The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-24
VIII IIUHE EHVVE
Greatest of English Producers
Charges Combination Here.
Cecil Hepworth Considering
Engaging in Business in Q. S.
He IS A TOPEKA VISITOR
Overseas ''Mary PickfOrd" Ac-
companies Him on Trip.
Weakness in American Films
Pointed Out by Englishman.

Claiming that American producers,
distributors and exhibitors are in a
combination against foreign made pic
lures. Cecil Hepworth-greatest of
English producers-may come to this
country to fight the trust. In Topeka
today the owner of "Oatlands' said
he was considering engaging in pic
ture making in the United States. In
cidentally he pointed to weakness in
American made films and said the
United States ought to be big and
broad enough to take a fair, square
look at some of the productions from
over seas.
There is a lot of regular American
style, frankness and candor about this
Mr.. Hepworth. He has made some
wonderful pictures. He stands out
alone as the biggest, most aggressive
Now with a bit of bull dog determine
ton he is in the states looking over
conditions. He admits that it isn't
beyond the realm of possibility that
he may take hand in the movie game
in the United States himself. He is
just now considering filming of sew
eral productions here
Over Seas Mary Pickford Here.
With Hepworth in Topeka Today is
Misc Alma Taylor and Larry TrumbIe
Miss Taylor is Hepworth's film star
She is the overseas Mary Pickford. if
you please, and Miss Taylor frankly
admits that she likes everything in the
United States except the oVerheated
steam cars. What is more she wants
to come here for a chance to compete
with the million dollar faYorites of
the American movie world. Larry
Trumble is a director who has worked
with HanUTnrfh in En- Gland and
of the big American producers. It may
be Trumble's final vote that will de-
eide Hepworth's course.
at is almost impossible to place an
English picture in the United States,
don't you know" said Hepworth in
answer to a question regarding
shortage of foreign made films in this
country. 1.-The distributors are all very
courteous-they send back word that
it is a good picture and all of that, but
they can't place It.. What can you do E
Nothing.
.'Seemingly the producers have ex-
tended their control to where they can
dominate the pictures, shown in most
of the houses of this country. 1t is
quite different in England don't you
know. There the majority OF our pic
lures are American .made. But many
der the sort of combination of inter-
ests they can't be shown here
Is Same in Canada.
Much the same condition applies in
Canada, said Hepworth. There Hep
worth recently hired a theater to show
his "Alf Buttcn' picture. 1t was a
great hit and was later accepted and
shown generally thruout Canada
Now an American distributing COM
pany has bought rights and the pic
ture will evidently be shown here.
But it is slow process Hepworth
wants action and he isn't bit pleased.
So with Trumble and Miss Taylor
month has been spent in Hollywood
and on the Pacific coast
1--WE will probably make pictures
out there somewhere. if We decide to
enter this country as competitive
producer" said the English film
maker. Facilities out there in Holly
wood are wonderful-both natural
and mechanical"
Then Hepworth took a rap at the
American custom. He GEES a genuine
CONTINUED on Page Six.)