Minutes of evidence taken before the Departmental Committee on Cinematograph Films (1936)

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COMMITTEE ON CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS 5 May, 1936.] Mr. R. D. Fennelly. [Contin tied. Table B. L> ' iiijlh of films registered (in thousand feet). Period Long. Short. All Films. (years ended March 31). British. Foreign. Total. British. Foreign. Total. British. Foreign. Total. 1929 904 3,400 4,304 170 922 1,092 1,074 4,322 5,396 1930 624 3,331 3,955 150 1,204 1,354 774 4,535 5,309 1931 789 3,649 4,438 60 1,160 1,220 849 4,809 5,658 1932 928 2,962 3,890 59 1,071 1,130 987 4,033 5,020 1933 961 3,057 4,018 47 893 940 1 ,008 3,950 4,958 1934 1,180 3,115 4,295 60 769 829 1,240 3,884 5,124 1935 1,183 3,116 4,299 68 891 959 1,251 4,007 5,258 1936 1,379 3,316 4,695 96 756 852 1,475 4,072 5,547 41 . It will be seen that as was to be expected there was a considerable output of British films in the first year of the Act. In 1930 and 1931 production was to a certain extent disorganised by the introduction of sound, but British producers had made so satisfactory a start that they were able to surmount this obstacle and after 1931 production increased rapidly. The number of British films produced has always been far in excess of those required to meet the statutory quota on the foreign films registered. 42. It will be observed that on the other hand there has been a decrease with slight fluctuations in the foreign long films registered both as regards number and length since the first year of the renters' quota. This reduction is probably accounted for partly by economic conditions in the U.S.A. and partly by the fact that the increased production of British films and the cost of providing quota has made it unprofitable to bring to this country certain poorer quality American films which could profitably be distributed under the conditions which prevailed before the Act came into force and during the first year or two of its operation. 43. It will be further observed that British short films showed a considerable decrease both in number and length until 1933 when some slight degree of recovery took place. This decrease in short films has been apparent however not only in British but also in foreign films. The small output of British short films is probably due largely to the unfavourable economic conditions under which they are made and sold. In the case of foreign films it is probably due in considerable measure to the increasing extent to which programmes shown to the public consist of two long films and a news reel instead of one long film and several short films. There has. however, in the last two years been a considerable increase in the output of short " interest " and documentary films, many of which have been registered Eor exhibitors' quota. Forty-six short films were registered in this way in the year ended 31st March, 1936, as against three long films. 44. The Board of Trade are not in a position to estimate either the capital invested in the production side of the industry or the cost of British films. In order that the Board may be in a position to assure themselves that the requirements of the Act in relation to British films have been complied with, the producer has to furnish particulars of the salaries, wages and other payments made to persons directly employed in the making of a film. The total expended in this way in respect of British films made in the quota year 1935-6 amounted to £2.750.000. This total excludes payments made in 95 cases to foreign artists and producers (usually highly paid). It does not include cost of sets and other materials, studio hire where paid, and general overheads. The total amount expended in production in 1935-6 may therefore have been of the order of £5,000,000 or more, but the figure is suggested with all reserve. 45. The particulars of British films given in paragraph 40 include films made not only in the United Kingdom but elsewhere in the Empire. The following table " C " gives particulars of the films made outside Great Britain which have been registered for full quota as British since the Act came into force. Practically all these films were acquired by foreigncontrolled renters. It will be seen that in the quota year 1935-6, for instance, only 11 of the long films registered as British under the Act were made outside Great Britain. Six of these came from Australia while three were Indian silent films made some years ago and not hitherto registered in this country. Table C. No. of films. Quota Year. Long. Short. 1928-9 8 1 1929-30 7 1930-1 9 5 1931-2 6 1 1932-3 9 8 1933-4 9 4 1934-5 11 1935-6 11 Total 70 19 Full details are given in Appendix V. VI. The Position of the Renters. 46. The renters or distributors of films are combined for trade association purposes in the Kinematograph Renters' Society (Secretary. Mr. F. Hill). 47. A already stated, renters who distribute films fcol which the Act applies must lie in possession of an