Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-03
FILM HEADS CALL
SHAW 'ANnQUATED'
Dresser Also AssaiIed in
HoIIyWoods Reply to Play
wright's Charges.

By the Associated Press.
HOLLYWOOD, Calf, March a.
George Bernard Shaw got his answer
yesterday from Hollywood, and Theo-
dore Dresser and other so-called Litter
airy giants" came in for mention in
verbal fireworks set of by the Irish
playwright in his reply yesterday to
an American criticism of his English
made taking picture, How He Lied
to Her Husband
Josef Won Sternberg, leading director,
noted for silent and talking film sue
cesses including "'The Blue Angel" and
Morocco" led the attack.
George Bernard Shaw" he said, 'is
Anticipated and old-fashioned. He is
operating, thinking. talking and writing
in terms of the last century. He
also applies to many of the so-called
literary giants-in particular Theodore
Dresser"
Dresser LiKened to Shaw.
Won Sternberg, who began production
today on the American noyelist's
american Tragedy" would offer no
personal reasons for special mention of
Dresser, who by terms of the sale of
film rights to his book to Paramount
two years ago for S15O,000 was entitled
to read the screen adaptation before
production.
Samuel Hoffenstein, screen writer,
who prepared the treatment is meeting
Dresser in New Orleans to show him
the script for the first time, said Won
Sternberg, but actual shooting of the
picture began today.
The director implied Dresser repre-
sents "the superior attitude" toward
movies affected by many including
Shaw, who know nothing about screen
requirements.
Won Sternberg said he had seen por-
lions of the Shaw picture and what he
saw was pretty terrible" To Shaws
remark yesterday that American movie
makers can DO things after they have
been shown how" the director said:
American Method Praised.
Hollywood has absolutely nothing to
learn in motion pictures from any Euro
pean country neither from Russia nor
Germany and least of all from England.
am European born, but all know of
pictures learned in America. I went
to Germany last year to make Blue
Angel and had to fight all the time
to make it my way, as would make it
IN Hollywood After the picture sue
ceeded, German films claimed share in
the credit. Si1aw's statement included
criticism OF American talking picture
technique and of Hollywood's insistence
on changing or adapting" stage plays
70 It's own technique instead of adapt
ing the technique to the plays. For
that reason Hollywood and Shaw have
tailed to come to terms on his plays, the
playwright insisting they be photo
graphed as they would be staged.
Words Called "Joke."
British International Pictures, which
allowed Shaw to supervise personally
the filming of his work, achieved 'the
feat that HOLLYWOOD found impossible"
Shaw said
Other leading Hollywood directors
took exception more or less en-
phatically to the manifesto, while
some were inclined to Edwin Carews'
opinion 1t all proves again that Mr.
shaw is the worlds greatest jokester."
TOD Browning pointed to Hollywood's
pox Office successes, remarking, IF Hol-
ywoods pictures kept as many peop,e
out OF theaters as do Shaws pictures In
the British empire, the entire industry
Woulo have to close in 80 days"
Motion Thought Necessary.
Mack Sennett, veteran comic MAKER
said: Don't pass the buck to HOLLYWOOD.
IL may be possible that some of Mr..
Shaw's plays or stories are afflicted with
Dit OF epetition-meaning when one
word win convey the point, why
use 20?"
John stahl echoed Won sternberg's
causttc rejoinder. Because Shaw is
unable at his age TO learn the technique
OF new art form which has arisen
while he was growing old and out of
Gate, he would insist that new art be
limited to his own medium"
al Santen pointed out Hollywood in
its first talkies tried the photographing
OF stage play, but found public interest
In the screen waning as a result. More
action and less dialogue have brought
back the customers, he said.
Similar views were expressed by Fred
Niblo and Wesley Ruggles, director of
"Cimarron," who emphasized interest
lags when motion stops, no matter how
brilliant the photographed dialogue"