Dramatist and Altered Titles

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 25

Dramatist and Altered Titles

FREDERICK LONSDALE IN HOLLYWOOD DEPLORES “SEX INANITIES” Mr. Frederick Lonsdale, the English playwright who is at present in Hollywood, informed an American interviewer that he deplored the presence of sex inanities in the theatre and on the screen. His reasons were: 1. The public has been nursed on it and now demands it as a part of a diet. 2. The playwrights never knew of anything better. Mr. Lonsdale helped Doris Anderson adapt his play “Spring Cleaning” into

a film for Paramount that will be titled “New Morals.” His "The High Road,” in which Ruth Cliatterton will appear in the leading role for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, will be known as “A Lady of Scandal.” While he is not a fussy sort, the writer believed it unnecessary to change the titles to include a lurid reference.

“For example,” he offered. “Norma Talmadge’s next picture will be known simply as ‘Du Barry.’ Now. is there anything suggestive in that? Joe Schenck himself told me that the title would remain ‘Du Barry.’ “But, Mr. Lonsdale,” an informant protested, “the title has been changed since you left Hollywood.” “Well, it can’t very well have been changed much.’ “ ‘Du Barry, Woman of Passion,’ is the new name,” he was told. “Ugh!” from the playwright. Of the motion picture Mr. Lonsdale believed that within a short while the less worthy efforts will be eliminated by a “shopping” public. He believed that a group of about ten young men who are now probably undergraduates in college will set a new standard for film stories that will make producers “hop.” He argues that English producers lack initiative and count their pennies too closely. He refutes the statement made by several Englishmen that “England is filled with writers and good actors.” “Where in Heaven’s name are they hiding?” he asks.

A short while ago, when he was last in England, he urged British producers to gather up some of the gold American film makers were col lecting. He also stressed the fact, that “of 450,000,000 people in the British Empire 400,000,00 are beginning to feel they know the Americans, because of American films, better than they know us.”