Year book of motion pictures (1934)

Norway Agitation — The National Association of Municipal Motion Picture Theaters, representing theaters with a seating capacity of approximately 36,000 of a total of 44,000 in Norway, has recently advocated government assistance in one form or another for Norwegian film producers. The only advantage now enjoyed by Norwegian films is a rental 5 per cent higher than that paid for foreign films. Competition — American films enjoyed a stronger competitive position in 1932 than during the previous year. Of 228 feature films released in Oslo in 1932, 113 were American. Figures for all of Norway are not available, but the proportion of American films would differ only slightly from the foregoing. Censorship — Censorship continued under the same plan as the preceding years. There has been no change in the fees charged. On the whole the censorship methods now in use meet with the approval of all film representatives. Copyright Relations — Copyright relations wi,h legal rights and restrictions, are specified in the royal decree of July 1, 1905 as amended by decree of April 9, 1910. and June 14, 1911. Production — Production of Norwegian films for 1933 totals five with sound and none silent. Three of the films were photographed in Norway and two in Stockholm. Four films have already been released, and the fifth is to be released before the end of the year. Production has begun on two additional films to be released early in 1934. It is reported that construction will shortly be started of a small sound studio in Oslo for the making of Norwegian films. The studio is expected to be completed about April or May, 1934. Films produced in 1933 are: Title Producer Photo Ed Glad Gutt National Tonefilm graphed in Vi Som Gaar Svensk Oslo Filmindustri Kjokkenveien Rasmus Breistein Stockholm Skjaergaardsfiirt Viking Film Oslo Jeppe paa Bjerget Svensk Oslo En Stille Flirt Filmindustri Stockholm Taxes — Taxes on films continue the same — 10 per cent of the gross receipts. Theaters — Theaters in Norway total approximately 220. According to preliminary reports, receipts of Oslo theaters for the first six months of 1933 showed a slight increase of about Kr. 16,000 over the same period of 1932. Expenses were reduced approximately Kr. 60,000, making possible a net profit of Kr. 72,100 for the period. Sound — 175 theaters are wired for sound. Those theaters not wired are principally located in small rural communities, and are served by 10 portable sound film sets included in the above total of 175. Imports from U. S. A. — 1932— Positive, sound 296,457 ft. $5,464 1933 — First Six Months: Positive, sound 256,587 ft. 3.908 DISTRIBUTORS AND OSLO IMPORTERS Film-Aktieselskapet Paramount, Torvgaten 9. Skandinavisk Film-Central, Torvgaten 9. Fotorama A/S, Akersgaten 16. United Artists A/S, Dronningensgate 21. Warner Bros. — First National Vitaphone Pictures A/S, Radhusgaten 30. International Film Compani, Stortingsgaten 4. Kamera Film, Stortingsgaten 4. Kommunernes Filmcentral A/S, Tollbodgaten 35. Metro-Gbldwyn-Mayer A/S, O. Slottsgate 21. Fox Film A/S, O. Slottsgate 21. Kinografens Filmbureau, Skippergaten 22. Universal Film A/S, Karl Johansgate 16. Hio-Film Comp., Olav Ryespl. 11. BERGEN Filmhuset A/s, Sjogatan 6. PRODUCERS Kommunernes Filmcentral A/S, Tollbodgaten 35. Filmindustri, N. Vaskegang 2, Oslo. Gladvedt Film, Nordahl Brunsgate 14, Oslo. Wilse, jr., Drammcnsveien 20, Oslo. Kamera Film, Stortingsgaten 4, Oslo. A/s Spektro Film, Hegdehaugsveicn 26, Oslo. A/S Fram Film, Grensen 17, Oslo. Viking Film. Sjogaten 6, Bergen. Palesti ne Agitation — None. Censorship — Central Censorship Board appointed by His Excellency, the High Commissioner, includes representatives of the District Commissioner, Department of Police and Prisons, Department of Education, a woman member, and a representative of the Chamber of Commerce. Very strict. Competition — American English, French and Russian. Copyright Relations — Copyright Law Aug. 1920, which makes the Ottoman copyright law May 8, 1910, applicable in Palestine. The British Copyright Ordinance of 1911 has been extended to Palestine, is a member of the International Union for protection of literary and artistic property in Berne. Adherence on March 21, 1924. Production — None. Taxes — Moderate. Theaters — 19. Mostly all equipped for sound. anama Agitation — None. Censorship — Board of Censors privileged to attend all shows, have a decided sensitiveness towards any film that tends to cast ridicule on Latins or Latin things. One film has been taken off in the past year because same casted discredit on Panama. Competition — All American films shown at present; some German, French and English (British) films shown occasionally. Copyright Relations — All copyrights are paid for in the United States before coming to the Isthmus. Taxes — There has been, previously, a tax -of $2.50 per performance on all English films and $1.50 for Spanish speaking or Spanish superimposed title films. However, at present a Municipal Tax is charged, depending upon the classification of the theater and the judgment of the Tax Collection (for instance: One first-run theater, Panama City, capacity of 650, is paying $100 per month; one third-run, capacity 500, paying $30 per month ; and one first-run in Colon City, capacity 1,200, is paying $90). There is also a National Tax on each ticket sold (H cent up to $.20 tickets; 1 cent from $.21 to $.40 tickets ; 2 cents from $.41 to $.60 tickets, and 5 cents on tickets from $.61 up. This applies only when the theaters exhibit Spanish all talking or Spanish superimposed title prints. When theaters exhibit all English dialogue pictures the above ticket tax is doubled). Theaters — Republic of Panama, 13; Canal Zone, 10, operated by the Bureau of Clubs & Play 1041