The Film Daily (1926)

THE s?e^ DAILV 1 hursday, July 29, 192 America Abroad This in the fourth in a aeries dealing with the internal strncttire of the industry both in Amei-ica and abroad. The article, ivhich appeared in "The Wall Street Journal" last night, ivas written by Sanford Griffith. American films strike common denominator in human experience wliicli makes thnn' popular the world over. Our producers portray life in such a direct way that all peoples understand it. Success in getting over the story to as diversified a nation as ours lias made American films a worhl mcdimiT. Our pictures give a picture of a rich and prosperous nation. American homes show numerous labor-saving devices, and present .1 higher standard of comfort than is to he found elsewhere. Where, but here, are many workingnien well enough paid to ride alioiit in automobiles of their own? American women are better dressed and freer. ^ '','' dren seem to be getting more fun out of life. Add to this that American pictures are technically more finished than most of those produced abroad and you have a winning combination. The reward is that tlie American film in dustry gets SO'.'r of the world's film business Comparison with other successful American industries in world markets shows that Alircr ican automobiles get about 75%, and Ameri can telejihones about 63%. Measured in linear feet, export of Ameri can films is literally doubling each year. In 1<>2.S .110.190,9.!,1 ft. were sent abroad, in 1924 178,447,606, a gain friim 73, 72,?, 002 feet in 1913. Foreign Earnings High Earnings of American producers from for eign bookings average about a fifth of their total. As European countries are taking steps to check the flow of American pictures, and arc in various ways encouraging their own home production, it is doubtful whether American producers can expect to increase their percentage beyond the present 80' r of world business. They may in a few years have even less. Hut in actual volume big gains in exports of American pictures can be expected to continue fronr year to year. The surface of the potential world market for American pictures has hardly been scratched. Even in this country, wliere there is a scat in a motion picture theater for each six to seven persons, the saturation point is not in sight. In Britain, our best foreign market, there is but one seat to every 20 persons, and in Cicrmany, one to 30. Counting noses in Russia, China and other parts of the world where peoples have taken to American pictures, would lead into higher mathematics. Up to a few years ago American producers paid no particular attention to foreign sales. Pictures were dumpe<l at chance prices and returns were put down as a windfall, wel come but not included in estitnates. It I)'speaks much for the i>opularity of American pictures that they were so well received, de spile the junrble of good and bad. Art Range International Our studios are American in their broad programs and in high speed momentum, bul they arc also international in their talent and art range. Directors and actors of genius arc attracted to Hollywod (rem all parts ol the world. Producers are pa'ying attention to appro priatc settings to an extent they never dream rd of a tew years ago. They go to foreign countries for realism in setting, and con suit foreign experts for accuracy in historic detail. While competitive business considerations underlie much of the international film con trovcrsy, political anxieties have abruptlv lieen injected into it. Precisely because people arc making pictures a necessity of their daily lives, films have come to be regariled as a formidable instrument of propa ganda rivalled only by wireless and by the newspaper. Some rather excitable Rritish patriots rush cd to arms in fear that American films might shatter the Empire. American and not llrit ish modes of life were being pictured in far corners of the Empire The Mexican and Japanese governments have several times been sensitive about having their nationals portrayed in American pic tures in the role of the villain. American producers now take pains not to restrict th< range of nationalities of their villains or heroes and try to make characters true to national type. The .Soviet government has been troubled by American pictures. Would not a film May Exports Drop H'-ashhigton Biucih of THE FILM DAILY Wa.shiiiKtoii — .\ decided drop in exports in May is indicated by figures made public l)y the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce, sliowing total shipments for the month of 23,214,727 linear ft., vahicd at $726,279, against 25,932,445 linear ft., valued at $989 161 in April. Exports by classes included 3,009,217 ft. of raw stock, valued at $81,294; 347,211 ft. of negatives, valued at $67,439; 18,705,977 ft. of positives, valued at $562,874, all shipped to foreign countries, and 1,152 322 ft. valued at $14,672, shipped to American territories. Argentina was the heaviest importer of positive during the month, taking 2,033,571 ft., valued at $67,455, Other large importers were France, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Australia, all of which took more than 1,000,00 ft. each. showing prosperous American people enjoying themselves be a form of insidious capitalistic propaganda? They forbade "The Coy ered Wagon" in Russia on grounds that it might put the idea of wandering into the minds of the people. Propaganda Medium Hut that American pictures are a form!d.able propaganda medium for American ways and American goods is not to be denied. To day trade tends to follow the film, whatever the flag. Housewives the whole world over seenn to want American sewing machines, seen in the pictures. Tliey see and want electric washers and vacuum cleaners. The French admire the pretty little cash girl in the American picture, but they do not overlook the cash register, and arc discarding their old wooden drawer "caisse" for modern machines Prosperous South American youths hasten to buy American cars built on graceful lines such as the film hero uses. Turkish women got their tips on how to modernize froJrr American pictures. The Far East calls for shoes of Am'erican style. American suits, like coals to Newcastle, have even invaded London, the citadel of men's f,-\shions. The British government has been drawn into the film controversy and has promised to support the home industry but various methods were considered and found undesirable. The "kontingent" system, considered by several governments as a welcome barrier to .•\merican pictures were unsuccessful even in Germany. The legislation the Germans introduced to conrbat American pictures proved a boomerang. It encouraged production of inferior pictures at home, which German cxhiliitors under the law were obliged to take to be able to pet foreign money. The German industry failed to keep pace with the American in popular appeal and consequently most German pictures failed to meet foreign approval. The result was that German producers found themselves with too limited a home market, and no opportunity fo raise Trroney for expansion. The American oroducers couUl have taken about as much of the German market as they chose last year in that the Ufa. the largest German comnetitor. was in the hands of the banks. But 'wo of our leading comiianics decided to b've and let live, and instead advanced the Ufa $4,000,000. This opens an outlet in Germany for American pictures and gives the Germans the opportmiity to place a few here GermaTi outtiut will, hereafter, be restricted] mainly to smaller pictures. They cannot hoju to compete with America in financing and nrodncing suner-films. Austria folMw-ed the "kontingent" fashion, •ind iirovided that one Austrian picture should be shown to every 20 foreign. But recently the Austrian governnrent agreed tha' legis 'ation would not be enforce<l which proves .n hardship for American producers. Thus the "kontingent" in effect may be dropped. Hungary passed a law providing that one Himcariaii film should be displayed to 30 foreign. But this has been abolished for 'iinilar rciVsons. France has a fireproof film law inspired by a French company making an inferior bul fireproof film. Enforcement of the law would have meant exclusion of foreign films. But it has not been put into eflfect The .\nstralians apply a heavy sales tay of one shilling in the pound on all monev received by the distributor. Barriers to Our Fi'ms Variations of the "kontingent" system are to be expected in several foreign countries I'oreign governments are going to unl filnr in the category of natitnial utilities, and sup port them even at a loss. In dealing with foreign governments, the American industry followed the wser and better p.ath of conciliation an<l friendiv co operation. For several years past, nroducer.-; have been making an intensive studv of foreign markets. The Motion Picture Prod and Subcommittee At Odds (.Continued from Page 1) nor does the outlook for the immediate future appear brighter. It is understood, upon good authority, that Major Gale has resigned from the sub-committee and the remaining members cannot seem to agree whether the quota system, "kontingent," or reciprocity plan will benefit the Britich industry and reestablish it along prominent lines. Blake and Ormiston personally are in favor of the quota scheme, but in view of the referendum taken among members with regard to this kind of a plan, they do not intend to oppose the wish of the majority . S. Rowson, too, is equally convinced that the quota system is the best way out, although a strong reciprocity scheme would receive his support. Colonel Bromhead is in favor of the "kontingent," having witnessed its operation in Germany. Long meetings have taken place, during which every semblance of a scheme that would bring rehabilitation of the British industry has been discussed, without any concrete result. Although the indus_ti;y, generally is hoping that a decision is reached soon, many are becoming impatient because of the long delay. Damper on Vatican Films Rome — For a long time at least, no films will be taken in or around the Vatican, as permission has been refused several American companies to film at important religious ceremonies. The Pope has been very liberal in giving permits, but many American priests strongly resented the films taken during the opening of the Holy Year in 1925. Therefore the ban. Dist. Assoc, now has an emissary with diplomatic functions in Europe in contact with foreign governments, and seeking to meet their wishes. Where the "kontingent" system is put into operation, American producers will prob ably buy theaters to assure themselves a maxini'um of exhibiting (opportunities under the restrictions. American technicians and capital are already cooperating in the British National Studio. American producer^ also will probably give both the German and French protfucers further aid. but without directly taking a hand in their production. .American financing too will be available. This does not mean that the American industry seeks to impose its methods on foreign producers. Such transplanting has reoeatedly failed. The French have a school of ilieir own which appeals to the Continent. I he Germans proved in such films as "Dr. ; .ahgari,"_ "The Last Laugh" and now in Variety' that they can excel in disposition of lighting and in striking and artistic effects. American producers have about as Large a percentage of the world market as they can hope to get. The prosperity of , our industry and that of other countries liepends finally on friendly cooperation and | on a liveandletlive policy. j Russia Active Moscow — Backed by governme subsidy, Russian producers are p; ticularly active, although despite gc ernment aid, Russian producers a "in the red." Motion pictures in the Soviet a recognized as a powerful agency the dissemination of propaga which accounts for the fact th studios are kept open in spite losses sustained. American films are popu; throughout Russia, although eiTort to be made to shake off what regarded as the yoke of Amerii dominance. That this is going to difficult is conceded, because of popular aversion for the propagand infested Russian pictures. The trade barrier against Russi in addition to the propaganda angi has also contributed to keeping Ru sian films within the boundaries the republic, although several Rn sian producers, operating with pi vate capital and government aid, a looking to the European market ai even to American as a possible fe tile field for their pictures. A number of meritorious pictur have been produced in Russia, ; well as many which were very ba Russian preference is for stark dram stripped of all embellishments that much of the screen material sui able for showing here, would be r stricted in other countries, particular in America. There are seven producing cor panics in Russia, and seven trat magazines. The Sovkino is the cei tral distribuing agency and maintait a national trust. Pictures can be made in Ru? cheaper, perhaps, than any other pla in the world. Technical workers ai ready at a moment's notice to ta part in the picture being made. R sia has colorful and bizarre bai grounds and a wealth of histor material to select for screen purpo: German Year Book Issued Berlin — Boasting 700 pages, "Lie! bildbuehne's" year book which pears every third year has just b' issued. The volume, which is work of Karl Wolffsohn, is decla to be the most comprehensive refi ence book on the German indus' ever published. Among the mal features of the year book are listin of all producers, distributors, theii ters, associations, reference woi and trade papers. In addition, e.\ port and import regulations are ou| lined, censorship decisions detailel with listing made of all pictures a] proved and prohibited. The histoi and development of the German fill industry are traced with the varioi taxes imposed in European countri( explained in detail. A highly con mendable effort. Preparing for International Congrei Paris — The President of France, M Gaston Doumergue, will preside at tht opening of the International Cinema tograph Congress on Sept. 27. Th< Congress delegates will be met at thfj Champs Elysees. The conventio will last until Oct. 3.