Year book of motion pictures (1936)

NETHERLANDS Agitation — Agitation against motion picture film exhibitions has, in recent years, diminished in force and is practically limited to religious bodies assuming a serious form only in the Catholic provinces of Limburg and North Brabant. Censorship — Quite strict, barring films (or parts thereof) which are deemed apt to incite disorder or immorality or which have a certain (political) tendency. Present law is that of May I4th, 1926 (S. 118). Power vested in Central commission in the Hague consisting of some sixty members from which reviewing boards are appointed. Any Mayor may, moreover, on the ground that the public peace might be disturbed, forbid the showing of a particular film in this community. In 28 municipalities in two of the Southern provinces of the land a Catholic censorship is exercised over all films which have been passed by the National Board for public exhibition before persons of more than 18 years; no film of this class may be exhibited in any theater in the 28 municipalities unless it has been previously passed by the Catholic censorship. During 1934 there were 2,367 films (2,35S in 1933)* censored, of which 42 (23) were rejected and 223 (141) cut. • All figures in parentheses are comparative figures for 1933. On a footage basis 50.7 (50.4) percent of all films censored were approved for showing to persons of all ages, 17.8 (17) percent to persons above 14 years, 27.4 (30.3) percent to persons above 18 years and 4.1 (2.3) percent were rejected. Censorship fee is Florins 0.35 per 10 meters: fee for cultural and scientific films is Florins 0.01 per meter. Competition— Of the new films passed during 19'34 by the censor 43.6 (42.4) • percent were American, 18.8 (18.7) percent Netherlands, 15.4 (23.2) percent German, 12.9 (7.2) percent French, and 3.4 (2.2) percent were British. On a basis of footage 49.5 (47.6) percent was American, 7.6 (6.9) percent Netherlands, 18.7 (27.8) percent German, 12.6 (8.5) percent French, and 4.6 (3.5) percent British. The German loss and the French gain were notable. * 1933 figures. Copyright Regulations — Netherlands is a member of the "Berne Convention." Present copyright laws are dated September 23. 1912. Copyright continues, with some exception, 50 years after author's death. Production — Three studios are now available, with practically all work being done in two of them : Barnstijn at Wassenaar and Cinetone at Amsterdam. Barnstijn is also a producer. There are at present eight producers, two of whom have made films not yet released. During 1934 seven Netherlands feature sound films were released. Taxes — -Reasonable. Theaters — About 305. Sound — 291 are wired. Little interest generally is shown in silent pictures. Imports from U. S. A. — 1934 — Positive sound 3,783,110 ft. $70,738 1935 — (First 9 months) Positive sound 2,566,620 ft. $48,464 Negative sound 5,413 ft. 641 DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS AMSTERDAM Bergfilm Comp., Hemonylaan 21. Croeze Bosman N. V., tTniversal Film Booking Office. Nieuwe Doelenstraat 8. N. V. Filma. N. V. Kinotechniek, Prinsengracht S30. Fjlmverhuurkantoor Fan, Rynstraat 112. Filmverhuur R. Minden. Haarlemmerdyk 82. Filmverhuur Odeon. Jekerstraat 92. Film Fim. Singel 469. Intern Filmagenfuur T. F. A.. Westermarkt 21. t/umina Film, Nes 23-25. Meteor Film N. V., Keizersgracht 794. Metro-Goldwynn-Mayer Comp., Dararak 49. Munt Film, Hemonylaan 27. N. V. Nationaal Film, Duivendrechtschekade 83. Netherlands Fox Film Corp., Rokin 38. Nova Film, Dam 2A. Oostra Toonfilm, Heerengracht 242. Paramount Films N. V., 399 Keizersgracht. N. V. Remaco's Filmbedryf, N. Z. Voorburgwal 278-280. Rex Film, Keizsgeracht 665. Intern. Tobis Cinema N. V., Tobis Film Dis tributie N. V., Jan Luykenstraat 2. N. V. UFA Film Maatschappy, Heerengracht 590. Universal Film Agency, N. V. Aafa Films. Holfi "Hollandsche Film Industrie," Damrak S3. Victoria Film, Damrak 60. Warner Bros. First National, Keizersgracht 778. OTHER CITIES Express Film Comp., Heemraadschapslaan 13, Anistelveen. Centra Film, Groote Kerksbuurt, Dordrecht. M. H. D. Concern Filmverhuur, Vrystraat, Eindhoven. Loet C. Barnsteyn Standaard Films, Loet C. Barnsteyn Filmstudio, Loet C. Barnsteyn Filmdistributie, Loet C. Barnsteyn Filmproductie, Benoordenhoutscheweg 2, den Haag. N. V. City Film, N. V. Europa Film, Nieuwstraat 24, den Haag. N. V. Hague Film Fabriek, Waldorpstraat 8, den Haag. Melior Films, Weissenbruchstraat 316, den Haag. Filmverhuur "Nederland," Spuistraat 21, den Haag. Filipverhuur Amfilmin, Frans Halsplein 2, Haarlem. D. L. S. Film Holland. Monople Film N. V., Monopole Productie N. V. Coolsingel 51, Rotterdam. Polugoon Filmfabriek, Koudenhorn 8, Haarlem. Profilti Filmfabriek, Boschlaan 3, den Haag. Filmfabriek Holland, Bestevaerstraat 7, Amsterdam, NETHERLAND INDIA Agitation — None. Censorship; — Strict as to all problems dealing with racial differences, sex, mob scenes and use of firearms, but more lenient than in certain other Asiatic countries. No discrimination against American films. During 1934, approximately 10 percent of alj American films submitted to the censor were either cut or totally banned, whereas during the first half of 1935, less than 6 percent were cut or banned. Fourteen .\merican features and three shorts were totally banned during the first ten months of 1935. Competition — On the basis of information sunplied by official film censor of Netherland India, it appears that during 1935 American films accounted for about 63 percent of the total, German 12 percent, Dutch 7 percent, Chinese 4'A percent and British 2 percent. These percentages represent the length of film reviewed by the censor during the first nine months of 1935, and are believed to present a more accurate picture of "competition" than the import figures, as the latter do not specify the country of origin but merely the country from which the films were shipped. A comparison of the percentages given above with the percentages of film supplied by these countries during 1934, indicates that during the current year American films have maintained their popularity. British and German films have lost ground in Netherland India, while the popularity of Dutch pictures has increased. The importation of silent films has practically ceased, less than 3 percent of the total of all films censored during the current year being in this class. Copyright Relations — Laws of the Netherlands apply. Production — The domestic production of films is still of little commercial importance.^ During 1934, 23,637 meters of film produced in_ Netherland India was passed for exhibition, including 12,330 meters of silent film and 11,307 meters of .sound film. Only one feature and one short was produced during the first half of 1935, the total length of these two pictures amounting to 12,714 meters. Taxation — Very high, particularly _ under present conditions, when box oflSce receipts^ reflect the unfavorable economic situation. An irqport duty of 15 cents per meter has been in force since