Kinematograph year book (1939)

32 The Kinematograph Year Book. Fewer British films were imported into the Dominion during the last! fiscal year, although the imports from both the United States and France were appreciably greater. British film imports totalled 560,367 ft., as compared with 967,000 ft. for the previous 12 months. Film imports from the United States increased from 3,050,160 ft, to 3,347,186 ft., while those from France over the two-year period moved from 1,160,000 ft. to 1,482,822 ft. A few productions were also imported from the Soviet and Germany. The films imported from Britain were valued at S44,761 for duty purposes, while those from the United States carried a valuation of $266,968 and from I France, $119,104. On the whole, the motion picture business in Canada found itself on firm ground in 1938 thanks to organised effort and established recognition of the screen's value to the community, despite a definite economic setback in the United States and rumours of war in Europe. Dividends were paid \ theatre investors, deficits were reduced, most theatres are up to date in a structural sense and the business is quite flourishing, all influences considered. INDIA. The past year has not been an easy one for any section of the film industry in India, but that is to be expected of a period when international affairs take on a threatening aspect. Even so, there is evidence of expansion to be noticed in spite of serious setbacks. Three new theatres have been opened in the past year in big cities ; the Lighthouse, in Calcutta, which caters for social needs as well as film entertainment ; another Metro theatre in Bombay and the Eros in the same city. Renovations are reported from Bombay, Rangoon and Simla, and although this activity must have stimulated or revived interest in picturegoing, there are repeated indications of decreasing box-office figures from all parts of the country. It would seem that patronage is moving up into the better theatres rather than increasing ; a concomitant of the opening of two luxury theatres in Calcutta is the news of one former European programme house there reverting to native pictures and another in liquidation. The slump in takings can only be referred to the disturbed economic outlook, for native production still improves and some districts report patronage hitherto given to American and British programmes sw-itching to Indian films. It is interesting to note further increases in the amount of unexposed film imported during the past year, figures under this head having mounted steadily for three years past. Another indication of the steadily growing volume of native film production on modern lines is a big increase in imports of sound-recording apparatus. Even if a portion of this business is covered by replacements there is still the indication that native film has reached a stage in which it can afford new and up-to-date apparatus. The K.R.S. of India, Burma and Ceylon continues to function to the benefit of the trade generally, and during the past year has given attention to the standardisation of renters' contracts. The year 1938, having for its chief characteristic a hardening of the market for both European and Indian interests, its prospects for 1939 are difficult to define ; like the rest of the world, so much depends on the turn of international politics. Eventualities of this kind are more important to American and British distributors than to Indian ; the former must still depend on the white population for the greater part of their business, and while actual war might not displace such a large number of the military, civil servants and business men that make up their patronage, it is definite that spending of all kinds in the Dominion wall be cautious until some assurance of normality resumes its sway in patrons' minds. A review of the past year would not be complete without mention of the demise of Sir Phiroze Sethna, President of the Motion Picture Society of India. As champion of the cause of Indian films in official circles, his death is a great loss to the industry.