The film daily year book of motion pictures (1942)

recommendation to reduce the quotas for the next three years. This decision was mainly forced by exhibitors, who found a rising quota impossible to fulfill in riew of restricted British production, a condition which affected distributors to a secondary decree. As a result, from April 1 the distributors' quota will be 20 per cent lot features and 15 per cent for shorts; from Oct. 1 that for exhibitors will be 16 per cent for features and 13 % per cent for shorts. These represent an all-round cut of five per cent in the percentag^es which would otherwise apply. CENSORSHIP — Normally, censorship of films in Great Britain is carried out by the British Board of Film Censors. This is not a statutory body, but one established by the trade many years ago. Since the outbreak of war. however, all questions of censorship have been passed over by the Government to the Ministry of Information, which has appointed the B.B.F.C. as its agents. Films can only be shown in British theaters if they bear the "Security" certificate of the Ministry, a condition applying not only to entertainment pictures, but also to news reels. Final acceptance or rejection of a film for exhibition officially rests with the Local Licensing: .\uthorities throughout the country, numbering some seven hundred, but almost universal acceptance is given to the decisions and control exercised by the Board and generally the situation is considered satisfactory. In connection with the power of Local Authorities it should be noted that when a film is rejected by the Board of Film Censors an application for special review can be made to Local Authorities and a few notable instances have occurred where this procedure has resulted in local exhibition of the rejected film. Detailed discussion of the specific standards followed in censoring film appears to be superfluous but it might be mentioned that three grades of certificates are issued. "U" means passed for universal exhibition. "A" is recommended more especially for adult audiences and under nearly all Local Licensing Authorities children must be accompanied by adults when attending-. The "H" category stands for "Horrific" and usually attendance of children is entirely prohibited. Recent experience has been that well over four-fifths of the film subjects passed by the Board receive the ' U" certificate while the "H" category has been confined to one or two per year. It should be noted, however, that this proportionate division applies to the total number of subjects and not to feature film alone which get a smaller proportion of the "U" certificates. COMPETITION — In the motion picture film market of the United Kingdom competition is practically limited to that between British-made and American films. Other foreign pictures account for an entirely insignificant proportion of the total shown and are practically confined to a few theaters in the largest centers which specialize in this type of entertainment. Since the war. importations of such pictures has virtually ceased exoept for a recent influx of Russian product, which is being favorably received in the theaters. In view of war conditions the Board of Trade has ceased to issue its customary analysis of the percentage of British films shown, but, owing to the operation of the double and triple certificates and the general uncertainty, there has been some decline in quantity, although a more than proportionate improvement in quality. The decline in local production noticed last year continued in 1941. Last ofificial figures issued by the Board of Trade related to quota for the year ended March 31, showing a total of only 65 British features registered, as compared with not less than 200 in normal pre-war years. A breakdown showed these to include S.f "exhibitors' quota" films (costing less than £16,000) : 20 "renters' single quota" films (costing not less than £15,000); 19 "renters' double quota" films I costing not less than £30,000); and 3 "renters' treble quota" films (costing not less than £45.000). Of significance is that the returns represented a deficiency of seven per cent on the statutory Renters' Quota for the year. An analysis prepared for official use by the Producers anticipates not less than 70 features in 1942, though in some quarters it is doubted whether, owing to shortage of studio space and calls on manpower, the total -will effectively exceed 50. Some uneasiness exists, moreover, since the entry of the United States into the war that Hollywood product may also fall oft in quantity in the cun-ent year. One result of the current shortage of films (first noted in 1940) has been a series of so-called revivals or re-issues of older pictures throughout the year and in many instances these have given surprisingl}' satisfactory results, although recognized as a temporary expedient to solve the immediate situation. It can be said in general that without qualification American films continue to be well received by the British public and give continually recurring evidence of their popularity. COPYRIGHT RELATIONS — Under British law and practice the interest of the author and producer are fully protected. The ordinary legal reference is the Copyright Act of 1911 as amended. Great Britain entered into copyright relations with the United States on July 1, 1891; extended April !), 1910; further extended January 1, 1915. Great Britain is a member of the International Copyright Union at Berne. PRODUCTION — See under "Competition." Expectation of local production will be more seriously affected by the recorded Government decision to lower off the Quota percentages for three years, as by the earlier concession whereby .\mericans buy U. S. rights of local pictures against Quota, thereby saving themselves from the obligation of producing their full percenta^re of physical footage. TAXES — There is a national Entertainment Tax which is specific in amount for each price category of tickets, and it has been considerably increased by special war taxation rates. Local taxation is governed by the individual local rating laws which provide normal tax treatment for motion picture theaters. The import duty for films is reasonable and in the general high field of British taxation the treatment of motion pictures can be considered as moderate, althought the Entertainment Tax yields some six or seven million pounds sterling to the Exchequer annually. While not considered in the direct category of taxation there is a special related feature worthy of note under The Sunday Entertainment Act. 1932, which gave local authorities permission to open and regulate cinematograph theaters on Sunday. The local authorities alone have the power to give such permission and it is estimated that about 1,000 out of the approximate 5,000 theaters in England are now permitted Sunday opening-. It is provided under this Act that the local authority shall demand from the theater a proportion of the profits for that day, part of which sums collected shall be used for local charitable purposes and another proportion paid into the "Cinematograph Fund" under the direction and control of the Privy Council for the purpose of encouraging the use and development of the cinematograph as a means of entertainment and instruction. Something like 9 or 10 thousand pounds sterling is now received into this central fund annually and the principal use for it has been in supporting the British Film Institute, which is active in the promotion of the use of motion pictures for educational purposes. The amount paid into the national "Cinematograph Fund" is only equal to about 5 per cent of the total collected by the various Local Authorities, the balance collected under the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, being devoted to local charitable purposes. THEA'TERS — All motion picture theaters in the United Kingdom are now equipped with sound apparatus. The number varies from time to time, due to openings and closings, as a result of new construction, reconstruction, etc. The total num ber of theaters is well in excess of 6.000 and one of the best trade sources puts the figure at approxi niately 6,300. although damage by enemy action and closures due to economic stress have caused the shutting down of between 10 and 15 per cent 941