The Bioscope (Oct-Dec 1931)

24th YEAR. SUBSCRIPTION ! Home 10/6 per annum. Abroad 30/* per annum. i '"////////vr"' The Independent Film Trade Paper (FOUNDED BY JOHN CABOURN) Faraday House, 8-10, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C. 2. Telephone : Temple Bar 7921, 7922. Telegrams : “Gainsaid, W estrand London.” No. 1310. Vol. LXXXIX. NOVEMBER 11, 1931 PRICE 6d. It Seems To Us The Win-Through Spirit Two spectacular events which have this week thrilled vast London crowds — the State Opening of the new Parliament and the Lord Mayor’s Show — provide, with the more sombre Armistice observations of to-day, a striking illustration of the spirit in which Britain and the British people are facing the present wave of industrial and economic difficulty. The Lord Mayor’s Show provided an example of the readiness of the British public to enthuse over the products of British industry if stimulated by imaginative and inspiring publicitv. The British public looks with equal enthusiasm to the new Cabinet and its House of Commons, pledged to restore prosperity to British industries by protecting them from foreign domination. The British public, remembering something of the grim determination and sacrifice which won the war, pledges itself again to fight, this time not with steel and shell, but with gold and tissue. The tissue is sound : the gold will be mined through renewed national energy and cast by the aid of a new fiscal machine. Let every British exhibitor interpret aright the present wave of national sentiment, and turning to the impressive list of British motion pictures waiting for his public, book them — for all he is worth ! And Now — A New Code The Home Office move to secure a greater degree of uniformity in film censorship views among Local Licensing Authorities will either make or break the existing British Board of Film Censors. A Consultative Committee has been appointed to assist the Censor ; its personnel is impressive in the way that most things rich in decoration are impressive. But in addition to being spectacular, it brings to an inherently independent censorship system the first tinges of political colour. That is why it may break and not make the B.B.F.C. Uniformity of action is much to be desired — it is manifestly absurd that Coventry should be permitted to see a film deemed unfit for Birmingham. But if that uniformity had to be secured by the constant submission of progressive influences to the caprices of the censorial diehard, the purchase price would prove higher than the British Board of Film Censors could pay. If there is ever to be a political film censorship in this country it must be subject to the democratic principle of which Britain is both jealous and proud. It must be a National one, subject to the weapon with which democracy invests, the British public. We hope that the Consultative Committee and the British Board of Film Censors will appreciate their responsibilities and decide upon a sane preliminary to their joint operations, viz., the entire recasting, with due regard to prevailing public opinion, of the fossilised code of film censorship now in use. Sez We ! America has taught us many things — there are other things which she may try with very little success to teach us. Audacity and originality may spout dollars from the fount of American showmanship, but where is the British theatre owner who dare try America’s latest exploitation “ stunt ” ? A prospective bride and her groom are induced to have the wedding celebrated on the theatre stage, all the necessary paraphernalia, plus hosts of useful presents, being eagerly supplied by local firms wishing to share in the generous acknowledgments made before a packed audience of curious people out to see the whole marriage business from a new angle ! If this is showmanship in America, there must be a different name for it here, where marriage, if not always regarded as sacred, is still decently raised above the level of mannequinism. In This Issue— Page Exhibitor Rental Revolt .... 10 New Trade Mayors .... .... 10 Lord Mayor’s Show Display .... 10 Booking British Films .... 11 E. T. Surprises .... .... .... 11 Will Evans Moss Chief .... .... 11 Sydney Hayden on S. Africa .... 11 Personal .... .... .... .... 12 Scottish Notes .... .... .... 12 Talk of the Trade .... 13 Gainsborough Finances .... .... 14 H. J. Cook Honoured 14 Legal and Financial ... 14 British Studios To-day ... .... 15 Trade Show Diary .... .... 16 Box Office Film Reviews 17 — 20 “Bioscope” Readers’ Forum .... 20 C.E.A. Activities 22 Notes from Territories .... 23 — 24 Technical News and Notes .... i War on Bad Prints .... .... iii Bishop Stortford’s New Cinema vi Ambassadors, Hendon vii On House Organs viii Showmanship Activities ix Coming Trade Shows x ADVERTISEMENTS M-G-M Front Cover E. G. Turner 2 W. & F. Film Service .... ...3—6 Twickenham Film Studios 7 Western Electric .... .... 8 Paterson ... 12 Kamm & Co. ii Uniform Clothing ii Girosign, Ltd ii Thawpit, Ltd iii Chloride Batteries.... v J. Frank Brockliss vi Roth Equipments. .. .... vi Champion & Co .... vii P.D.C x Clement, Blake & Day Back Cover Kodak Back Cover