Motion Picture Commission : hearings before the Committee on Education, House of Representatives, Sixty-third Congress, second session, on bills to establish a Federal Motion Picture Commission (1978)

70 MOTIOX PICTURE COMMISSION. the foreign business has increased t^vice. and perhaps thrice; that we are still manufactiu-ing some of those Wild West scenes, Wild West pictures, and the foreign demand is still very great for just that kind of pictures. It may be that in one particular locality they arc not anxious for them, but the pictures in general are having an increas- ing demand in foreign countries—that is, American-made pictures. Mr. TowNEK. Can you say to the committee that the character of the films that yon are now sending to Europe is different from tiiose described by these consular agents? Mr. ScHECHTER. No particular difference. Mr. Tow>"EE. Are you still sending them Wild West scenes? Mr. SciiECHTEH. Some Wild West scenes. I think the Universal manufactures about 15 or 20 per cent of Wild West bcenes, the re- mainder being those representing the drama and other subjects. Mr. Seligsberg. Wild West films are in demand in England and on the Continent, and wliat these consuls say must represent tlieir own views because the demand is increasing. Mr. TowKER. There are several ether consular reports here and I think they all say the demand is decreasing. Mr. Seligsberg. That particular report has become a byword in the trade papers, because the exports are increasing. I think, at the rate of about 100 per cent a year. Mr. TowxER. What would be good news to us would be that be- cause the films are being improved, the exports are increasing. Is that the reason ? Of course, we are not concerned with what you manufacture and send to Europe except as it reflects upon the coun- try itself, but to have it generally understood that the characteristic American film, approved and desired by our people, is the film that is described by these caisular agents, is not very much to the honor and glory of our country. Mr, Seligsber(;. May I say that about one-sixth of the films in this country might be termed AYild West films, not necessarily dei)icting the Wild AVest. but the films may represent scenes in Canada or in gold mines: but it is melodrama. That proportion is gradnally de- creasing, but it is melodrama, strange to say—and despite the reports of these consuls—that is most popular in Enroi)e, particularly in the southern countries of Europe. Bnt in England there is still a great demand and an increasing demand for American pictures and cow- boy pictures, despite those reports. There is also an increasing de- mand for the more artistic and better produced pictures. I may say that the American lilm- have always been popular on the other side of the water because they have always been better artistically and dramatically. I>ut if your (juestion is directed to the point as to whether the proportion'of Wild West films is increasing or decreasing I can safely say it is decreasing. ]\Ir. Towner! The board of censcrshii) is not incorporated, is it? Dr. Howe. No: it is not a corporation. Mr. Towner. It is purelv a voluntary organization? Di-. TIowK. Yes. sir. Ml'. TiiA( HER. lii wliiU year wa-^ it founded^ Dr. lIowK. It was founiicd five years ago. Mr. Towner. The management 'i> in the hands of four directors or secretaries, as I understood vai to say.