As the Depression deepened, all the studios laid off workers and closed theaters. The Warners reduced all their employees’ salaries. Zanuck was fed up and quit after a confrontation with Harry Warner. Hal Wallis was appointed head of production. Wallis’s life and deportment are outlined, as is the beginnings of his tumultuous relationship with Curtiz. The Mystery of the Wax Museum was an artistic tour de force, a horror film directed by Curtiz. He explained the camera technique that he used,as his ruthless work ethic alienated Fay Wray and others in the cast. He ceased paying child support toMathildeFoerster for his son Michael, so she traveled to the United States and sued him in court.He finally settled the case just before it went to trial.Excerpts from Michael’s diary underscore the director’s indifference to his namesake son.Curtiz sent for his daughter Kitty. She was a troubled and rebellious, and he proved to be an ineffectual parent. His career continued with The Kennel Murder Case, Female,and Goodbye Again. Curtiz believed that he needed much better material to emerge as a director of consequence.