Picture Business

Two years ago frenetic, tyrannical Producer Samuel ("Include me out") Goldwyn filed suit in a Federal court to compel United Artists to release him from his distribution contract. Two of his four partners in United Artists, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks (who died a few months later) were no longer making films. Charlie Chaplin brooded on his art, once in a long while turned out a picture. Producer Goldwyn felt that his films were carrying United Artists, had tried in vain (with British Producer Alexander Korda) to acquire the rest of its stock.

Fortnight ago in Hollywood the case was finally settled out of court. Released from his contract was Producer Goldwyn. United Artists arranged to buy in his stock for a rumored $300,000. Last week United Artists' executive chief, Murray Silverstone, was looking about for another partner to replace Goldwyn, had his eye on independent Producer David Oliver (Gone With the Wind) Selznick.

Tough, fun-loving little Songwriter B. G. ("Buddy") De Sylva was getting along fine at Fox when Darryl Zanuck popped up in 1935 and merged Fox with his own 2Oth Century Pictures. Buddy De Sylva soon parted company with Zanuck, went over to Universal for a while, then to R. K. O. When he parted company with R. K. 0. too, Hollywood said De Sylva was washed up.

Then Buddy went east and staged three fabulously successful Broadway musicomedies in quick succession: Du Barry Was a Lady, Louisiana Purchase, Panama Hattie. Last week Buddy De Sylva was back in Hollywood with a new job. As of May 1, he will be production head of Paramount--a job as big as Zanuck's.

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