The Bioscope (July-Aug 1912)

The Bioscope, August 1, 1912. 2 337 of my partners shouted down from the roof, ‘ Come up, Rock, we have got a part for you to play!’ Yes, in those days we all used to take a turn at acting.” . “What is your opinion of the French cinematograph trade, compared with England and America, Mr. Rock?” _ “Well, I really cannot compare it with England, for I have not had time to study how they do things over there; but, as to France, from what I have seen since I have ee Paris, I ae say that everything is going along very well, bu ee hie and renters should work more together. 1 certainly do not approve of any firm doing three things at the same time; two's bad enough. The manufacturers should keep to manufacturing, the renter to renting, and the exhibitor to exhibiting. In conclusion, my message to the readers of THe Bioscore is, that these are the times of strenuous competition, and of the survival of the fittest in the moving picture trade.” THE BRITISH FILM. In last Sunday’s issue of the Referee, “ Dagonet ” pleads—not for the first time—for more recognition to be given to film firms who be British actors and British operators. In his opening paragraphs on this subject, ‘George R.” says :— “The picture palaces have come to stay. Some of them—not all. In the process of evolution the Darwinian doctrine of the survival of the fittest is certain to prevail. Seeing what s huge industry the cinema has become, it is time that the British public, which is spending many thousands of pounds a week on these entertainments, should occasionally be treated to a film in which the characters are British, You may go night after night to the picture shows and see nothing but American, Italian, or French films. English policemen, English soldiers and sailors, Englishmen and Englishwomen, are conspicuous by their absence, and the aramas and comedies take place in foreign lands. To frequent the picture shows is to gain the impression that England is a land in which nothing happen: but an occasional horse race or Royal review.” He then goes on to quote a letter he has received from “a gentleman engaged in the Trade, which throws considerable light on the difficulties.” In this letter the following three reasons are given as to why there are so few English films:—‘(1) The difficulty of providing good stage-managers, who will strive to produce as for the cinematograph, and not the stage. (2) The difficulty of finding capable artists. The average actor is not efficient; he will act as if he were on the stage. (3) The uncertain weather, which harasses the stage manager, and inclines him to hurry over his work if he is to accomplish anything at all.” At the end of his pleadings, “Dagonet” utters the following exhortation: “Wake up, England! Don’t be fed on foreign films for the next twenty years.” Now, we are quite in agreement with “ Dagonet ” that the picture fheatres have come to stay, and also that the Trade has become a huge industry. And we are certain there is no one who would be “better pleased than ourselves to see English films come into their own. But before this happy condition can be brought into being, there are two obstacles to be overcome. The amount of capital that English people are ready to put up for English productions is insignificant, compared with that of Continental or American firms, while the market for English films is extremely limited. Remove these two stumbling blocks, and any others drop down automatically. With a sufficient amount of capital, capable stage managers, capable artists, and everything else required can easily be procured. The one or two fifms who are at present boldly striving to keep the head of the English film above water would be the first to admit that there is no lack of talont among Englishmen ; the trouble is that they—as is only natural—hire their abilities to the man from whom they can obtain the greatest return. But we firmly believe that very long before the twenty years that “ Dagonet ” talks about are gone, the best of the world’s films will be found amongst those produced in the Old Country. N.A.C.O. The Insurance Act has provided a rurh of work for the Secretary. The vast majority of members have made the N.A.T.E. their “approved society.” Operators who have obtained their insurance cards from a post-office should apply for a form to the Hon. Secretary, N.A.C.O., 1, Broad Court Chambers, Bow Street, W.C., and ing same Kaumber pom) ret, filled up their deposit! Hook AcHaie NOTES. will be sent on. No transfer is necessary with a post-office depositor. Any operator wishing to make the N.A.T.E. his approved society, and who through an error or misunderstanding has joined some other society, should apply to that society for a transfer. The monthly meeting of London members will be ‘discontinued until further notice.