Rene • A.' Wormser,; Mr. Wells* attorney,’, told the .Court that his ’ client’s reputation/ as an .explorer and naturalist was being seriously injured by the fake effects -:ahd added matter. Mr. Wells, he said/ earned about 40,000 dollars a year. . Mi..;Cummins, represented by' Henry

Pearlman, said that the explorer had given his endorsement to the picture by inviting 300 friends to attend a private showing. He said that it had cost a lot to produce, and that he did not intend to be swayed in his own'business policies by a “lot of temperament.” Mrs. Wells pleaded with Judge Coxe to order Mr. Cummins .to cut out the entire “sound , track.” When the Judge replied thst he . would sign an order directing the exhibitor to cut out all of the “track”- that related' to the pictures he had been forced to cut, Mrs. Wells wept more. “That,” she said, "will be just as bad.’ “It’s like using the voice of Douglas Fairbanks,”- she said, “in a Mickey Mouse picture.” ' . Judge Coxe agreed to order- the - entire "track” eliminated if it were. decided in another action to be argued later that Mr. Cummins had used part of the film of still-another plaintiff. ■ 1 Mr. Cummins, attempted to talk to Mr. Wells as the two men were leaving the Court. “I don’t want to talk to you, Cummins,” said the latter. “You’re a liar and a thief and you know it.” “Yeah?” Observed Mr. Cummins, “that is what you are.” NEWS OF THE STARS. . ' May Redman is now In her 48th' year of active service without missing a single season since her stage debut. \ Herbert Marshall is a firm believer in the “apple a day” adage. He munches an apple between every scene he makes. Only one actor in Hollywood receives regular “fan” mail from film stars. He is Dickie Moore (five), who boasts a large collection- of letters: and gifts from filmdom's greatest. ' Jack Hulbert' -Is said to carry on'from "Jack’s , the Boy” with great success _ in “Love on Wheels,” which the Daily Film Renter declares is “gay, irresistible, and full of good fim.” He is brilliantly supported by Gordon Harker as; a London bus conductor. A number of the scenes were taken actually in Selfridge’s, the great London stores. ! . Victor; Saville, maker of “The Faithful-Heart/’ “Michael and Mary,” and “Sunshine Susie’’'repeats the latter type of production in “Love on Wheels.” Jean Gilbert sup-plies-gay music. “The -Last Coupoii,” a very human, and delightful North! Country: comedy .wKiph has had such a successful run at the Garrick Theatre, London, has “been brought to the British screen by,Thomas Bentley. The chief character—that of a coal-miner and football enthusiast—is played by Leslie Fuller, and provides this inimitable comedian with an.entirely different role in which an opportunity is provided for him to deviate from his former paths tof comedy/ Mary Jerrold, Molly. Lamont, Jack Hobbs, Harry Carr, Marion Dawson, Binnie Barnes, Gus McNaughton, Jimmy Godden and Hal Gordon are also included in an exceptionally brilliant supporting cast. A new star has arisen, on-' the Hollywood film horizon. “Boots” Mallory, an unknown little 'girl from Alabama, secured the envied lead opposite James Dunn in “Walking Down Broadway,’’ and'SO well did they partner ; that/they were immediately co-featured once more in a comedy-drama entitled “Handle With Care,” which is to be released previous to their other vehicle. James Dunn became a favourite oyer-night because of his work with Sally Eilers in . “Bad Girl”' a ' year agd. This partnership was continued- in “Over the-'Hill” and “Dance; Team,”, but then was strangely enough dissociated. ' Phyllis' .Du “Barry, ’ the well-known Australian actrfess who will be remembered as a/player in musical comedies under the banner of Sir Benjamin'Fuller, has been ! chosen by Samuel Goldwyn to . play the leading feminine role opposite Ronald Colman in “Cyhara,” a brilliant English comedy-drama. She ; has shortened her name to Phyllis Barry/ A good, story-is told regarding the selection of ihe title \ for the film. Samuel Goldwyn changed the 'name of the new Ronald 'Colman picture to : “I Have Been Faithful,”- instead of its ; stage original, “Cynara,” because no two people could agree on the pronunciation of that name. Both are based on Ernest Dowson’s famous poem: “I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my own fashion.” A New York writer wrote Mr. Goldwyn urging another change in the title for a similar reason. No two people could agree on an exacting definition of being faithful! And so “Cynara” was returned as its title. ; George Robey,, • ' England’s greatest music-hall comedian, makes his film debut in Renate Muller’s next film, “Marry Me.” ' The film is said to have many points of similarity to “Sunshine ’ Susie,” the music being particularly catchy, and being well worked into the action of the story. Robey has an amusing role as a Hungarian pig farmer. Though Robey, has never visited Australasia he has a definite link with this part of the world, in the fact that he married a Melbourne girl. His wife was formerly Ethel Haydon, a daughter of Thomas Haydon, for many years secretary of the Victorian Club. Ethel Haydon made her stage debut in “In Honour Bound” at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, in 1893, and played in many other productions in Australia, including “On ’Change,” “The Morals of Mayfair,” “The Grasshopper,” and in “Friends.” On visiting England in 1895 she played Alice in “Dick Whittington” pantomime, and later appeared in various Gaiety productions and pantomimes. She was also well known on the “Halls.” She retired from the stage in 1902. Robey is now 63 years of age, and his wife is nine years his junior.