Film year book (1938)

According to Article 7 of the Law on Motion Picture Houses, adopted in 1924, which, with a number of amendments and supplements, is still in force, only such films may be displayed in local moving picture houses as have previously been censored by the "Kinocenzura" (Film Censoring Board), attached to the Ministry of Public Affairs. Films displayed to members of clubs and associations must also be censored. According to Article 8 of the Law, the display of a film may be prohibited if its content insults religious feelings, encourages brutality or injures the morals of the public, is adverse to the State, is apt to create disorder, or harms good relations with other countries. The Film Censoring Board may also require that a certain part of an undesirable play or song be eliminated. Article 9 provides that children from 6 to 16 years of age are permitted to attend only such performances as, in the opinion of the Ministry of Education, are fit for minors. Article 10 of the Law provides that the title and the written text on the film, as well as advertising posters are to be censored. Film texts not in compliance with the requirements of Articles 8 and 9 of the Law may be rejected. The Film Censoring Board may also require that the program of the performance and the advertisements of films in local papers be censored. Article 14 of the Law requires the display of locally produced news reels in motion picture houses at some time during each performance. Article 16 of the Law provides that these provisions shall not be applied to films of scientific or educational nature used by educational institutions. On June 16, 1934, the Government published an amendment to the "Regulation Governing the Use of the State Language," on the basis of which the Film Censoring Board ruled that, after July 15, 1934, only the state language can be used in the descriptive text on all moving pictures, thereby prohibiting the employment of either the German or Russian languages, or both, in addition to Lettish, which is the state language. Representatives of moving picture houses in Latvia petitioned the Government for a modification of this law which would allow the use of other languages as sub-titles on films, but without avail. Competition — German producers are the largest competitors of American films. During the first six months of 1937, Germany produced 31.7 percent of the total number of films censored here. During the first six months of 1937, 33.9 percent of films censored were of United States origin. Latvia is not a film producing country and the pictures produced locally are principally news reels, landscapes, educational, scientific and advertising films, which are of interest to the local population only. Films of United States origin are popular in Latvia, though the English language is understood by only a small number of the public. American films in the German language are preferred. There is, of course, a certain amount of criticism with regard to pictures of United States origin, many of them being entirely foreign to the thought of the local population. However, there is no doubt that films of United States origin are well received, even though German pictures are perhaps more readily understood. Copyright Relations — The Latvian Copyright Law became effective on May 15, 1937, and abolished the former Russian Law which formerly governed copyright matters in Latvia. Article 2 of this Law covers all literary artistic and scientific works, including motion picture films. Production — During the first six months of 1937, 43 films of domestic origin, of a total length of 9,758 meters were passed by the Film Censoring Board. The films produced locally were of the following type : 1 sound comedy of 220 meters, 34 news reels and landscapes of 7,007 meters, 1 educational film of 2,155 meters and 7 advertising films of 376 meters. The film industry in Latvia is still in its infancy and except for the weekly news reels, the display of which is compulsory at every per formance, and some educational films, a very limited amount of films is produced. Latvia has as yet no real film studio and whatever dramatic pictures have been so far produced, were practically all photographed in the open air. Only one dramatic sound film of normal length entitled "Tautas Dels" (The Son of the People), which was produced in 1934 by the local firm "Atlantic Film," may be considered as inviting international interest. Other films of this nature consisted mainly of a compilation of patriotic scenes and cannot be considered as dramas, being too short and obviously of local interest only. At the close of 1935, the Latvian State Electrical Factory "VEF" completed the installation of a motion picture film laboratory which provides facilities for complete manufacture of sound films produced in Latvia. Formerly, such films had to be sent abroad for completion of the synchronization. The local film industry is, however, limited to the production of culture and propaganda films. Plans to establish the motion picture industry on a larger scale have so far not been carried out, due to lack of capital and experience. The newsreels are produced by individuals and the synchronization is carried out in the motion I)icture film laboratory of the Latvian State Electric Factory "VEF". The capital invested by the individuals engaged in the production of newsreels is not known, and it is believed to be negligible. The Government has invested a certain amount of capital in the installation of a motion picture film laboratory in the Latvian State Electrical Factory "VEF", for the completion of sound films. The Government, however, has refused to finance individuals and firms engaged in making motion pictures. The technique of the film industry in Latvia is still in its infancy and there can be no comparison with the film industry of the United States. Apparently there would be no objection to the "dubbing" of American films in the native language. It must, however, be remembered that in Latvia there are only approximately 1,950,000 inhabitants and about 100 motion picture theaters, so that "dubbing" for this market might not pay. The state language is Lettish, which predominates in the country and is understood by practically all minorities here. No regulations exist in Latvia requiring the "dubbing" of foreign films. Sound films in any language may be displayed here, but the Lettish text must appear on the screen. American films "dubbed" in German are frequently shown here. The distribution of films in Latvia has been carried out by film distributing offices which are also importers. Their distribution area covers the Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. A number of the distributors also own motion picture theaters. At present there are in Latvia 9 film distributing offices, of which 3 represent American houses. The capital invested by the distributors and by exhibitors is not available. No Government subsidy has been granted nor assistance rendered in the fostering of the domestic motion picture production, except a certain amount for the establishment of the motion picture film laboratory in the Latvian State Electrical Factory, "VEF". Taxes — Trade licenses consist of five categories, varying from 5 to 300 lats annually. First class motion picture theaters are subject to the license of the first category and pay 200 lats annually, whereas smaller motion picture houses pay license fees in the second and third categories, amounting to 150 lats and 75 lats, respectively. For tickets costing up to 1.20 lats, the tax is 25 percent; for tickets costing from 1.21 lats to 2.00 lats, the tax is 30 percent. On tickets to educational performances the tax is 15 percent of the admission price. In provincial theaters, the tax levied on tickets averages 20 per cent, except in the case of films of educational nature, when the tax is 15 percent. Import license fees are based on the total value of imports of each firm during the preceding year, and vary from 250 lats to 70,000 lats annually. It is estimated that film importers pay 1236