The Film Daily (1948)

^ Wednesday, September 1, 1948 DAILY U. S. Lags in German Feature Produdion (Continued from Page 1) i,n the United States zone, nine in ;he British zone and 12 in the Rusi5ian zone, according to William B. Kelly, U. S. consular representative i.n T^s^burg, whose report was reeaY>3 by Commerce pix chief, Natfian D. Golden. It appears from Kelly's report that the greatest obstacles to renewed production were met by the British — with harder problems to solve in finding studio space, raw Bjtock and production equipment. Both the Americans and the Russians iwere more fortunate. ,; Kelly pointed out that pre-war (German production went from 250 to [300 films yearly. [I A considerable difference of opinjion marked the relations between the British and the United States producers during the first 18 months of the occupation," said Kelly, outlining the following points: attitudes toward exchange of films with the Russians, film export procedure and production methods. "The British point to the popujlarity of the simpler, more realistic ^types of film, particularly those now ;being produced by the Italians, and to some extent by the French. "It is apparent from these," said Kelly, "that a new film cycle is in vogue." The United States official said another factor has been "the dependence of directors in the United States zone upon former German actors, many of whom were prominent during the Nazi days and, in certain cases, have only recently been de■nazified. The British, on the other hand, believe this is the time when new film stars should be given a chance, as German audiences because of the lack of available entertainment are not too critical. .Gonse.^quently, many of the films produced ;in this zone have starred actors and ■actresses who are making their first /appearance before the camera." ': Kelly said this policy appears to [be paying off and, "from the high I^quality of the films thus far produced," a new "postwar set of German stars may result." No pix ordered in the U. S. zone have yet been offered for exchange with those turned out in the Soviet zone, while the British viewpoint, according to Kelly, is to encourage such exchange "primarily ft£> enable films produced in either zone to meet the producing costs through the medium of larger attendance made possible under such .a. plan." Profitable production for the bizonal area alone is not possible unless j,|r standards are to be lowered, Kelly reports, but a profit can be shown if the films are shown in three zones. Political censorship by the British and Russians is of course in force. Of the 12 Russian-zone productions, Kelly said "only one has contained outright Russian propaganda." Another controversy between British and American film authorities — VOICE Of THE PRESS On the Foreign Pic "Oscar** \A/ITH the shabby deal American pictures are getting in Europe it seems hard to * » believe that the Academy of MoHon Pictures is readying a special award next year for the best foreign picture exhibited in this country. The heat is being turned on by some influential foreign producers. But we should do them favors? — DOilOTHY MANNERS, INS staff correspondent in Hollywood, in the New York Journal-American. • • The Gov% ]%ot the People THERE seems to be some confusion as to why the British have gone overboard for our stars. It's simple. First, they got to know them through the Command Performance shows which were broadcast in England during the war. It's also another way the British public has of protesting against the restrictions on our movies. They prefer the gaiety, clothes, parties and the lush — and in many cases untruthful — versions of American life to the drab reality in their own films. Britons have lived on reality and brown bread for years and are fed to the teeth. Hollywood should not blame the people but the British Government for curbing our product. — HEDDA HOPPER, in the New York Daily News. Embassy Reports Portugal Import Quota Imminent Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — • Import-distribution quota for films brought into Portugal is still said to be imminent, but no action has been taken yet, it is reparted from our embassy in Lisbon. Licenses have been required for all imports since February of this year, but they have been easy to procure despite Government policy directed at conserving dollar exchange, the embassy said in a report released by the Department of Commerce. Portuguese industry has been operating for more than a year and a half now, however, under new regulations including a tax on initial showings of foreign or domestic films, a levy for a Motion Picture Fund to subsidize native production, and allocation of minimum exhibition hime for domestic product. This minimum has been one week in six. Censorship in Portugal has been increasingly severe on moral grounds in recent months, following a Catholic Church protest to the Prime Minister over an unnamed American feature. Already cut by censors before church protest, this film was finally forced off the screen by the Government, wtih the result that subsequent censorship has been "overzealous . . . and indiscriminate." Five domestic features were released last year, and five produced jointly with the Spanish industry. Attendance in the 301 theaters operating in the first six months of last year was reported officially to be 9,401,000, compared with 8,103,000 for the same period in 1946. Cowan Plans Production In France and England Drive-Ins Group to Mull Patent Standing (Continued from Page 1) Drive-In by Park-In "Theaters of Camden, N. J. Other officers elected include Hoop Jernigan and L. L. Theimer, vicepresidents, and A. W. "Happy" Bell, temporary secretary and treasurer. In addition to officers, board of directors includes Fred Sessoms, Jack Biggart, C. B. Hayworth, Ben Allen, Howard Nally, Ben Pless, Bob Rogers and J. Francis White. "Search" Breaks Manila House's Four-Day Record West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Lester Cowan plans to leave for Paris in about 10 weeks \o produce "Babylon Revisited" in the French capital. Producer also schedules "Sorrell and Son" for production abroad, in England. To Premiere German Fi'm Gramercy Films' German production, "Marriage in the Shadows," has its U. S. premiere Sept. 16 at the Little Met Theater. Manila (By Cable)— M-G-M's "The Search" broke all house records in the first four days of its Philippines premiere run at the Ideal Theater. Premiere was a benefit for the UN Appeal for Children, under sponsorship of President Elpidio Quirino. Theater reports opening day receipts of 5,100 pesos, building on successive days to 5,200, 6,500 and 7,3D0 pesos. "Southland Newsreel" Started Des Moines — TeleVisual Productions has started production of a series of "Southland Newsreel" shorts to be sold to theaters in Southern states. Director-producer is Burton B. Jerrel, who also produces "TeleTopics." the MPAA in this case being the spokesman for this country — has dealt with export of German films. MPAA held out against bringing into this country any pix which might have been produced by ex-Nazis, while the British insisted there, is no chance for Nazi propaganda in films now being made in Germany. Britain is active today in fostering frequent exchange of German and British films, and Kelly points out that Eagle Lion already has 117 million Reichsmarks in its blocked account in Germany. ANNOUNCING THE APPOINTMENT OF J. E. ROBIN, INC. as general sales representative throughout continental United States, Canada and all foreign countries, for WEBER MACHINE CORPORATION makers of precision projection and sound systems for over 20 years. Weber products licensed under Western Electric Patents include: • SYNCRO-DYNAMIC SOUND PROJECTORS which combine modern projection and sound in one efficient, compact unit. • SYNCROFILM PORTABLE 35 MM. PROJECTORS. • SYNCROFILM QUALITY SOUND HEADS, readily adaptable to any standard projector; speakers and amplifiers for natural sound reproduction. J. E. ROBIN will continue the world-wide distribution of its renowned ROBIN-IMPERIAL STEDYPOWER a motor generator designed specifically for projection lamp service. ALSO ROBIN SELENIUM RECTIFIERS Free literature and further details will be sent upon request. Emil A. Kern, President J. E.ROBIN, INC. 330 West 42nd Street, New York 18, N. Y. Carl M. Weber, Sr., President WEBER MACHINE CORPORATION Rochester, N. Y.