The Washington times., 1935-09-07

out his contract with his producers. He quit at the
very height of his fame because he felt that he not
receiving pay with his boxoffce power and
his capacity to dividends for his company Although
he $4,000 in debt at the moment he decreed
holiday Valentino away from the public for than
year at the most valuable period Of his professional life
Paramount tied him up tight with restraining injunction
that absolutely prohibited his appearance either stage
The star reduced to public appearances for
beauty preparation. The eventual adjustment
promise and both sides to the controversy afterwards ad
mitted the fight was a mistake.
Mae Busch in the later years of her Hollywood
satisfied to take work extra She broke MM
tract 1926 that paid her $4,000 week. AS she explained
later was unhappy MGM because didn get good pic
lures and being rented out to other producing companies
at fabulous prices The studio paid my salary but gave
Of the profits resulting from the rentals Twenty
five hundred week not bad salary but believed
entitled to share of the profits became very tenn
peramena hard to handle and finally quit I've had
tough time ever SINCE
Cagney I axes Rest
The contract war of James Cagney was more successful
This begerent redhead deserted Warner Bros at time
when he mounting steadily toward Importance box
office property
Jimmy threats about going with another company
Instead he asserted he abandoning his acting to
study for medical degree Now nobody believed that Not
Jimmy But after eight months of the Cagney Absence
Warner Bros hoisted flag of Mr. Cagney didn't get
all that he asked for when he struck but the gants
together mutually satisfactory ground.
Davey Lee the nations juvenile idol after
AL Joson sang Sonny Boy to him. The studio salary
nominal but offers for personal appearances poured in
and when Warner Bros refused what they termed
exorbtant salary demands the prodigy departed for
round of the first movie stages Little Davey arrived
back in Hollywood to find that insofar the studios
concerned, he "the forgotten child"
Now it the contention of the studios that the stars hold
them tight to the bond when they he producers) make
mistake Thus Metro GoldwynMayer eft the indus
try says holdng the bag when John Gilbert did record
breaking slide to the bottom of the pile box office at
traction He had contract at $4,000 week and
held his producers to it. Likewise j. Harold Murray,
moved from Zeged musicals to sing for the and
given longterm Fox contract, made Hollywood settle to
the last penny, when his first picture went floppo
On the other hand the Hollywood agents who handle the
business affairs the stars will tell that studios
ruthless in demanding and receiving adjustments
tracts that prove unproftabe
There the other side of the picture. Pleasant relations
strict adherence the terms of the contract and satisfactory
returns both Sides George Brien the acknowledged
king the hose opera stars started in with Fox at $25
week and has enjoyed 60 pay raises his popularity
mounted. Today the Wild West star Of the highest
paid at his studio.
Success Brings Discomfort
AS the stars mount in popularity and Importance they
naturally seek financial adjustment that will make their
salary keep pace with their public pulling power Pictures
that register at the boxoce supendous money makers
Such successes brought speedy adjustments upward for
Katharine Hepburn, Jean Harlow Clark Gable, Ruth Chat
terton, Constance Bennett, Dick Powell, Mae West and
Shirley Temple. Not all of them struck made walk
out threats, but some of them did,
Why don't they fight these cases out in courtsH How
they abrogate ironcad contract? What good
contracts These questions that the ayman propounds
when these controversies become public property. The
answer is that money-winning star is valuable
much valuable than dozen winning Supreme Court
DECISIONS the star happens to be idle during the long
drawnout process.
If you accept the producers side there is more to all Of
this than the question of contract salary Producers
must gamble the of picture and the Of
a star. They take all the risks. They spend young
of the movie theaer and stars share the bene
fit Of this expenditure.