Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-28
THEFT OF STORIES
is MOVIE PROBLEM
Test Yarn Going Rounds in
Effort to Trace Those Who
Steal New Plots.
BY MOLLIE MERRICK.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
HOLLYWOOD, Calf, July 28
(N.A.N.A).-The season for beaches,
sun tan and cool drinks is having a
revival; it Is also Hollywoods season
for story stealing, it would seem.
Capturing the idea while the author
waits to hear whether or not his story
has been accepted or rejected is be-
coming increasingly popular. Agents,
heretofore secure in the fact that their
regulations and the reputation OF the
studio would be at stake in the event
of The ideas in manuscript pelng
stolen bodily, have had some fast ones
nut over on them. Stories with a new
turn frequently are turned and the
new turn" written into something
similar diSsimilar with the chances OF
a lawsuit being a long-drawn-out az
fair and doubtful in outcome to the
author.
Many Settlements Made.
One studio which went through a
very bad year in this regard, due to
overanxiety on the part of the writing
staff to turn out as many studiomade
stories as possible, had a good many
suits on its hands two years ago. So
many adjustments were made, out OF
court, that they have bought only we'll
known published works of late or orlgi-
nal stories accepted outright and with
out any ShenaniganS on their part or
any attempt to cheat the writer of the
original out of what was coming to
him.
Due to the superindifference of
Ernest Hemingway, who just can't be
bothered suing a Hollywood studio, it
seems as fine little case OF plagiarism
as was ever heard of has gone on
among US, with the Hemingway story
all there under different title and, of
course, with the names Of the char
acters changed.
Perhaps the lad who is accused OF
lifting the Hemingway story felt he
had done enough when he went to all
the trouble of shifting the locale and
the names. mo light job in this hot
weather.
A test" story is going the rounds of
the Hollywood studios now. 1t has an
original turn. And the author is watch
ing to see which one of the boys will
make an attempt to lift the idea and
put 1t into another tale. If and when
such a thing does happen, oh, boy-oh,
boy-oh, boy, there is going to be lot
Of fuss!
Studio Houses Murals.
And just to prove that Hollywood is
not all cinema and claptrap, studio
in the production center houses the
exquisite murals which Dean Cornwall
is making for the Public Library OF
Los Angeles.
A great artist is giving five years of
his life to perpetuating the story of
America in the making. 1t is one of
the most truly magnificent conceptions
in form and color that I have ever seen
and, contemplating it, one is saddened
by the thought of how many careless
feet will walk beneath such beauty and
how many careless eyes will never
glance up at the glory above them.
Or-glancing up-will ever realize the
exquisite quality of the workmanship
or the infinite love and pains which
have gone to the making of this thing.
group which included Hal Phyffe,
Victor Shapiro and the artist showed
me the small sketches, the larger de-
tail, the group detail and. finally, the
great canvas on which the murals are
actually done-the figures from the de-
tail being projected with a lamp spe-
cially constructed for the purpose,
limned in by assistants and finally