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Behind the Screen Clippings 55/93
Motion Picture News, New York, November 25, 1916.
CAPTURING CHARLIE CHAPLIN
By outbidding all other concerns, the Mutual Film Corporation
succeeded in securing Charlie Chaplin‘s signature to
a contract calling for him to act for Mutual. Chaplin is seen here
signing the document which gives him an annual income
reported to be nearly seven times that of the President of the
United States. John R. Freuler, president of the Mutual,
is on the left, and Sid Chaplin, Charlie‘s brother and business
manager, also a well-known comedian, is in the center.
(...) Picture-Play, May 1916
„This statement is not a threat“
Editorial content. „New Laws and Court Decisions“ (...)
„Mutual Has Set Aside Large Fund for Prosecution and
Conviction of Thieves Stealing Chaplin Films
A CAMPAIGN of damage suits, and criminal prosecutions
against film pirates operating with fake Chaplin
pictures has been ordered by President John R. Freuler
of the Mutual Film Corporation.
A special protection fund of formidable proportions was
set aside for the purpose when the Chaplin project
was launched. A staff of detectives and legal aids has been
organized for operations under the direction of Samuel
-
M.Fields, general counsel of the Mutual.
Attempts to steal Chaplin prints from a number of the
Mutual‘s sixty-eight exchanges in the United States
and Canada, have led to discoveries that will come to light
in the form of raids and action in the criminal courts.
A recent raid in a southern city recovered several stolen
Chaplin reels. Meanwhile indictment for grand
larceny has been returned against three men, who will be
taken into custody on warrant now in the hands
of special detectives, if the fugitives can be overtaken.
,I suppose this thievery will continue,‘
remarked Mr. Freuler, ,until we put two or three of these
fellows into prison. That we will most certainly do.
The bold and astonishing daring of the thieves, crooks and
grafters upon the fame of Chaplin is beyond belief.
Exhibitors are being offered pictures of Chaplin made up
of ancient junk, stolen, ,duped‘ and assembled
together by various devious and unlawful methods.
,Such pictures are of no value to the exhibitor
and any showing of them is a damage of the reputation
of Mr. Chaplin. The old Chaplin pictures are no
more representative of the Chaplin art of to-day than the
nickelodeon of 1905 is representative of the modern
theatre. We are spending $670,000 for Mr. Chaplin‘s services,
and a good many thousands more to put out the
pictures. We have a good deal ready to spend in prosecutions
to protect our investment, and our customers. This
statement is not a threat – it is a sincere promise, and we
earnestly hope it will be duly observed.‘“
Identical text in Moving Picture World, Nov. 25, 1916.
Redaktioneller Inhalt
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