Year book of motion pictures (1925)

Until recently, most of the films shown were of Italian and French production, but recently a number of American films have been shown, which have met with popular approval. One American producer has already arranged for films to be shown regularly at a local house, but there would seem to be a possibility for more firms doing likewise. However, it would would be preferable to have a special agent in some city of continental Italy who would be given the whole of Italy in which to develop business and he could circularize the films among local motion picture houses. — June 16, 1924 Imports and Exports By Trade Commissioner A A. Osborne, Rome In 1923, Italy imported 2.259,215 meters of motion picture films, or $265,084 meters if 194,131 meters of Italian film returned after exportation is left out, compared with 1,285,142 meters imported in 1922. From third place in 1922. coming after France and Germany, the United States took first place in 1923, when it contributed 697,643 meters or more than 30 per cent of total imports for the year. The value of imported films in 1923 totaled 13,215,049 lire compared with 3,825,167 lire in 1922. Export of Films Exports of films amounted to 1,909,256 meters valued at 7,040,800 lire in 1923, compared with 1,612,377 meters having the value of 7,458,547 lire in 1922. Although the United States, France, Germany and Great Britain furnished most of the films imported into Italy in 1923, a number of other countries contributed appreciable quantities. The chief countries of destination for exported films were Austria, France, Germany and Russia. The last named country took 188,589 meters of Italian film in 1923 and ranked in importance next to Germany and France. The United States imported 120,965 linear meters in 1923 as compared with 231,739 linear meters in 1922.— June 16, 1924. Naples By Consul General H. M. Byington, Naples. For purposes of film distribution, Italy is divided into five sections. Piedmont and Liguria form one dist ; Lombardy and Venice another; Tuscany and Emilia a third ; Lazio, the district around Rome, is the fourth, and the Naples district covers the largest territory, but is not the most populous. Naples, Palermo, Messina, Bary, Monopoli, Lecce, Taranto and Brindisi are the only considerable cities. Naples is by far the largest, with a population of about 1,000,000, and has 28 large moving-picture theaters and a number of smaller ones. Naples film distributors are not in the habit of buying direct from the producer. Their method is to have their agents visit other cities in Italy, France, Germany and England and view films that are being exhibited. On the basis of the reports of these "scouts" rentals are made. A list of the distributing agencies in Italy can be secured by addressing the Department of Commerce. JAPAN By Charge d'Affaires Jefferson Caffery, Tokyo Japan There are said to be 40 more motion-picture houses in Tokyo than there were before the earthquake, while applications have been received for the construction of 26 additional establishments. — Oct. 20, 1924. Specialty Briefs By Assistant Commercial Attache E. G. Rabbitt, Tokyo With a view to establishing a confederation of motion pictures film producers in Japan, the Japan Moving Picture Producing Co., and the Shochiku Cinema Co., according to the Osaka Mainichi, are preparing to join forces and will invite the cooperation of the Teikoku Cinema Co., and the Makino Moving Picture Producing Co.. The main objects of the confederation are to obtain standardization of censorship, to secure withdrawal of tax on lead cases of imported films and amusement tax imposed on theater pa trons, to improve the technique of production and selection of plots, and to study the possibility of increasing exports of their films, especially to China. The only films now exported from Japan are those covering new items. — April 7, 1924. MEXICO A consular report issued in April says there are 460 picture houses scattered throughout the Republic of Mexico with 43 in Mexico City. Most give nightly performances with the pictures running for a week. In the larger cities, states the report, a run of 21 days can be realized through the medium of second and third run houses. The entire picture trade is supplied through Mexico City with it estimated that in excess of 400 films are imported annually from the United States. 97 per cent of the films shown in Mexico are produced in the United States. Some producing is done in Mexico by the Mexicans themselves, but they have only met with indifferent success, possibly, states the Consul, due to the employment of local talent. One film, "Almas Tropicales," is now being shown throughout Mexico, this film having been produced by the firm of G. Camuay Cia. "In a broad general way, there is a preference for the American films, but this is due almost entirely to the fact that the public has been educated to accept the American standard ; which may he traced back to the fact that good salesmanship and the maintenance of local agencies here by the American film producers have prin cipally contributed to such education. The fact that the Mexican government forced American film producers to agree to eliminate the use of Mexican characters as the bad man of their drama has been taken to indicate a critical attitude on the part of the Mexican public, but, as a matter of fact, the action referred to was initiated entirely by the government and was not in response to any popular demand whatever. Consequently, the American film distributor will find that the popularity of screen stars and public tastes here in Mexico correspond to such popularity in the United States. NORWAY "Norway has been a pioneer country in regard to municipal moving picture theaters," reports a Consul. "In 1920, 120 municipal cinemato graphs had an income from performances of 19,000,000 Kroner, while the gross receipt of 94 private cinematographs was about 3,000,000 Kroner. The population of Norway is about 2.700.000. Considerable sums are devoted yearly, particularly to cultural objects, from the revenues of municipal cinematographs. The action of the Government in 1920 regarding the latter is liable to taxation has, therefore, aroused great ill-will in the municipalalities. The moving picture theaters are generally housed in separate buildings which in the cities are frequently spacious and beautifully decorated in the interior. Even to the remote country districts, the moving pictures have found their way and they are highly appreciated by the public as a means of entertainment and a highly important factor of education. Educational films are used in all of the schools." PORTO RICO By L. W. James, Special Agent San Juan. American motion pictures dominate the Porto Rican market, few of those of any other nation being shown. They are distributed all through eight exchanges operated in San Juan, all but one of them being local companies. Rentals are approximately from $5 to $10 for the average old picture, and it is the custom for the exchanges to do the advertising. There are, all toM, in the neighborhood of 125 theaters and other buildings where motion pictures are shown in the island. With the exception of a few in San Juan and Ponce none of them has daily shows ; the majority open Saturday and Sunday, with possibly one or two evenings during the week. — ■ January 28, 1924. 657