The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

September 30, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 17 Quota May Be Repealed All-Party “Agreement” to Appoint Committee ? Not Satisfied Films Act is Enough The Bioscope learns that “ conversations ” which have been going on secretly for some time past between highly placed politicians have resulted in an understanding that irrespective of which Political Party is returned to office after the approaching General Election, a Special Committee will be appointed by the Government to examine the whole question of American competition in Britain (including possibilities of its extension), in connection with Films, Radio and Television. We understand that this Committee, which is to be the outcome of recent agitation both inside and outside of the House of Commons, will have power to hear and examine expert evidence and to frame recommendations to the Government. E< t . An influential body of Political thought is anxious that the Committee shall address itself not only to discover the exact extent and disposal -oft America’s influence in the British cinema world, but shall consider ' indications arising out of present U.S.A. activity in radio and television. This political “ agreement ” is not a party one, influential members of Cabinet and past-Cabinet rank having shown a lively interest in the conversations. Representatives of all parties are said to have declared that the Films Act (Quota), though of temporary benefit to the British film business, has not proved an unqualified success, because U.S.A. firms, in addition to acquiring British theatres, are making films which, while distributed worldwide as British, will bring no money into the country, and will be in direct competition, both here and in other English-speaking countries, with the product of companies of purely British origin and finance. Several powerful Political leaders are said to favour consideration of a Foreign Imports Licence quota which would limit acceptance of American and other films to a fixed proportion of the British films taken by and distributed in the respective foreign countries. This course they say would relieve the theatre owner of the onus of securing a quota in the face of (to varying extent) economic difficulties, and would shift responsibility to the producer. The industry is likely to regard further legislative interference at this stage as a very doubtful blessing. Independents to Fight Tobis Remonstration at Talkie Monopoly (By Our German Correspondent, Fritz Mann) New Sunday Bill Read First Time In the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday), Mr. Stanley, Under Secretary for the Home Office, introduced the Sunday Performances i Temporary Regulation) Bill ' to enable the existing practice as to cinema and musical entertainments on Sundays to be continued temporarily and to make temporary provision as to the enforcement of the enactments related to Sunday Observance.” The Bill was read the first time. 3 3^ Duty Excessive P.E.P.M.A. Views to Chancellor Provincial Entertainments Proprietors’ and Managers’ Association, whose headquarters are in Manchester, has forwarded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer a resolution pointing out that the new scale of entertainments tax would make the duty upon seats priced at 3d. and 4d. 33£ per cent, and 25 per cent, respectively. Believing that the Chancellor did not contemplate these increases to the poorest class of people, P.E.P.M.A. expresses satisfaction that consideration is to be given to the amendment of the duty of three halfpence on the sixpence, a charge which would, they say, deter large numbers from using seats so taxed. It was further suggested that the following should be the scale for lower-priced seats as more workable and less destructive than that of the Finance Bill : Prices of admission 3£d., duty halfpenny; exceeding 3|d., but not exceeding 6d., one penny ; duty on higher prices as proposed in the Finance Bill. In a covering letter sent to the Chancellor it is stated : " Your purpose in regard to the revision of the scale of the entertainments duty as set forth in your Budget speech was to impose a uniform tax of 16f per cent, on all admission prices. We cannot think that you contemplated your new schedule would actually levy a tax of 33j per cent, on those among the poorest class seeking recreation. Such a tax is made the more grievous by being in excess of the proportion of duty to be paid by the occupants of higher-priced seats.” Albert De Sol la — Exh i b i tor Takes Over Holloway Grand Albert de Solla, well-known throughout the industry as the late sales manager for Warner Brothers Pictures, Ltd., has taken over the Grand Cinema, Holloway Road, N., at one time under the control of R. V. Crow, president of the C.E.A. Mr. de Solla has had many years of trade experience in various parts of the country, and his large circle of friends will extend to him their good wishes for his success. Independent German manufacturers of " talkie ” apparatus have drawn up a united front against TobisKlangfilm. It is intended to induce the German Government to remonstrate against the monopoly of TobisKlangfilm in the " talkie ” field. Preliminaries for interesting the more powerful Members of Parliament have already been concluded, and it can be expected that action will soon take place. The aim is to free, by governmental decree, certain of the patents controlled by Tobis. Alteration of Censorship Within the next ‘"'few months the special committee for alteration of the German censorship will meet. Sharper measures of censorship are desired by different political circles. Free Tickets for Unemployed The Berlin municipality intends to distribute coupons for free tickets to the unemployed, to give them the opportunity of entertainment. One coupon per week will be issued, which will be acknowledged by the cinemas, which will realise the value of the seats from the municipality. This would mean a repetition of the old Roman principle " panen at circenses.” Sudfilm Again Solid By the intervention of John Maxwell, president of British International, who was staying in Berlin, the greatly depressed Sudfilm, the big German renting and producing firm, has now been restored to a more solid basis. Film Society Annual The Annual General Meeting of the Film Society will be held at the Western Electric Company Theatre, Bush House, Aldwych (entrance in West Wing), to-morrow (Thursday), October 1st, at 5 p.m.