Year book of motion pictures (1935)

GERMANY DURING 1934 =========== y ' By WILHELM VAN DYK of the Lichtbildbuehne, Berlin The development of the German film industry has been mainly influenced by Governmental measures which are executed by the Reichsfilmkammer, the ReichsChamber of the film industry. The law about the creation of a temporary Film Chamber, issued July 7, 1933, and the executive order of July 22, 1933, as well as other cultural laws have invested into the new Chamber wide power. Also in the year 1934, the Reichs Film Chamber has, through appropriate measures, endeavored to further the extension and the consolidation of the German film industry. REGULATION OF PROGRAMS AND THE I EDUCATIONAL FILM Among the first measures ordered by the new Film Chamber was a regulation of admission prices as well as the outlawing of the double feature program. However, in order to make the transition to the new regulations easier, certain exceptions had been granted to exhibitors until the middle of September, 1934. Since this time, however, no double features are permitted to play within one performance, with the exception of the Rhine and Westfalia districts, where certain exceptions as to this regulation are granted until August 31, 1935. Beginning November 1, 1934, all members of the Reich Film Chamber are under obligation to show, at each performance, an educational film of a minimum length of 250 meters. Films must be shown which have been considered meritorious by the Reich Censor of Films. Thus, the Reich Film Chamber endeavors to create a larger demand for educational films. In order to foster the production of such films, the Association of Producers of Cultural and Educational Films has agreed to stipulate minimum rental fees for the various groups of educational films. The Reich Ministry for Education has created, in the middle of 1934, a special department for the school film the task of which is to include the showing of valuable films into the school curriculum. This measure also was designed to stimulate production of educational films. BAN ON MOVIE CONSTRUCTION— CORPORATIVE ORGANIZATION OF THE INDUSTRYFILM PROPAGANDA In order to combat the danger of an oversupply of theaters, the president of the Reichs Film Chamber has ordered, by a decree dated September 4, 1934, a temporary ban on the construction of additional theaters. This ban runs until March 31, 1935. The ban also prohibits the adding of additional seats in already existing theaters. The Film Chamber intends to uphold a certain standard of qualifications among theater owners. Thus, it has been decreed on November 5, 1934, that only persons possessing an operator's license may operate a movie theater. The Film Chamber has also decreed that morally objectionable methods of film advertising will be punished by deprival of license to run a theater. MEASURES REGULATING PRODUCTION Important measures have been designed by the Reichs Film Chamber for the production field. A state employment agency has been created for actors, and the employment of managers, secretaries or other go-betweens has been outlawed. On October 20, 1934, it was decreed that salaries due to actors must be paid in full, before a ready production might be submitted to the censors. QUOTA REGULATIONS FOR FOREIGN FILMS No important changes have been wrought in 1934, as far as the different contingents are concerned. The following distribution is incumbent: Total of licenses issued for foreign production, 175. Licenses for sound films: For home distribution, 60. for export purposes, 30; for special disposal of Reichs Propaganda Minister, 15. In addition, for disposal by Reichs Propaganda Minister, 20; above these quotas, there might be permitted special importations for states having treaties with Germany on flim importation. LAV/ CONCERNING FILM CENSORSHIP AND FILM PROPAGANDA A new movie law has been created dated February 16, 1934. This law embodies the en 1019