Hill was sent by Universal Pictures to Japan to open a movie studio, where he made friends
with a young American consul. The consul told him that other people had
tried to open up studios in Japan, only to be scared away by the
locals, who faked an uprising and then took over the studio when the
Americans had gone back home. He then decided against opening the
studio and tried to return to America against Universal's wishes. In the end, he was only granted a re-entry permit
after a doctor signed a certificate to the effect that Mrs. Hill needed
medical care obtainable only in the US.
Jay Marchant was
sent over to open the studio--and wound up being scared away by
the local villagers, who then promptly began using the studio
themselves.
