Year book of motion pictures (1936)

duction benefited Budapest to some extent. The same situation helped to reestablish American leadership. Four years ago German films held nearly 90 percent of the trade but in 1932 American films regained the ground lost, representing 55 percent of the films shown, and in 1933 advanced to 65 percent. In 1934 American films represented 61 percent of the feature films shown. Copyright Relations — A special convention signed October 13, 1913, gives copyright protection. Production — The only sound studio, the Hunnia, controlled by the Government Film Fund, produced during 1935 15 feature sound films. The total cost of production was 4,140,000 pengo, of which 46 percent was foreign capital and the remainder Hungarian. Of the 1935 production 11 films were synchronized in Hungarian only, 3 in German only and 1 in both German and Hungarian. A certain number of Hungarian sound films is essential for use in the provinces where German and English are much less understood than in the capital. Taxes — The amusement tax at Budapest is 6 percent of the total receipts during the winter months and 3 percent during the summer months, i.e. from May through August and as an exception under certain circumstances the month of September. In the provinces the amusement tax varies between five and fifteen percent. The additional turnover tax (national) is 3 percent. Theaters — There are 400 motion picture theaters in operation in Hungary. Sound— 362 theaters are wired for sound. Imports from U. S. A. — 1934— Positive sound 1,483,450 ft. $30,680 Negative sound 72,484 ft. 1,017 1935— (First 9 Months) Positive sound 887,038 ft. $19,436 DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS BUDAPEST Allianz Film, Rokk Szilard u 20. Bioscop Film, Erzsebet korut 7. Cinema Film, Erzsebet korut 8. Danubius Film, Erzsebet korut 44. Eco Film. Rakoczi ut 14. Hermes Film. Erzsebet korut 8. Fox Film, Rakoczi ut 9. Harmonia Film, Akacfa u 7. Hirsch es Tsuk Film, Rakoczi ut 14. Kino Film, Miksa u 7. Kovacs Emil es Tarsa, Erzsebet korut 8. Keleti Bela Film, Erzsebet korut 8. Color Film. Erzsebet korut 8. Libertiny Film, Nepszinhaz u 21. Metro Film, Sandor ter 3. Milvesz Film. Rakoczi ut 40. Paramount Film, Rakoczi ut 59. Patria Film, Erzsebet korut 8. Phobus Film, Erzsebet korut 8. Reflektor Film. Sandor ter 4. Rakosi Bela Film, Szekely Bertalan u 2/c. Stylus Film, Erzsebet korut 8. Tricolor Film, Dohany u 68 . ITFA film, Kossuth Lajos u 13. Universal Film. Nepszinhaz u 21. Warner Bros. Film, Jozsef korut 30-32. INDIA Agitation — During the year a sudden wave of agitation antagonistic to the foreign film industry in general and one American company in particular swept this country as a result of misrepresentations and erroneous statements made by the Motion Picture Society of India. The construction of a theater in Calcutta by this American company was particularly_ described in the press all over India as a start in an attempt to encroach upon the legitimate rights of the Indian exhibitors. Currency was also given to unfounded reports that certain American companies were attempting to dub their films in this country. The repercussions of these attacks would have been serious upon the American film industry, had it not been for the timely protests made by the Kinematograph Renters' Society to the Motion Picture Society. At the present time this agitation is not much in evidence, but there is a distinct feeling of indignation in this country against American films depicting scenes damaging to the National prestige of India. Following several years consideration, five of the leading American distributors were established (September) as a registered organization under the title of Kinematograph Renters Society of India, Burma and Ceylon, Ltd., with Headquarters in Bombay. Censorship — The Kinematograph Renters Society has made representation to the Secretary to the Government of Bombay requesting^ modification of certain regulations under The Cinematograph Act, 1918 (II of 1918) as amended by Act XXIII of 1919 and Act XXXVIII of 1920, which are not considered by the American film industry in their best interests. Cuts were made in 13 films examined in Bengal during the year ending March 31, 1935. During the year ending March 31, 1935, a total of 981 films were certified by the Bengal Board representing 2,861,625 feet. The footage was made up of 1,451,198 American; 701,933 Indian; 701,080 British and 7,414 other countries. A bill to amend the Cinematograph Act so as to include cinema posters within the province of censorship boards was introduced in the Simla session of the Assembly. It has been opposed by both the Motion Picture Society of India and American distributors, both of which maintain that the measure is unnecessary. It is held that the present police surveillance is sufficient and also distributors voluntarily submit dubious posters to the respective Censor Boards. The Bill has been referred to a Committee of the Assembly and will come up for consideration in December-January session. It is believed modifications will be made. Competition — During the fiscal year April 1, 1933, to March 31, 1934, about 55 percent, by footage, of the imported pictures were American. This figure is an estimate, as inaccuracies are found in import statistics due to reimportation of American films from Ceylon. The distribution arrangements for British pictures is constantly improving and British pictures accounted for 22 percent during the above period. Copyright Relations — See United Kingdom. Production — No accurate information of production of Indian language films is available. According to the trade, there are not more than 20 established producing companies with their own studios. There are from 40 to 50 companies producing films (output of some irregular and minor). The most accurate production data available is an estimate based upon the pictures censored by the Bombay and Calcutta Boards. . During the period January to October. 1935. a total of 346 Indian pictures with a total footage of 3,101,314 were examined by these Boards. This total in comparison with 321 films during the 12 month period, April-March, 1933-1934, would seem a very appreciable increase. Beginning March this year, advance trailers of all feature films have been examined by the Censor Boards in Bombay and Calcutta. These statistics include both sound and silent, but the larger proportion are sound films. New studios established this year include New Theaters, Ltd., Calcutta, and the enterprise. Bombay Talkies. Ltd., financed by a joint stock company in Bombay. The production of Indian films has definitely improved over a year ago. Foreign distributors, including American, British and Continental, have encountered keener competition from the locally produced product, the reception of foreign films being more and more limited to the European and English speaking population. There have been rumors of foreign companies producing here, but these have not materialized. Practically all of the locally produced films are in Hindustani, the language generally acceptable throughout the country. Taxes — Moderate. The 7-anna per foot duty continues to the detriment p{ American distributors. Vigorous representations are being made by Kinematograph Renters Society to obtain relief on the basis that this excessive tariff rate has seriously affected_ the business of American distributing companies, brought into operation the law of diminishing returns to Government and has definitely tended to cut off smaller stations from being served by American films. (Unfortunately,