SALARY DEMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1940, Page 9

SALARY DEMANDS

LORETTA YOUNG TURNED DOWN. For some time producers have been objecting strenuously to the huge salary demands of established stars. They claim that £lOOO a week and £30.000 per picture, which are typical of salaries paid to the biggest stars at Hollywood, are out of all proportion to recent box-office returns. But these stars refused to take cuts, preferring to remain idle rather than .work for less money. It must be remembered that a star loses prestige if he or she ever takes a salary cut. Although taxes eat up the major part of huge salaries, stars strive for increases because of the prestige it gives them. For instance, Loretta Young, now free-lancing, demanded £20,000 to play the lead in Zanuck’s "Hotel For Women.” She wouldn’t budge in her price, so Zanuck turned around and placed unknown newcomer Linda Darnell in the role. Linda, now signed by Zanuck for seven years, probably receives no more than £2O a week, and even in two or three years will be nowhere near the salaries demanded by established stars.