THE CITADEL SUIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1939, Page 5

THE CITADEL SUIT

ACTRESS AWARDED HEAVY DAMAGES. Damages totalling £3400 in favour of Elizabeth Allan, the actress, were assessed by the jury in "The Citadel” lawsuit which ended in the King's Bench Division. Miss Allan claimed damages for breach of contract from Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer British Studios, Ltd., complaining that they had engaged her to star in the film and had then given the part to somebody else. The jury answered the questions given to them by Mr Justice Singleton, I in his summing-up, as follows: — (1) Did the defendants engage Miss Allan to take the part of “Christine” in “The Citadel?" —Yes. (2) If so, was it on the terms of her American contract? —Yes. (3) If so, what damages (a) by way of loss of salary?—£lBoo (b) by way of loss of opportunity of enhancing her reputation?—£lsoo. (4) Did the defendants commit a breach of clause 5 of the agreement (not to advertise Miss Allan except in connection with a picture in which she was to appear)?—Yes. (5) If so, what damages?—£loo. (6) Was there a lending of Miss Allan to the defendant company?—Yes. Mr Benjamin Goetz, managing director of the defendant company, in evidence said he made an agreement with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation and the Twentieth Century-Fox Corporation to come to London and build a laboratory, the two companies to put up a third each of the money and himself putting up a third. “There is nothing personal in this matter with me,” said Mr Goetz. “I have nothing againsc Miss Allan and have no reason to have anything against her.” How Dr. Cronin, author of “The Citadel,” came to kill Christine in the novel was revealed by Mr Victor Saville, the film producer and director. He said Dr. Cronin told him he killed her for the simple reason that he wanted his hero to go to the heights of medicine unshackled by a wife. Mr Saville thought it was a very unfair motive. Mr F. W. Beney (appearing with Mr Norman Birkett, K.C., for the defendants) : Having studied -the revised part

i with Mr Vidor (who was to direct the film), would Miss Allan, in your opinion, have made a great name or success if she had had the part?—l don’t think it is possible for anybody who is miscast to make a success of a part. Sir Patrick Hastings,-K.C. (for Miss Allan): The film of “The Citadel” has been a colossal success, hasn’t it?— Yes. One the greatest successes of British films there has ever been? —Yes. And the lady who played the chief part has made a tremendous name foi herself?—She had one before. Sir Patrick Hastings, in his final speech, said: “Mr Goetz had a vein pleasant, very affable and very endearing smile, but you may not think tha' was altogether conclusive of his reliability as a witness.” Mr Justice Singleton, in his- sum-ming-up, said that actors and actresse: who went to Hollywood earned bi£ sums of money. With her ability, Mist Allan might have been a great success in the film. It was so much altered that the jury might think that the chances of her making a great succes' were even or not balanced in her favour.