Year book of motion pictures (1937)

censorship card only with films over 1,200 meters in length. The short film censorship cards are distributed on the basis of Decree 175,100/1936 B. M. as follows: up to 200 meters the producer receives 5 cards; from 201 to 400 meters, 10 cards; from 401 to 600 meters, 15 cards and over 600 meters 20 cards. The value of the short censorship cards depends upon supply and demand the present price being between 150 and 170 pengo. It is rumored in trade circles that it is proposed to revise the Decree so that the number of short film cards to be submitted with imported films of less than 1,200 may be established on the basis of the length of the film. Censorship Film censorship is under the direction of the Royal Hungarian Ministry of the Interior, the members of the Censorship Board being appointed by the Minister. Appeal can be taken from the Board's decision in the first, second and third instances; the final appeal being to the Minister of the Interior. In most cases one of the appeal boards has permitted pictures previously rejected by the Board, to be shown after certain changes had been made in subtitles or after offending parts had been eliminated. Pictures are classified in two groups by the Board of Censors, viz. whether they may be shown universally or only to persons over 16 years of age. Non-official censorship does not exist in Hungary. The pictures are censored by the official Board solely with regard to public morals and the safety of the State. There are no discriminations against American film companies and, in cases rejections were deemed necessary, marked consideration has been shown by the authorities. 974 films (916,968 meters') were censored during 1935, of which 910 (888.716 meters) were sound and 64 (28.272 meters) were silent films. Of the total films censored 46 (90,787 meters), or 5 per cent of the total, were rejected. Of the total sound films licensed for production 435 (48 per cent) were American, 146 (16 per cent) German, 75 (8 per cent) French, 5 (0.5 per cent) Italian. 33 (3.6 per cent) British, 23 (2.4 per cent) Austrian, 8 (1 per cent) Scandinavian, and 185 (20.5 per cent) Hungarian. Of the silent films 2 (3.1 per cent) were American, 13 (20 per cent) German, 2 (3.1 per cent) French, 4 (6.3 per cent) Scandinavian, and 43 (67.5 per cent) Hungarian. According to the subjects of the films 521 were sound and 2 silent feature films, 92 sound and 32 silent educational films, 203 sound and 23 silent newsreels and 94 sound and 7 silent advertising films. Competition -The film production of Hungary during 1935 continued to be mainly of local im portance. The expatriated German film production benefited Budapest to a certain extent and the same situation helped to maintain the American leadership. Five years ago German films held nearly 90 per cent of the trade but in 1932 American films regained the ground lost, representing 55 per cent of the films shown, and in 1933 advanced to 65 per cent. In 1934 American films represented 61 per cent, and in 1935 48 per cent of the sound films and 4.6 per cent of the silent films shown. The decrease in the percentage of American films shown is due principally to the development of the Hungarian film industry, the products of which have practically eliminated American films from the provincial motion picture theaters. Copyright Relations — A special convention signed October 13. 1913, gives copyright protection. Production -There are two Government controlled studios in Hungary producing films. During 1935 the Hungarian Film Bureau (Magyar Filmiroda) produced four sound feature films (9,094 meters) three educational films (1,542 meters), and 52 news reels (12.000 meters). The Hunnia Film Studio working throughout the year produced 16 feature films averaging 2,500 meters each, or a total of 40,000 meters. Eleven of the films produced were in Hungarian only, three in German and two in Hungarian and German. The cost of production varied from 110,000 to 800,000 pengo per film. No figures are available concerning the cost of production of films produced by the Hungarian Film Bureau. To develop local production, the producers of Hungarian films may have the use of the Hunnla Studio free of charge provided the Hungarian Film Industry Fund accepts the theme, in which case the Film Industry Fund pays the Hunnia 40 pengo per day for the use of the studio. Taxes — The amusement tax in first run motion picture houses in Budapest between October 1 and April 30th is 6 per cent of the total receipts if the seating capacity is over 400, and 5 per cent if the seating capacity is under 400. Between May 1 and September 30th the amusement tax in theaters of over 400 seating capacity is 3 per cent, and if the capacity is under 400, 2 per cent. In all other motion picture theaters with a seating capacity of over 600 the amusement tax is 5 per cent and, if under 600. 4 per cent between October 1 and April 30. The amusement tax in these theaters between May 1 and September 30th is 2 per cent regardless of the seating capacity. In the provinces the amusement tax varies between 5 and 15 per cent. The additional turnover tax (national) is 3 per cent. Theaters — There were 410 motion picture theaters in operation in Hungary during 1935. According to Decree No. 174,000/1936 B. M. since August 31. 1936, first run houses in Hungary may exhibit only one feature film of over 1,200 meters in length per performance. On weekdays first run houses are permitted to give 3 performances and 4 on Sundays and holidays. A single performance may consist of not over 3,400 meters of film. The same decree forbids first run houses to give half-price performances or to sell tickets at special rates. On the other hand other than first run houses are permitted to show only one feature film at a single performance. Second run and other motion picture theaters in Budapest and the provinces may give 4 performances on weekdays and 5 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The program may consist of 3,800 meters of film. According to the decree all performances must end by 12 o'clock midnight. Decree 174.000/1936 B. M. orders that every motion picture theater employee must have one free day each week which cannot be exchanged for any consideration. Sound — Of the above 410 theaters. 385 theaters are wired for sound. Imports from U. S. A. — 1935— Positive sound 1,418.296 ft. $32,290 Negative sound 1936 — (First 10 months) Positive sound 1,222,277 ft. $27,078 Negative sound 32.487 ft. 455 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. Xepzinhauz u 21. Metro Film, Sandor ter 3. Muvesz Film, Rakoczi ut 40. Paramount Film. Rakoczi ut 59. Patria Film. Erzsebet korut 8. Phobus Film, Erzsebet korut 8. Reflektor Film. Sandor ter 4. Kakosi Bela Film, Szekcly Bertalan u 2/c. Stylus Film, Erzsebet korut 8. Tricolor Film. Dohany u 68. UFA film. Kossuth Lajos u 13. Universal Film, Nepszinhaz u 21. Warner Bros. Film, Jozsef korut 30-32. 1227