We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
10
The Kinematograph Year Book.
difficult problems in its train. In the first place any immediate settlement was impossible because the representatives over here of American firms, however willing to co-operate, were obviously unable to commit their principals in New York to an important policy.
Secondly, the definition of what constituted a British film was. and still is, a ticklish question. It might well be asked whether any film made in this country was a British film ; although the capital, the direction and the stars might be foreign ? If not, what line of demarcation would be acceptable to both sides ? The British ideal, that such a film would be entirely financed, directed and acted by Britons, independent of any help or control from the other side of the Atlantic, was recognised as representing an entirely different proposition to the solution visualised by the Americans.
Then, thirdly, what was the point at which Government backing of the British producing industry would be effective. It was made clear that jurisdiction of our Government ceased at our shores, and to make stipulations as to the conduct of American business by Americans was outside its scope.
Legislation.
It will be seen by this that the British trade had definitely accepted the idea that the Government was to be called upon to act. and that no voluntary scheme would serve to clear up the problem. This was by no means unanimously recognised at first, and it was in virtue of its demand for the cessation of blind-booking that the C.E.A. had to face the question and to prove to its members that it was the only way.
As a matter of fact the actual suggestion that legislation should be set on foot was not at first welcomed by the rank and file of exhibitors, but the following resolutions, which were passed at a meeting of the Joint Production Committee at the end of March, show how the necessity for something nore than a voluntary agreement was recognised :
1. This Joint Trade Committee, being satisfied that the abolition of blind booking is a necessity for the rehabilitation of British films welcomes the statement of the President of the Board of Trade that the Government is prepared to introduce immediate legislation on that subject if desired, and authorises a Sub-Committee, consisting of Sir Wm, Jury, W. N. Blake, W. Evans, E. E. Lyons, T. Ormiston, S. Rowson, T. A. Welsh, A. C. Bromhead and A. J. Gale, to take at once all necessary