Anastasia Producers Sued
Anastasia Producers Sued
Joined: 12/31/69
#1Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 12:15pm
http://nypost.com/2016/12/10/anastasia-producers-sued-for-plagiarism/
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#2Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 12:28pm
I thought it was based on the Don Bluth movie?
#3Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 12:40pm
And if he has such a problem and wants to sue, how come he didn't say anything when it was playing in Hartford? All of the sudden you have a problem?
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#4Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 12:41pm
Exactly my thought, tmbyru. This show has been in the cultural domain for well over a year now. It's fishy to me that they only want to pursue legal action now that the show is headed toward commercial prospects...
#5Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 12:43pm
And since it's based on the movie, why didn't he have a problem when that was released?
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#6Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 12:54pm
Call_me_jorge said: "And since it's based on the movie, why didn't he have a problem when that was released?
"
It's not based on the movie.
This lawsuit has got no chance. Don't read too much into it.
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#7Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 1:28pm
GreasedLightning said: "It's not based on the movie."
IBDB says Anastasia is inspired by the film
Cfried
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/16
#8Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 1:31pm
"IBDB says Anastasia is inspired by the film"
It is inspired by the film, but not based SOLELY on the film. There have been a number of changes.
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#9Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 1:31pm
Alex Kulak2 said: "GreasedLightning said: "It's not based on the movie."
IBDB says Anastasia is inspired by the film
"
Well the article and most other press releases say it's based on the historical story.
#10Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 1:32pm
Well it still features the songs from the film
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#11Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 1:33pm
GreasedLightning said: "Alex Kulak2 said: "GreasedLightning said: "It's not based on the movie."
IBDB says Anastasia is inspired by the film
"
Well the article and most other press releases say it's based on the historical story.
"ETA: The BWW article now states its based on the Twentieth Century Fox Motion Picture. I don't think anyone truly knows.
Cfried
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/16
#12Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 1:36pm
Coming straight from Anastasia's Broadway website: Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical Anastasia comes to Broadway."
It also says at the bottom of the page, "INSPIRED BY THE TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX MOTION PICTURES."
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#13Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 2:04pm
Cfried said: "Coming straight from Anastasia's Broadway website: Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical Anastasia comes to Broadway."
It also says at the bottom of the page, "INSPIRED BY THE TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX MOTION PICTURES."
"
Yes, I saw that and edited my message. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.
#14Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 2:17pm
Well, it surely isn't the quintessence of historical accuracy, is it
jimmycurry01
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
#15Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 2:47pm
The problem is that the musical and animated film do clearly take a number of plot points from the original play. Most of which is not historical events.
Take a look at the film version starring Yul Brynner and compare it to the plot of the animated film, and then to this musical. The play has an even stronger resemblance to the new musical than it did the animated film.
The play is not in the public domain. Whoever made that statement is incorrect. The events in both pieces are fictionalized, and follow the same plot. This lawsuit is hardly without merit, and will likely be settled for a healthy sum.
Colle
Broadway Star Joined: 2/13/06
#16Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 2:53pm
How much of a chance is there of the show getting canceled(that is what is part of being asked)? Not much?
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#17Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 3:11pm
Oops, I read the BWW article about this first, which is currently erroneously implying that Jean-Etienne de Becdelievre himself wrote the original play in question. Confusing.
I don't know the ins and outs of the law around this, but the 1956 film was acknowledged to have been based on an English stage adaptation (by Guy Bolton) of the play (by Marcelle Maurette, Mr de Becldelievre's relative I believe), and the 1997 film was based on the 1956 film, and the new stage musical is based on both films... seems a bit weird that the musical producers are taking the line, as quoted in the BWW article, that there's zero connection at all between the play and the musical. I certainly don't want the musical production to be in jeopardy, but it does sound as though somebody should have done their homework on this at the very least.
#18Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 3:29pm
tmbyru said: "And if he has such a problem and wants to sue, how come he didn't say anything when it was playing in Hartford? All of the sudden you have a problem?"
That's an easy one: there was not enough money to be made off it to justify suing when the show was in Hartford.
lambchop2
Stand-by Joined: 8/18/12
#19Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/11/16 at 6:02pm
" the 1956 film was acknowledged to have been based on an English stage adaptation (by Guy Bolton) of the play (by Marcelle Maurette, Mr de Becldelievre's relative I believe), and the 1997 film was based on the 1956 film, and the new stage musical is based on both films... seems a bit weird that the musical producers are taking the line, "
The animated film was acknowledged as "based on he play by Marcelle Maurette, as adapted by Guy Bolton; and the screenplay by Arthur Laurents" so the animated film was adapted from the play as well. No idea what the musical's producers are thinking, both films were acknowledged in their credits as being "from/based on" the Maurette play and it makes perfect sense for Maurette's heir to seek a new agreement because a stage musical is not in the original licensing agreement with Fox.
Fan123
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#20Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/12/16 at 5:41am
I'm starting to wonder how, if at all, the existence of that other stage musical adaptation of the Maurette/Bolton material (known variously as 'Anya', 'The Anastasia Affaire', etc), with music by Wright and Forrest, might affect all this. Before this news, I had vaguely assumed that the new stage 'Anastasia's people must have any related rights issues sorted out already. Not sure what the rules are for this sort of thing.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#21Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/12/16 at 9:09am
Colle said: "How much of a chance is there of the show getting canceled(that is what is part of being asked)? Not much?"
Zero.
#22Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/12/16 at 9:31am
My guess is that it might just be easier by settling and giving him some small 1/2 of 1 percent of the authors' royalties type of thing.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#23Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/12/16 at 9:54am
But, the movies were already inspired by the 1952 play and the musical is based on the animated movie. Why is this even a thing?
#24Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/12/16 at 10:40am
The plaintiff is looking for ransom. Shutting down the show is the last thing he wants. I assume he will get it, via settlement.
I have no idea how much was lifted, so I have no idea what a reasonable percentage would be. My guess is it is not none. I do have a good idea that it was really dumb to proceed without nailing this down.
lambchop2
Stand-by Joined: 8/18/12
#25Anastasia Producers Sued
Posted: 12/12/16 at 10:41am
I still can't believe the producers are trying to say the two are wholly unrelated when even the end credits for the 1997 Anastasia say it's based on the Maurette play. Did they not realize this or bother looking into it before making the show or the statement?
"But, the movies were already inspired by the 1952 play and the musical is based on the animated movie. Why is this even a thing?"
Why is the lawsuit a thing, you mean? Because the musical's producers do not have the licensing permission to create a new medium (this new musical) based on the play. Since the new musical is based on the two 20th-Century Fox films which were themselves licensed adaptations (however loosely) of the 1952 play, the new musical's producers would legally - as far as I understand it - need to create a new licensing agreement with the owner of the play's license. It doesn't really matter how different they are, because both films were still licensed to be based on the play. Updated On: 12/12/16 at 10:41 AM
