Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

June 21, 1930 EXHIBITORS HtRALD-WORLD 59 British Industry Faces Many Huge Problems Press and Trade Favor Powerful Governing Body to Control Industry Under a Competent Leader THE British film industry during 1929 suffered from several industrial reverses, and it is confronted at the threshold of 1930 by many momentous problems. Prior to 1927, owing to the inroads of foreign films, tbe film industry of Great Britain reached a crisis which was met by Parliamentary intervention in the form of the quota act. Under the stimulus of this act the beginning of 1929 found confidence in the future of the film industry restored, and it was claimed that a market for British films was assured. Wasn’t Prepared for Sound As a result of this protective measure, numerous British film companies were organized and public subscriptions to their flotations reached huge totals (figures placed by some at £35,000,000 and £40,000,000). Many new studios were erected, and numerous silent films were produced. So great were the activities in the industry, however, that it was generally predicted that large quantities of silent films beyond the requirements of the quota act would result. At that time several thousands of cinemas throughout Great Britain were doing good business. In the meantime the British industry did not realize the rapidity of the progress being made by the sound film and was not fully prepared for its invasion of the British market. As anticipated, 1929 closed with a large surplus stock of silent films and a demand for sound pictures which the British industry was not prepared to supply. Competent Leader Wanted A large number of companies whose activities were devoted to the production of silent films were not financially able to change over to sound production and were forced into liquidation. Several thousand cinemas in Great Britain which find their receipts diminishing because of the demand for sound pictures are confronted with the necessity of installing sound equipment. In face of this, the news of the rapid development of the wide screen and color has been sufficient to disrupt plans for the future, as it is argued that difficulties of financial installations for sound in the cinemas fitted out for silent films are considerable, and the thought that the coming of the wide screen will necessitate remodeling cinemas and the installation of entirely new projection apparatus is so disquieting that the consensus of the cinema press and industry is that concerted action is necessary to bring about a postponement of the introduction of the wide screen until such time as the industry has recovered from its disruption resulting from the invasion of sound, and that a powerful governing body to control, advise, and direct the industry under the direction of a competent leader should be organized in the meantime. Theatres It is estimated that 171 theatres were constructed in England during 1929. An average of about 1,200 new seats was installed in the new theatres erected during the year, making a total added seating capacity of approximately 200,000. This compares with approximately 70 new theatres in 1928 with an added seating capacity of about 90,000. It has been roughly estimated that about 250 theatres were reconstructed during the year in Great Britain. In considering this question, however, it has been found difficult to determine the meaning or limit of the term “reconstruction.” Reconstruction is so general and varied and between such wide limits that no accurate idea can be given of the actual number of theatres in which the changes can be dignified as re First to begin publication of the compilation, “ The European Film Industry in 1929,” a series of reports of foreign trade compiled by the United States Department of Commerce, Exhibitors HeraldWorld herewith presents the report by Martin H. Kennedy, American trade commissioner at London. This is the third installation of the work, the general introductory survey of the European situation having been traced in the two previous issues. The next subject to be covered will be the status in France. construction. There are, furthermore, no records now available by which it can be determined how many new seats were added by reconstruction. During the past year about 980 cinemas were supplied with sound equipment. Of this number 693 have American equipment, 177 British Talking Pictures, 21 Edibell, 20 Electrocord, 18 Melotone. 14 Filmophone, 13 Syntok, 4 each New Era and Celebritone, 3 each Klangfilm (German) and Classitone, 2 each Naturetone and Syncro, and 1 each Brooks, Clarion, Coronel, Majestone, Marshalls, and Own Make. Production of Films Approximately 40 feature films were actually started during the year. Silent versions were made of all these and, in addition, about 35 of them were eventually synchronized in one manner or another. This compares with a 1928 production of 95 films. The best opinion seems to indicate that the cost of the average silent film ranges between £5,000 and £12,000. This is somewhat below the cost of the sound films, as it is figured that the average setting for the silent film, cost of artists, etc., are less than the cost connected with the sound film. In view of the fact that sound films are produced on a more elaborate scale than the silent films, the average cost of a sound film is considered to be from £12,000 to £20,000. It has been estimated that such sound pictures as Blackmail, High Treasons, and Atlantic cost £24,000, £30,000, and £40,000, respectively. Statistics collected from English studios and published in an English film trade magazine show that when a picture costs £15,000 the amounts paid are approximately as follows: To actors, supers, and staff £3,000 To director 1,500 To his assistants 1,750 To the scenarist 1,000 To the photographers and operators.. 1,000 The 40 films referred to were produced by the following companies: The British International Pictures (Ltd.) 21 The Gaumont Co 5 Gainsborough Pictures 6 New Era Pictures 1 British Instructional Pictures l. 1 British and 'Dominion Films Corporation 4 Welsh Pearson-Elder Films 2 There is little evidence of great progress being made in short sound subjects. The British International Pictures is said to be making 1 a week, while Gaumont is accredited with 2 per week. The former, however, has plans to make about 12 pictures, while the latter has plans to make about 8. Gainsborough and British Sound Films are contributing to the number of short sound films at irregular intervals, but no definite report as to their production is at present available. The cinema press is authority for the statement that at the present time there is little real competition in the sound short field being encountered from the Continent, but that the foreign market has been increased by American short comedies some 300 per cent, and that the volume is increasing rapidly. It is believed that the possibility of further business is brighter than it has been, particularly as shorts seem to lend themselves much more readily than lengthy productions to the multilingual plans and to the employment of foreign talent. Ten studios thus far have been equipped for sound-film production. Five of the studios are equipped with American recording apparatus. Distribution According to the Ivinematograph Year Book, there were actually released in the United Kingdom during 1929, 663 feature films, of which 495 were American, 87 English, 60 German, and 16 French. Of the American films released, 53 were sound films, of which 36 also had silent versions. According to these figures, the American share of the market for 1929 was 74.66 per cent as against 71.72 per cent in 1928, when ( Continued, on next page, column 1) Films Released in the United Kingdom in 1929 Month American English German French Other Total January 35 11 3 4 .. 53 February 38 6 8 2 1 55 March 31 7 5 1 44 April. 39 7 6 2 54 May 46 7 4 1 1 59 Tune 29 4 3 1 37 July 43 3 6 1 53 August '31 5 2 1 =T 43 September s46 8 5 59 October 448 9 1 2 5T 61 November °56 10 7 1 74 December ’50 10 10 1 71 Total s495 87 60 16 5 663 ’Three of these were silent versions of sound films. 5A film entitled “Shiraz” produced in India by an 2A film entitled “The Romance of Runnibede,” pro Indian company, duced in Australia by an Australian company. ’Eleven were silent versions of sound films. ’Seven were silent versions of sound films. ’Nine were silent versions of sound films. 4Six were silent versions of sound films. ’Including 53 sound films.