THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 3, 1939
Elizabeth
Library, Supr
Allan Questioned
In Court About Stardom
DISPUTE OVER
AA
""THE CITADEL"
•
Mr. Birkett. 1, quite sympathise was merely a discussion of with you, if I may,
what
was in prospect, with a hope that, if possible, Mr. Goetz would like to use Miss Allar in the film?-There was a definite engagement
Mr. O'Bryen said that if Miss Allan had played Christine her chances, of becoming a film star would have been very considerable. He agreed that it Beferring to what, wan, gaid regħrd- Dr. was quite common for a star to be in the alterations made in
asked: thought of as suitable for a part when Cronin's story, Mr. Birkett a film was first under consideration; "Did Mr. Saville not say:: 'Dr. Cronin
and subsequently not to be given the
part
has no say in the matter at all. We can
alter the story as we like'?" "No," replied Mr. O'Brycn.
Mr. Birkett: I suppose it is quite are contemplating employing you in know how I shall be able to tell her;
common for a person to be told: "We
Mr.. O'Bryen agreed that the defen- It occurs with great frequency, does dants pald Miss Allan $10,500 about
CROP OF RUMOURS
That to
"TO LIVE OR TO DIE” Miss Allan, in evidence, said her
tracts..
"Then for better or worse, there it is!" observed Sir Patrick Hastings, amid laughter.
Elizabeth Allan, the stage and film actress, de- clared in the King's Bench Division that it was harder to be a film star in America,. but agreed
Mr. Birkett: Did you say: "I don't that it was preferable to be a star in England. a particular role," and later it is she will be sa upsct"?Yes I think
She was giving evidence in her action follow-found that he would be unsuitable?--I did.
That does occur. ing a decision that she was not to pay the leading it not would not say great fre- £2,100-in respect of last year.
was the amount they contracted feminine part in the film version of "The Citadel."quency
Robert Donat played the leading role pay as for one picture, though she did
hot in fact play in one. Miss Allan claims damages for alleged breach in "The Citadel 7-Yes. of contract against Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British I suppose you are familiar with the Studios Ltd. Defendants deny the agreement al- crop of rumours in the film world husband always looked after her con-
as to who would ultimately take the leged, deny that there was any breach of the agree-part? Yes.
Great names, like that of Charlc ment, and deny the damages alleged.
Laughton, were suggested, were they
Shortly after November 30, 1937, Sir Patrick Hastings, K.G., for the On November 30, 1937, the follow-ct-Yes,
Mr. Saville discussed. with her the plaintiff, who in private life is Mrs. ing statement was sent out by Mr. It really does not affect the Elizabeth O'Bryen, said her complaint A Lickman and Mr. Goetz to the putation of an established person to playing of the part of Christine. "We was that the defendants engaged her Press:
have his name suggested for a part had a slight argument as to whether Christine should die, as she did in to play the chief star part in "The With Elizabeth Allan playing the and ultimately for that part to Citadel," advertised her as being so leading feminine role, and with nego given to someone else?-Not to have the book, or whether she should live, as she did in the picture," said Miss engaged, and then employed somebody tiations under way with an important his name, merely suggested... clue.
In Alian, British star to take the male lead, A. Dealing with the conversation
"He wanted her to live and I want. Miss Allan
alleged to wns distinguished J. Cronin's "The Citadel” will be plac-which the contract was
# singo actress, but though
saided her to die. We discussed it, with she haded in production by Victor Saville for have been made, Mr. O'Bryen played in some very well-known pic- M.-G.-M. some time in January. Mr. O'Bryen said there was a definite me as the lady who was going to
play: the part." tures, she had not reached the rank of
engaging of Miss Allan. a star.
If she had played the part in "The Citadel" she would threafter have been recognised as a star; her salary would have increased and her engagements would have been much greater.
"A DREARY CONTRACT"
Later Mr. Goetz and Mr. Saville called upon Mr. O'Bryen to explain why they had decided they would play somebody else in the part of Christine in "The Citadel" instead Allan. The excuse put forward was that the part had been so rewritten and so altered that it was not suit-
of Misa
Sir Patrick said that the questionable for her. would arise as to the transfer of the "I think you will have no doubt that right to Miss Allan's services from if her story is true, Miss Allan has one company to another. He explain-been shamefully treated-treated with ed that the American company, the gross discourtesy," Sir Patrick said. Metro-Goldwyn - Mayer Corporation "She has suffered grave financial loss, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British and I shall ask for heavy damages," Studios Ltd., were owned by another Mr. O'Bryen said in evidence that company called Loew's, Incorporatod. Mr. Goetz, when he telephoned him Dealing with an agreement which about Miss Allan playing in "The Miss Allan entered into in January, Citadel," said that he wanted her to 1937, Sir Patrick remarked:
be let off stage matinees.
"It is a dreary contract. There are more words employed in it to say the same thing than I have ever seen
before."
"I pointed out that this would be quite impossible, and that I had ac- copted the engagement for the play only after getting his approval of The contract gave the defendants the arrangement,” Mr. O'Bryen con- the option to engage Miss Allan as tinued an actress in such roles as they might
"Mr. Goetz did not seem to appre-
designate in one ог two feature STORY “DRASTICALLY ALTERED" length films within a year as from November, 1936. She was to act in ciate that the play was of any im- films exclusively for the defendants, portance, but. I pointed out that who had the right to use her name was quite uncertain how long. for advertising and publicity pur-play might run, and that by the
* poffes. *
it
the
time the film was ready to be made the play might be over, or we might her be able to make some arrangement, to
get her out of the play."
Defendants, not having employed Miss Allan, in the year, notified on November 5, 1937, that they were
Mr. O'Bryon said he did not send. exercising their option to secure her
Press about services again, and sent her $9,000 any statement to the
appearance in "The about £1,800-as compensation for Miss Allan's one play,
CABLE TO AMERICA
| Citadel." When "The Innocent Party” | -the play in which Miss Allan was Shortly after Miss Allan's husband appearing was coming to an end-last Mr. William O'Bryen, of O'Bryen, Linnit and Dunfee, theatrical agents, cabled to the defendants in America:
Boon after, he added, Mr. Goetz "Liz desires to do play with Mary Ellis, starting rehearsals immediate and Mr. Saville called on him.
March he wrote to the defendants to get the date of the opening of "The Citadel."
Mr. Goetz, he continued, then told
ly. Will you give permission for him he was unable to play Miss Allan
her to do it?”?"..
"Liz,” Sir Patrick explained,
#.
wag
in "The Citadel." Mr. Saville said
a short way, of describing Miss Allan. that that was because the story had
The reply was: "Agreeable from this end. Please check with Ben Goetz for, final approval."
(Mr. Goetz is managing director of M.-G.-M. British Studios.)
been drastically altered, so that she was no longer suitable for the part, and also because the director engaged In Hollywood for the film did not think she was the right actress for the role.
Mr. O'Brven said he told them he Then came. another telegram from another high official of the Loew Com found, it difficult to believe that the in author would allow his book to be so pany, continued counsel, saying: effect, that Mr., Goetz could prevent altered, or that a decision made by Miss Allen taking another engagement the company should be vetoed by one if it conflicted with his plans for her, of its employees.
Miss Allan had, arranged to ap Mr. O'Bryen said that, when pub- pear in a London stage production. licity had been given about an actress Mr. Goetz telephoned Mr. O'Bryen playing a part, and that part was on November 30 and told him that afterwards given to another artist, the ho had two film plays in which they actress who lost the part puffered wanted Miss Allan topiay. ~ The considerable damage. The inference first was "The Citadel." which they in the profession would be, that she intended to begin about the end of had lost the part through some fanit
of her own: February or March,
STAGE ENGAGEMENT. Misa Allan was told by-
that she was?co
She
with:
in which
discussingTM
win to be.
BUS SYMP
•n dificult "that"
re-
be
gaging the Almost that there a Continued on Page 21)
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