FAIRBANKS ON HAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16987, 10 March 1923, Page 7 (Supplement)

FAIRBANKS ON HAYS.

SCREEN STAR PLANS NEW COMBINE. The Los Angeles correspondent of the San Francisco “Chronicle” wired the message under date January ; Yill 11. Hays is not the “ uplifter ! of the screen.” He draws his salary { of 1380,000 dollars a year for being ■ the official “ fixer ” of the films. Dougt las Fairbanks says so. Fairbanks last evening dispelled the popular illusion about the former member of President Harding’s Cabinet in commenting upon his own hopes of banding together the film stars under a “ gentlemen’s agreement ” which will give the photoplay patrons art instead of what the ‘ parasites of the industry,” as Fairbanks terms them. “ think is art.” Dispatches from New York state that Douglas Fairbanks is organising the recognised leading stars of filmdom in a combination designed to assure these stars a free hand in the making and distributing of their product. The group includes Harold Lloyd, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin. Pola Negri, “ Doug.” and others. Tt will deal with no huge camera corporation in the production or distribution of its films, but will transact its affairs directly with the exhibitors throughout the country. Less than a month ago Douglas Fairbanks outlined his plans to bring about a combination of this kind. Last night .he reaffirmed his previous state-

f meat, but stated that the big battle with the matter-of-fact magnates of the films is not to begin openly at once. A direct and flat-footed defiance of Will PI. Hays and the motion picture producers and distributors of the nation, of whom Hays has been the asserted beneficial genius, is said to be Fairbanks’s plan. It was when he was asked about this that Fairbanks punctured the fairy tale in which, the role of “ moral uplifter of the screen ” was conferred on Hays by the motion picture producers months ago. “Mr Hays has nothing -whatever to do with the art or morals of the motion picture industry. He is simply the hired intermediary or fixer. He has done wonderful work in straightening out the censorship tangle, but that and only that is his function,” Fairbanks said. ‘ 4 When Mr Plays was here last month I told him the public ought to be informed that moral uplift was not i his true role. I admire his ability and admire Mr Plays as a man, but I believe his true status should be made known,” he continued. Fairbanks was voluble and convincing in his arraignment of the faction I in tile motion picture industry which he terms 44 parasites.” He condemned them as being men without vision, but only of money to be made in the motion pictures. Deploring any division in the ranks of tile motion picture industry, and declining to enter any controversy, Mr J. L. Lasky, vice-president and general manager of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, to-day eulogised Hays and declared his faith in 44 the little Napoleon of pictures.” Lasky is a proud nent member of the Motion Picture Producers’ and Distributors’ Association, of which Hays is the head. •• Mr Hays’s record is unimpeachable. and his integrity indisputable,” declared Lasky to-day. “ Since he i l as been the leader of the motion picture business the morale of the entire industry has been uplifted. Will Mays is a great benefactor and I have the utmost faith in him. All businesses need a loader and the film in--1 dustry is a nationally organised busi-