Spilling Money

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 303, 14 March 1928, Page 16

Spilling Money

HIGH COST OF MOVIE-MAKING

Spoils for Stars and Staff

it takes very big money to venture into the movie business was disclosed in the recent Co urt action in London, details of which are given in a "Sydney Sun" cable. Dorothy Gish, who was the star actress of British National Pictures, Ltd., received from the company a salary of £I,OOO a week, plus living expenses for her mother, herself and maid. The living expenses came to £BO a week. In addition her manager received a salary of £6O a week as a half-time salary—his sole duty, according to counsel, being the collection of Dorothy’s little cheque.

'J'HESET facts were elicited from Mr.

James Dixon Williams, the Australian picture producer, under crossexamination before Mr. Justice Horridge and a special jury. Williams was formerly manager of British National Pictures Ltd., and is suing the company for arrears of salary and alleged wrongful dismissal. He told the Court that Miss Gish was engaged in January, 1926. Williams said that he had organised a reception to enable Dorothy to meet British pressmen, which he admitted had cost £SOO. The total cost of the studio at Elstree was £ 88,000. One contract for work in connection with the studio was let at £8,950. This became £26,000 before the job was finished. With the studio completed, Williams -engaged the young producer, Hitchcock, at a salary of £IO,OOO, to produce four films in 15 months. Williams, in reply to a question, said that he considered Hitchcock’s engagement justified. He would be worth more, he said, at Hollywood, and his engagement would have facilitated the raising of fresh capital in America. In reply to further queries, Williams said that he had paid a scenario writer £2,000 for work on the film

“Tiptoes.” Herbert Wilcox, the producer, tore up this scenario. The company’s bank overdraft in March, 1926, was £9,500. He engaged Wilcox to produce three films: “London.” “Tiptoes” and “Madame Pompadour,” and in all of these Dorothy Gish starred.

Wilcox was to get, said Williams, £3,000 for each film, plus 25 per cent, of the profits, but according to counsel there were no profits. Williams said that “London” cost £42,000. “Tiptoes” cost £54,000 and “Madame/Pompadour” £BO,OOO. Dorothy’s little dividend out of these bills was £41,000. Williams admitted that he and George K. Eaton, who became chairman of the company, had, on a visit to New York, spent £2,500. “But that was little compared to what I am accustomed to spending.” he remarked.