A Place in the Sun

(1951)   Tags: Paramount

GEORGE STEVENS v. NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY et al.

Director George Stevens’ employment agreement contained the unusual and rare grant to plaintiff of sole control over production, which prevented subsequent deletions not required for distribution of the picture. George Stevens brings this lawsuit after his movies ‘A Place in the Sun’, ‘Something to Live For’ and ‘Shane’ had cuts made for broadcast on television.

The deletions which were made were not a requirement for distribution of ‘A Place in the Sun’ on television. The particular format used and time period allocated for the television exhibition allowed the motion picture to be shown in its entirety. The deletions were made with the intent to smooth the transition from the motion picture to the commercials and to improve the television exhibition. The deletions were a technical breach of plaintiff’s employment contract.  Director George Stevens was awarded $1 for the technical violation.

Judgment: The trial court denied an injunction, awarded plaintiff one dollar by way of nominal damages for a technical violation of the agreement and declared the rights and duties of the parties with respect to the three films as follows: (a) Defendant Paramount Pictures Corporation is the owner of said pictures and all rights therein; (b) it has the right to license said pictures for exhibition on television with interruptions for commercials; and defendant National Broadcasting Company, as Paramount’s licensee with respect to “A Place in the Sun,” has the right to thus exhibit said picture; (c) the making of deletions from the pictures is a breach of plaintiff’s employment agreement unless they are required to effect distribution.