The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-25
MOVIE STARS
LOSE RIGHT TO
PICK STORIES
Box Office Alone to Rule
Say MoguIS, Despite
Artistic Urge.
BY NORMAN b. DEUEL.
United Press stan Correspondent

HOLLYWOOD, July 25.-Motion
picture stars today faced the pros
pect Of desperate battle for their
artistic freedom" or complete sur
render to the dictates of the box
Office as interpreted by the pro-
ducers.
The issue, smouldering for months
with frequent clashes over the right
OF stars to select or alter their
stories, was brought to a head with
statement by Warner Brothers
First National that hereafter, the
producers word would be final.
Executives will dictate the stories
in which stars appear without
change or argument and an
nounced that they would stick by
their guns"
Unprecedented in the film indus
try, the statement came as a COM
plete surprise to Warmers own stars
and other producers.
Wait For Reaction
The reaction of both was awaited
Whether the stars will accept
without a murmur, as the highly
paid actors and actresses of Metro
Goldwyn-M Mayer, accepted IS per
cent salary cut, was matter Of
conjecture.
Their acceptance would be the
surrender of rights" which per-
formers have fought for both on the
stage and on the screen. Their re-
fusal to do so may touch off another
war similar to those which have
shaken Hollywood in the past.
Jack l.. Warner and Daryl
zanuck, his associate, said they had
"tco much money at stake to
gamble with public demand.
I'VE have decided that, with the
start Of our new years production
Aug. /. we will not permit stars or
players to have any hand in the
selection of their future stories, re-
CARELESS of whether this privilege
has been accorded them in the
past the statement read.
Brought Past Fame
eve believe that in this day of
depression, the producer, who must
make the investment in the picture,
should have 100 per cent selection
OF story material.
I'VE know that through iudici--
Gus selection of stories in the past,
by the producer, the stars OF today
have been elevated to their present
popularity on the screen.
Almost without exception, the
successful, the aEtistic and box Of
flee successes that we have pro-
duced in the past have been those
pictures in the choice OF which we
were guided solely by the demands
OF the general public"
One of the stars most vitality az
fected by the change of policy is
George Arliss. He practically has
dictated the stories in which he
would appear.
The most publicized example OF
artistic difference of opinion was
the recent battle between Marlene
Dietrich, exotic German star; her
director, Josef Won Sternberg, ana
Paramount.
Walked OFF Lot
Miss Dietrich and Won Sternberg
walked out of the studios when the
blond Venus" did not suit their de-
sires. After refusing to proceed for
DAYS, they finally capitulated.
Ann Harding recently won an
artistic" victory from RK-O when
the firm allowed her to remake
westward Passage Janet Gay
nor, with Fox, put up such a fight
over her roles, her casting was
changed.
Wheeler and Woolsey, the comedy
team, had battle over their pic
lures made for Columbia. The quar-
rel has been patched, George Ban
croft left Paramount over the same
question.
The matter of stories is not the
only problem of Warner Brothers.
There is the matter of Ann Dvorak's
salary since the left for New York,
claiming that she had been sold
down the river" to Warmers for $3.50
a week.