1936-01-17 — Page 15

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1986.

SENSATIONAL PLAGIARISM CHARGE Noted American Author Enters Action Against Korda

ASTAIRE

AND

ROGERS

TO PART

THEIR FILMS HAVE TAKEN £1,000,000

THE most successful film

team-Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rovers is to split.

Both will go on making. films. But with different partners.

newer

Two years ago they had met. He was a famous stage dancer, but he was considered lacking in screen personality. He had starred in only one picture.

not

She was a rising young actress, but

star.

Then, in quick succession; they made "Gay Divorcee," "Roberta, and "Top Hat." Each was sensa- tiotally Ruccessful. Each made- more money than the Inst.

Audiences have already paid more than £1,000,000 to see the Antaire Bogers films, and they are still making

money.

Look

"Top Hat" broke all records in its first week in New York. It $20,000 in seven days at the Radio City Music Hail,

Record Profiti

It is now in its fourteenth week in the West End of London, and opens

at the Alhambra Theatre in Hongkong next week.

་

No starring team has ever made no much manoy for a film company in sucir n short time.

W

The Urcision to part; which has been forecast- several times, in Hollywood, in intented by the an- nouncement that "Astaire's partner in his next film will he an American

e dancer; Harriet Hocter. singe

The Astaire-Ingers partnership will be seen once more, however, for they have just finished their fourth picture, "Follow the Flect."

Astaire recently signed a new can. tract with Radio Pictures by which ho will earn £100,000 in 1938. Miss Rogera salary was raised from £275 to £600 a week,

GINGER ROGERS

She was a rising young actress.

Rumours have gone around Holly - wood for a long time that Astaire and Miss Itegers did not get on well ** together.

These stories were always promptly

denied.

Astaire is thirty-five. Two years ago he married Mrs. Phyllis Patter.) Her private fortune is estimated at £5,000,000, She has a, son by her former marriage.

A baby is expected to be born to

her within the next few weeks... a

VILLAGE

*

THE POOR MAN'S ÀEROPLANE

Clyde Fangborn, famous ocean or, was pictured in New York in the cockpit of the "Flying Flea" poor man's neroplane- before he took it off the ground for n'test flight around the field. Not everything was satisfactory to the test pilot, ut he succeeded it off the ground and Bow it at an altitude of 100 feet, in gotting

of approximately and at a speed

60 milea

Tho hour. an

machine, recently received from England, is only 10 feet long, and has a wing prend of 20 feet. It has a 20 horsepower, two-cylinder en- gine, and the trouble that Pangborn experienced with it In the lest was caused by the facts that I lacks the allerons and eleva- tors of larger planes. It can be made to sell for between U.S. $300 and $950, .

£50,000

ESTATE OF

THELMA TODD

ONE DOLLAR TO EX-HUSBAND

Hollywood, Dec. 28.

THELMA TODD'S lawyer, Ronald Dution, revealed at the inquest on the film star to-day that her estate was estimated at 250,000 dollars (£50,000)

Maid's Denial ̈*

"PRIVATE · LIFE OF HENRY THE EIGHT? "UNWARRANTED AND BLATANT PIRACY

ALLEGATION

One of the most semnational charges of plagiarism recorded m American legal history, involving hundreds of thousands of pounds, has been filed at the Brooklyn Court, New York.

Francis Hackett, author of the famous biography of Henry VIII, has entered an action against Alexander Korda, London Film Productions and United Artists, for damages in respect of what he claims to be their "unwarranted and blatant piracy" in the film, "The Private Life of Henry VIII.", of character parts, episodes and incidents abstracted from his book.

He is represented in this action by, ho discussed its adaptation for screen Mia Fanny Holtzmann, the Amerl-purposes with various film companies. can lawyer who won h. Verdict for Negotiations were started, but none Princess Yousscupoft, niece of the late had been completed. Taar, in the Rasputii libel case About that time I chanced to see brought in Landon against Meirs the presentation in Dublin of Mr.

Alm Kurda's

The

Private Life of Goldwyn-Mayer, rinense is brought under the copy. Henry VIII, and to my astonishment. Inws of the United States, under 1 Haw parade heross the screen the which a successful complainant is on living evidence of the interpretation of titled to collect the entire profits rea-I had gleaned by inborious years lised by the defendant as the result detailed research.

"For some time after this many of using the plaintiff's original text. cati-

friends begged me to bring an action, The profits in this instance are

because of what they considered to mated at very large suma.

With his complaint Mr. Hackett filed a copy of his book. He demands

"I hesitated, however, partly, I sup- that the defendants likewise file a.

pose, from the natural inexperience of copy of thele im so' that the court an author and partly because I could may examine both.

not conceive that Mr. Korda would An answer to the charge is asked fail to realise the justice of my point within 20 days, and the demand of view." made that an immediate injunction be!

"On my arrival in America, how- Issued prohibiting any further showever, i found, to my amazement, and ing of the landing a settlement of somewhat to my chagrin, that I wan

esent litigation.

the present

An unwarranted and blatant Plagiarism.

Mr. Iinckelt demands payment of all generally regarded as a person of Kreat aifluence. When I asked my profits derived from presentations of American friends, Where do you the film, and asks that the court order think all my alleged wealth copies the defendants to produce their books from? they all replied, 'Why, just and accounts recording the profits that imagine how much money you must have accrued.

be making out of your film.

"Fellow authors in Amerien were I should take advantage

Mr. Hackett claims that the picture is "wilful and deliberate piracy" of insistent that This book. He asserts that:

of the copyright laws of the United The defendants copied and used States to protect my rights. Finally, the characterisation of Henry VIII P

therefore, persuaded that there had and other persons mentioned in his been a deliberate intention to ignore book, whose characters are portray-my legitimate claims, I concluded that ex in the film, in that episodes, Inci-I could no longer remain inactive and dents and, in general, the atmo-decided to bring the action in sphere created by the complainant America. TH

were incorporated in the picture; When and the case comes before

"The complainant's new and brithe Court, a number of well-known. ginal conception of the personal actors and authors are expected to habits and method of living, of be subpoenaed to give evidence on Henry VIII, and other principal Mr. Hackett's behalf, including Mr. characters bullt

developeil Charles Laughton.

up

by the cumplainant in his book, and It was Mr. Laughton who created the dialogue and incidents therein the title-role in the "Henry VIII." assembled and published as the re-film, and had, Mr. Hackett told mic, sult of several years of arduous re- hdmitted to him.on several'occasions search and study, were appropriated that it was Mr. Hackett's portrayal of and used in the production of the the king that had been his chief in- picture

without recourse to the spiration. sources from which the

Korda'n Reply complainant obtained his original materini."

To her former Mastanit, „Pasquale bolted the door on-Sunday morning Decleco, frun nhóm nhà wax and, went to bed after 2 a.m. divorced Inst Birch, she left one dollar.. Her estate, was bequeathed to her mother

His theory was that having dis-Interviewed at his New York hote! Not one situation or episode of While Miss Todd was at Id missed the chauffeur who drove her Mr. Hackett said, "Over 1,000,000 Mr. Hackett's has been used in the Lupino's party at a fashionable home from Ida Lupino's party at a Americans have read my book, and picture," Mr. Alexander Korda sald.

"Froude could sue us with just as Hollywood restfurst on Saturday Hollywood restaurant on Saturday many more millions have Keen MT. night it was dischged that Deaconight, Miss Todd found that she was Korda'r presentation of the eame much justification. Our film was based not en Mr. Hackett's life of was at a party or other floor of locked out and rather than awaken subject,

the chauffeur, she had walked up

"I had been living in the United Henry VIII., but on Henry VIII's life the same restaurant

the hill to the garage, started the States for many years until the necesas: Hved by himself. With embellish- uity for detailed historical research ments, of course, for we set out to engine of the car to keep warm took me to England. In Europe, for present the story not as a contribution and was overcome by fumes,

several years prior to the publication, to history, bat simply, as entertain- Miss Todd's negro maid. May of my book, gathered material by ment and good fun. Whitehead, gave evidence, however, extensive research, not only in Eng- "If this claim were legitimate, why which contradicted this suggestion. Innil, but also in Paris and Italy. is the action brought in America and She faid that she handed Misa Todd had reached the stage of a best-seller years! The whole thing is simply "After my book was published and not hero? And why wait three a kote the side entrance before. She left for the párty,

my agent went to Hollywood, where ridiculous."

Conflict of Evidence Miss Todd's beautifully gownde body was found on Monday at the wheel of her car in a garage at her roadside cafe. She had apparently died from carbon montxlife poison Ing.

Conflicting evidence was given on

The maid added that she put the the question whelber she had gone key in Miss' Todd's purse-"tliè

to the garage after being locked-outume white purse found in the gar-

of her apartment...

age."

Her partner at the cafe, find). ·-. West, told the coroner that "he

A

¿Throat was a joke!

Rothin West's evidence was fol lowed closely, by the crowded court which contained many film stars.

BRITAIN GUARDS

GATE TO INDIA

HATED ile had been led by the pillon Aircraft. And Tanks Unloaded

HIM ONCE-NOT NOW

Hursthouse Tarrant (Hanta), Jan: 1. SIXTY-EIGHT old men and women in this little Hampshire village took part in a modern version of Dickens's "Christmas Carol” to-day. A heavy snowstorm completed the picture.” «

as saying that he warlied Miss Todd that he would not let her into the house, if she returned later than 12 him. But to-day he explained to the coroner that he had made the threat Jokingly. Shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday he received a tele- phone call that Miss Todd was Jabout to leave the party."

Be went for a walk with the dog..

Under Glare Of Arc-Lights

The following message has been received by air mail from Reu-- ter's special correspondent in the Suez Canal Zone:-

ANXIETY about future events in Egypt is unallayed

by the daily reports of peace talks in Europe.

In 1920, Mr. Henry Wyke Pros English beef, each, and a gallon of On his return he locked the cafe are

the village-turned it Into

plines and seaplanes exercising.

All night long, under the glare of are-lights, British soldiers unloading war material on the quays at Alexandrie, key point on sor, a one-time engineering million-beer, a quarter ofta pound of %o-door, bolted it and went to bed and the route, to India. Many steamers from England are loaded with", airplanes, guns, Torries, ambulances and tanks, and thousands of aire, came to live in his shooting bacco for the men and one pound to sleep.

of tea for the wgthen. Eich algo At 3.30 he was awakened by the rolls of barbed-wire. box. The Windmills, a mile outside received half-a-choy in cash, a dog whining. He heard water run- In the desert at Sidi Bichr, on grey; oven the sky is busy with air total value of 12s. 10. for men and ning in the building and assumed the outskirts of. Alexandria; six twenty-roomed house..

that Miss Todd was home. ds. 10d. for the women He added that Miss Tadd was in enclose a canvas military township, Imiles of barhed-wire entanglements But during his lifetime Mr.

To-day the old people of. Hurst-fine health, except for fainting complete with macadamised roads, Prosser was not liked by the village, bourne Tarrant are only remember spells. On a previous occasion cinemas.and cafes. He fought the parish council ining Mr. Prosser's many individual locked out she had smashed Five thousand texts are on the courts over questions of rights act of kindness and forgetting the in pane of glass to rouse him and their way from England, and of way over his 2,000 acre estate,

·

A year last November he died,

.

"

nged seventy-eight.

But Mr. Prosser wanted to be re- mambered by the village which hated him. He loft a field for a recreation ground and £2,000 to provide every working man and woman' over sixty of ten years'

rosidence in the parish with an

annual Sbilatmas present.

hostility.

let her. 1

NEW ZEALAND. LOSES ITS MOST

there is talk, of more troops arriv ing shortly.

practising gunnery daily on the

Lines of warships exercising and horizoh are no longer a novelty. Residents have become accustomed on the sea front...

Wooden barracks and offices uros One of the most famous dogs in New Zealand, a mastiff named springing up at strategic points of Tiger, was recently killed in a fight with an "Old Man" Boar, which the town. Visitors arriving at had hitherto defied all hunting parties.

FAMOUS DOG IN BOAR FIGHT hine pentivarcraft guts

Alexandria by airplane from Cairo obtain their first glimpse of Brit- ain's defences in Egypt as they approach the gate into Alexandria. Full of Warships

nre

Nearly eighty warships assembled at Alexandrin, and for the first time in history, the har bour is full. There is no rooni for moro warships, and a special an- chorage has been made for two “cruisers, which will remain outside to make room for smaller vessels.

Mystery Region

The western desert, "Hampstead

Heath" of Egypt, has become n rogion of mystery, peopled with gol- dlers and sirmen. It la closely Entry guarded against intruders.

by special pass..

A committee of British experts and high: British and Egyptian

allicials has been formed in Alex- andria to study the question of combating poison-gas and to in- struct the public on air raid The first share-out took place, to- Tiger had good claim to being one of the finest pig-dogs in the

measures. day. All day, the vicar, the Rev. country for it is estimated that in the last eight ytara ho had helped

Large consignments of airplanes II. C. Threlfall, distributed colour- ed tickets to thirty-six old men and to kill more than two, thousand wild pigs. Twice, he had saved his

Hero a small village of black continue to arrive, and although the thirty-two old womon out of the vil-master's life when the latter was in danger of being savaged. High hat, uns, surrounded by a wall of Egypt is a closely guarded secret barracks, tronches, dugouts, number of British aircraft in Iago's 650 inhabitants.

prices have been refused for him. Included in his other accomplish barbed wire, has sprung up almost its known that British air The tickets represented credit ments Tiger was a first-rate cattle dog, gun-dog and retriever, while overnight.. with local tradesmen for 61lbs. of he would dive from a height and oyon swim under water.

Warships at anchor in the har bour form a solid background of

strength in the Near East is for greater than the prosent Italian Air

Force in Libya.

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Travel Chats

That's an interesting way to go. Home. What made you think of it?

The

The Travel Experts suggested it. journey, takes a little longer but I shall save the additional cost in Income Tax.

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Phone 21524.

"Queen's Building.

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