Year book of motion pictures (1934)

Imports from U. S. A. — 1932— Positive, sound 44,68.? ft. $120 1933— First Six Months: Negative, sound 100 ft. 76 1933— Positive, sound 79,758 ft. 861 Hungary Agitation — According to Decree No. 2670, 1932, issued on May 14, 1932, the duty on films imported into Hungary is 250 gold crowns (one gold crown equals $0.2026 gold) per 100 kilograms (220 lbs.), plus 6 per cent phase turnover tax. "Import certificates" cost 100 pengos for films less than 200 meters in length, 200 pengos 201 to 400 meters, 400 pengos between 401 and 800 meters, 600 pengos between 801 and 1,200 meters and 1.000 pengos for all others. (Silent films require no import certificates). According to Decree No. 5710, 1933, issued on May 26, 1933, the Film Fund charges 20 fillers per meter in case the Hungarian titles were made in Hungary, and 50 fillers if those were made abroad. In addition, there is charged a regular censorship fee of 4 fillers on films made in Hungary and 10 fillers if made abroad. Weekly news, educational and scientific films are exempt from all charges except censorship fee and import duty. The decree retains the provision that the film fund may grant, from the funds at its disposal, premiums to producers of films in Hungary. Accord'ng to Decree issued on December 3, 1931. Hungarian motion picture theaters are permitted to use foreign-made equipment and supplies by virtue of a special permit of the Ministry of Commerce. Censorship — 793 films (811.215 meters total length )were censored in 1932. of which 666 (713.562 meters) were sound films and 131 (97.653 meters) were silent films. 14 sound films (32,238 meters) had been definitely rejected but subsequently passed in 4,111 meters. The origin of films was not recorded. Competition — According1 to American film importers the use of American films is continually increasing and it is estimated that during 1932, American films shown amounted to 55 per cent compared with 45 per cent German films. The increase is continuing. Copyright Relations — Special convention signed October 13. 1912. gives copyright protection. Production — The only sound studio, the Hunnia, controlled by the Governmental Film Fund, produced 8 sound films during 1932 for foreign ?ccounts. Two of these gave Hungarian versions and cost 190,000 pengos; 2 Hungarian and French versions, 500.000 pengos ; 1 French version, 250,000 pengos: 1 Hungarian, German, French and English versions, 400.000 pengos ; 1 Hungarian-English versions 200.000 pengos and 1 Hungarian-German versions 400.000 versions 400,000 pengos. No silent films were produced during 1932. The production of Hungarian (Magyar) films did not prove profitable, and all films produced closed with a loss. Notwithstanding these losses, however, several films were produced in 1933. and although these proved fairly successful, the production costs could not be realized owing to the smallness of the country and the lack of possibilities for Hungarian films in foreign countries. Taxes — Very high. The amusement tax varies in different communities. In Budapest the amusement tax amounts to 6 per cent of the total receipt and between 5 and 15 per cent in the provinces. There is an additional turnover tax of 3 per cent. Theaters — On January 1, 1933, there were 633 licenced motion picture theaters of which 355 were in actual operation. Sound — On November 1, 1933, there were a total of 267 motion picture theaters which possessed sound reproducing equipment. (Note: 1 pengn equals $0,175 gold). Imports from U. S. A. — 1932— Negative, sound 4,672 ft. $70 1932— Positive, sound 417,142 ft. 7,011 1933 — First Six Months: 1933— Positive, sound 380,582 ft. 5,797 DISTRIBUTORS BUDAPEST Danuhius Film, Erzsebet-krt. 44. Eco Film, Rakoczi-ut 14. City Film / previously Osso / , Erzsebet-krt. 8. Express Film, Nepszinhaz-u. 21. Fox Film, Rakoczi-ut 9. Genius Film, Rokk Szilard-u. 20. Hermes Film, Rakoczi-ut 36. Flirsch es Tsuk, Rakoczi-ut 14. Kovacs es Tarsa, Erzsebet-krt. 8. Kultur Film, Nepszinhaz-u. 17. Libertiny Film, Nepszinhaz-u. 21. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sandor-ter 3. Muveszfilm, Rakoczi-ut 40. Paramount Film, Rakoczi-ut 59. Patria Film, Erzsebet-krt. 8. Phobus Film, Erzsebet-krt. 8. Plesz Ferenc, Akacfa-u. 7. Heflektor Film, Sandor-ter 4. Schuchman Film, Rokk Szilard-u. 20. Stylus Film, Ersebet-krt. 4. Turn! Film, Miksa-u. 7. Ufa Film, Kossuth ajos-u. 13. Papp film, Nepszinhaz-u. 16. Ungar Film, Nemet-u. 31. Universal Film, Nepszinhaz-u. 21. Warner Bros, jozsef-krt. 30-32. India Agitation — There is no agitation against American films at the present time with the exception of occasional criticisms directed against American films by the British press. Censorship — Nothing has been done toward the establishment of a Central Board of Censors for India and censorship is still done by Provincial Boards. Most of the Provinces will accept Bombay or Calcutta censorship. Competition — Approximately 80% of the imported pictures shown are American but British producing companies have made better arrangements for distribution and an increasing number of British pictures are being shown and their quality is improving. Copyright Relations — See United Kingdom. Production — Year 1932-33 — 43 silent, 33 sound features ; 18 topical and short dramas. Accurate figures are not available. It is probable that there are between 50 and 75 Indian film studios. Of these not more than 25 or 30 can be considered as capable of carrying on all year round production. It is probable that there are between 10 and 15 Indian studios equipped to record sound. Taxes — Moderate — same as prevailing in the past few years. Theaters — It is almost impossible to obtain an even approximately accurate list of motion picture theaters in India, Burma and Ceylon. The list compiled gives 675 cinemas. We know of at least 10 new theaters which have been built during the year and there are probably several others. On the other hand it is mor« than probable that some of the smaller houses have not weathered the depression. A source of constant error in the compilation of any list of theaters in India is the fact that the names of these houses change frequently. Con 1035