FILM COMPANY SUED

Evening Star, Issue 22457, 30 September 1936, Page 13

FILM COMPANY SUED

JUDGE'S TEGUSLE WITH STUDIO BLAHG “It is difficult for the uninitiated to understand how a film «fe;« at all” said Mr J\is'-ice Goddrrd in the Km s Bench Division, London, giving judgr ent for £541 9s, will costs, in favour of two scenario wrl*ers who sued Criterion Film Produc'ions Ltd., of Cannon street. Mr Akos Tolnay, of Elstree, and Mr James Williams, of Netting Hill Gate, claimed damages in respect of a contract by which they were to write the scenario svnopsis, treatment, and shooting script of the film, ‘ The Amateur Gentleman.’ ■ They alleged that the company wrong, fully repudiated the contract, so that they lost, screen publicity and the balance of £350 which was to nave been paid to them under the agreement. The company alleged breaches of contract by the scenario writers in not delivering material according to time, and counterclaimed damages in respect of the additional expense to which the company had been put.

Mr Tolnay and Mr Williams both denied that they had broken the contract. LOSS OF PUBLICITY. “ One of the troubles in the case,” said Mr Justice Goddard, “is that people enpaged in the cinematograph world apparently speak a language very much of their own There seems to be very little certainty as to exactly what is meant by some terms which are very freely used. Some people call a scenario what other people call a shooting script.” Awarding the scenario writers £IOO each for loss of screen publicity, Mr Justice Goddard observed: . , , , “ The same principles must be applied in the case of the author of a play as those which apply to an actor or actress in a pt A y ’stay of execution was granted pending notice of appeal on condition that the company paid £l5O to each of the authors.