Year book of motion pictures (1934)

Copyright Relations — United States copyright relations apply. Production — There is one producing company located in Manila which maintains a permanent studio and there are three or four others which have been organized although production has been limited to two or three each. Production in 1931 was reported at 16 and during the first 11 months of 1932 a total of 20 has been reported. Taxes — Exposed motion picture films from foreign sources can be imported into the Philippine Islands without payment of the customs duty which is 35 per cent ad valorem, intrinsic value, by putting up a bond for subsequent re-exportation within a total period of seven months. This enables the importation of foreign productions and their exhibition in the Islands during the entire bonding period without payment of import duties, provided they are re-exported at the end of the period, thus negativing the tariff protection afforded American productions which are admitted duty-free under existing free trade relations between the United States and Philippine Islands. A general revision of the Philippine tariff law passed November 9, 1932 by the Legislature but not yet signed provides that foreign motion picture productions imported into the Philippines will not longer be admitted conditionally free under bond but will be taxed a straight duty of 35% ad valorem. This duty will be assessed on the total invoice value whether or not cost of royalty is included therein. (If and when the bill is signed by the Governor-General of the Philippine Islands and the President of the United States, this information will be made available to the trade.) An internal revenue tax of $0,015 per linear meter is imposed on all exposed motion picture films, whether imported from foreign or American sources or produced locally. Theaters — 300. Sound— 105 wired for sound motion pictures. 39 in Manila. DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS MANILA Acme Film Exchange, Inc., 2215 Azcarraga. Catot Film Exchange, 327 Faon. Chinese Moving Pictures, 724 Ongpin. Commercial Brokerage and Film Exchange, 456 Dasmarinas. Fox Film Exchange, Relna Regente, Binondo. International Super Film Exchange, 334 Misericordia. Lyric Film Exchange, 670 Dasmarinas. Majestic Film Exchange, 334 Misericordia. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., 419 Avenida Rizal. Palace Film Exchange, 951 Ongpin. Universal Pictures Corp. of the Far East, 2262 Azcarraga. Poland Agitation — Considerable agitation for a quota system and a tax on foreign films, ostensibly to subsidize domestic production. Censorship — Films that are offensive to law and public morals are forbidden. Russian films are now acceptable, following improved political relations. Ban on German films continues. Competition — American competition in 1932 was 58.3 per cent and during the first six months of 1933 represented 64.7 percent. Copyright — Full legal protection is granted foreign authors. Production — There are two studios equipped for sound production, one Klangfilm-Tobis, and one with Polish equipment. Production in feet — 1931, 1932 — Jan. -Oct. 1933 — Total— 324,381 ft., 303,589 ft., 160,224 ft. Silent features — 21,982 ft., 21,981 ft., 32,208 ft. Silent shorts— 204,654 ft., 135,940 ft., 45,679 ft. Sound features— 96,702 ft., 138,942 ft., 44,083 ft. Sound shorts— 1,043 ft., 6,726 ft., 38,254 ft. Total number of films produced in 1932 amounted to 146, of which silent amounted to 124 and sound to 22. The production during first six months of 1933 amounted to 74 films with 137,336 feet in length, of which 47 of 74,569 feet were silent, and 27 of 62,768 feet were sound films. Taxes — Taxes in Warsaw are high, amounting to about one-third of the box office takings. Theaters— Total in 1931 was 758, of which 300 sound and 458 silent; the number of traveling cinemas for this year is not available. In 1932 total was 752, of which 353 sound, 399 silent, and 100 traveling cinemas. Imports from U. S. — Positive sound 1,338,513 ft. $28,562 1933— First Six MonthsPositive sound 884,778 ft. 13,178 DISTRIBUTORS AND WARSAW IMPORTERS Age-Film, Marszalkowska 111. Agfa-Foto, Zorawia 23. B. W. B., Warecka 9. Celtic, Prozna 14. Corso-Film, Zielna 48. Delfilm, Marszalkawska 116. Depkin, Mokotowska 14. Dux-Film, Widok. Enha-Film, Marszalkowska 125. Feniks, Wieka 5. Fox-Film, S-to Krzyska 25. Gloria, Marszalkowska 119. Heros, Al.Jerozolimska 31. Ira-Film, Zielna 19. Kac, Emil, Zielna 16. Kolos, Marszalkowska 152. Lechfilm, Hoza 23. Leo-Film, Zlota 8. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Marszalkowska 94. Muza-Film, Widok 23. National Film Corporation Paramount Films, Sienna 4. Patria-Film, Moniuszki 4. Petef-Film, Widok 10. Polonja-Film, Sienna 14. PupkoProgress, Al.Jerozolimska 29. Radjo-Film, Al.Jerozolimska 41. Rapid-Film, Al.Jerozolimska. Sfinks, Sw. Krzyska 35. Sidney Stephens & Co., Marszalkowska 81. Star-Film, Marszalkowska 125. Tempo-Film, Wielka 5. Universal Pictures Corporation, Al.Jerozolimska 35. Union-Film, Marszalkowska 113. Warszawska Spolka Kinematograficzna, Chmielna 9. Wszech-Film, Zielna 6. D/H J.Zagrodzki, Jasna 24. LWOW Projektor, Sykstuska 14. KATOWICE Ursus-Film, Wojewodzka 32. KRAKOW Kolos Malopolski, Podwale 7. Portugal Agitation — The only recent legislation affecting the exhibition of motion picture films was Decree No. 22,966, dated August 14, 1933, a translation of which is given below: MINISTRY OF FINANCE General Division of Taxes and Imposts Decree-Law No. 22,966. Whereas sound films are an important medium of education and culture and well deserve the attention of the public authorities : 1043