Year book of motion pictures (1930)

Hungary Agitation — The iollowing is a translation of the new Hungarian film decree approved by the Royal Hungarian Council of Ministers on June 28th, which became effective August 1, 1929: Decree No. 2.900/1929 M.E. Referring to the Modification of Decree No. 4.963/1925 M.E. Concerning the development of Hungarian Film Production. 1. For every meter (censor meter) of film produced abroad and inspected and released by the National Board of Film Censors (O.M.B.) in addition to the existing censors' fee a supplementary fee of 20 filler per meter must be paid in favor of the Film Fund and in the interest of promotion of the domestic film production. The O.M.B. will issue release certificates only after the paymnet has been effected and one "Behozatali jegy" (Import certificate) described in paragraph 2 is turned over to the Board. News, cultural, educational, instructive, scientific and knowledge promoting films are exempted from the above obligation. 2. For every inland produced film corresponding to the below mentioned conditions, the producing company will receive from the Film Fund twenty import certificates. These slips will be given out only for such inland produced motion pictures, which have a length of at least 1,500 subject meters and were inland produced at the expense amounting to at least 60,000 pengoes — the expense to be proved and the motion picture accepted by the Film Fund as a Hungarian Film. 3. The import slip is a transferable public document, but the parties are obliged to register the effected transfer with the Film Fund. 4. The Royal Hungarian Ministries of Interior and of Commerce are herewith authorized to arrange with the Film Fund such executive procedure agreements for the guarantee of fulfillment of the above obligations as well secure the most efficient development for the Hungarian film production or will secure sales territories for the same. 5. This decree is effective with the date of August 1st. 1929. On the above date the Government decree No. 11.300/1927 will lose its validity. 6. This decree shall be enforced jointly by the Ministries of Interior and of Commerce. Budapest, June 28th, 1929. Signed: Count Stephen Bethlen. m.p.. Royal Hungarian Premier. Censorship — The censorship is under the direction of the Ministry of the Interior, the members of the censorship board being appointed by the Minister. Appeal can be taken from the board's decisions in the first, second and third instances ; the final appeal is to the Minister of the Interior. In several cases the Minister has permitted pictures which have been rejected by the board after certain changes were made. In many cases the board passes pictures after subtitles are changed and offending parts cut out. In passing pictures the board of censorship classifies them as to whether they can be shown universally or only to persons over 16 years of age. No mergers or other arrangements between Hungarian and foreign film companies were effected during 1928. Competition — American 52 per cent ; German 42 per cent. Out of a total of 724 features distributed in 1928, 374 were American. 303 German, 17 Austrian. 16 French. 4 English and 10 from other countries. Copyright Relations — Same as last year. Production — There are three producing companies in Hungary the "Star" the "Corwin." and the Hunia. No features were produced in 1928 by a Hungarian company. Some production in conjunction with German producers. Taxes — High. Theaters — 495 licensed theaters. Budapest has 96 theaters. Sound — The Cinema Association of Hungary at tempted to ban the exhibition of sound films until May 31, 1930, presumably under the guise that the small cinema owner was not prepared to take on the heavy expense of making a sound film installation. The great wave of popularity of the sound film, defeated the purposes of this Association. There are about 10 theaters wired for sound. Imports from U. S. A. — 1928 587,872 ft.; value $13,510 1929 (1st 9 months) 651,415 ft.; value $14,348 Exports to U. S. A. — 1928 None None 1929 (1st 9 months) 1,000 ft.; value $35.00 DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS BUDAPEST Altalanos Mozgokepipari Vallalat, Rakoczi-ut 8/a. Artistica Filmvallalat, Rakoczi-ut 59. Apollo Filmkereskedelmi Vallalat, Kossuth Lajosutca 13. Balla Sandor Standard Filmkolcsonzo Vallalata, Erzsebet-korut 8. Beck Imre "Turul-Film" Vallalata, Rakoczi-ut 66. Cito-Cinema, Feldmann Izso; Rokk Szilard-utca 11, Cosmos. Erzsebet-korut 1. Coda Filmforgalmi es Kereskedelmi R.T., Jozsefkorut 31/b. "Eco" Filmkolcsonzo es Kereskedelmi R.T., Rakoczi-ut 14. Edison Film, Karoly-korut 24. Fox Film R.T., Rokk Szilard-utca 20. Genius Film R.T.. Kolcsey-u 4. Hajnal Gyula Filmkolcsonzo es Kereskedelmi Vallalata, Rokk Szilard-utca 14. Iris Film R.T., Rokk Szilard-utca 12. Komaromi Aladar "Delta-film," Nyar-utca 12. Kultur Filmkolcsonzo Vallalat, Rakoczi-ut 51. M-G-M Dist. Co.. FohercegSandor Ter 3. Minerva, Rokk Szilard-u 5. Modern Filmkereskedelmi R.T., Rakoczi-ut 59. Muveszfilm Kolcsonzo Vallalat, Rakoczi-ut 40. Oberlander Film R.T., Nador-utca 17. Paramount Filmforgalmi R.T., Rakoczi-ut 59. Patria Filmkereskedelmi es Kolcsonzo Vallalat, Akacfa-utca 3. Radius Filmipari R.T., Rakoczi-ut 36. Rado Istvan Filmforgalmi Vallalata, Bezeredy utca 5. Recordfilm Kolcsonzo Vallalat, Falk Ignac, Jozsef korut 30-32. Star Filmkolcsonzoje, Kossuth Lajos-u. 13. Universal Film R.T., Nepozinlaz 21. Warner Bros. First Nat. Vitaphone Pictures, Erszebet-Korut 9-11. India Agitation — Anglo-Indian section of the press have raised considerable agitation against American films. The Indian Cinematograph Committee, appointed to investigate the industry, in India, published a detailed report after working on the question for ten months. They were, however, unable to agree as to the feasibility of an exhibitor's quota which would establish a 50 per cent showing of Indian pictures. No action as yet has been taken by the government. Censorship — Most of the pictures shown are produced in the West and depict an entirely alien civilization. It was alleged that Western films were ruining Indian culture and injuring their moral concepts. The Indian Cinematograph Committee completely absolved this report. It was the unanimous agreement of the committee that a Central Board of Censors for India be established, which would have the right of supreme decisions Full of Reader Interest — The Film Daily 1029