Year book of motion pictures (1937)

of the provinces Limbing and North Brabant. There is no fee for this censorship. Any Mayor may forbid the showing of any film in his community ; that action is rare. The City of Nijmegen requires approval by a local censorship board ; no censorship fee is charged. During the fitst tee months of 1936 the Natioaal Board passed, "A," "B," or "C," 389 long feature films compared with 344 similar films passed in the corresponding period of the previous year. During the 1936 period 27 feature films were prescribed, 10 of that number passed subsequent reviews. In the 1935 period ki> feature films had been prescribed without passing subsequent reviews. Films are barred which are believed apt to incite disorder or immorality or which have objectionable political tendencies. American gangster pictures are most often rejected by the censors; immorality (nudity in the "Catholic Provinces"), unacceptable treatment of religious subjects and certain political propaganda are other usual causes for rejection. Competition — In recent years the dominant position of American feature films has improved while German films have declined in popularity ; there is no serious competition from Netherland producers. The following table gives the nationality of the long feature, or cultural, films passed by the National Board of Censors in the Netherlands. January 1 to October 31 1935 1936 Nationality Number Per Cent Number Per Cent American 186 54.8 212 54.9 German 68 18.0 67 17.2 French 30 8.7 35 9.0 Czech. 16 4.6 5 1.3 Austrian 17 4.9 16 4.1 English 18 5.2 26 6.7 Netherland 6 1.7 13 3.3 Hungarian 2 0.6 4 1.0 Italian included 3 0.8 Russian in 6 1.5 Spanish others 1 0.3 Belgian 1 0.3 Others 6 1.9 — — 389 100.0 344 100.0 Copyright Relations — Netherlands is a member of the "Berne Convention." Present copyright laws are dated September 23, 1912. Copyright continues, with some exceptions, 50 years after author's death. Production — Only two studios, Barnstijn at Wassenaar and Cinetone at Amsterdam, are used for regular production. Studio facilities elsewhere are used occasionally for special work. There are no producers working on regular production schedules ; nine producing companies are listed but some of them have not produced a picture during the current year. Nine Netherland long feature films were released during the first ten months of 1936. Taxes — Import duties are fixed at Fl. 0.04 per meter to which must be added a compensatory duty of 1% and a sales tax of 4%. Amusement taxes vary with municipalities but are generally reasonable. Theaters — About 305 theaters are listed ; a few are not operated regularly. It is customary for American films to be released in the Netherlands for "first runs" on a percentage basis. The exhibitors guarantee a fixed minimum and pay the distributors a percentage, usually 25 per cent, of the net profit. American films are usually released for "second runs" on a straight guilder rental. Eventual improvement in business, which is expected to follow the new financial policy of the government, may increase percentage returns from "first runs" more than enough to compensate the American producers for the guilder depreciation. The exhibitors are confident that they will be able, although not immediately, to increase the fairly staancTard rental charges for "second run" showings. For the past several years exhibitors have been able to maintain satisfactory attendance figures only by reducing entrance prices. The reductions have been fairly orderly but have not been governed by any definite agreement among the exhibitors so that it has been apparent for some time that regulation was necessary. The recent depreciation of the guilder will facilitate the efforts of those exhibitors who have been working to arrange such regulation. It is expected that the exhibitors will, shortly, agree on fixed minimum prices. The trade hopes that business developments will, somewhat later, justify inct eases graduated from those increased mininuims. Sound— On October 31, 1936, there were 297 theaters wired for sound in the Netherlands ; 90 installations for sound on film and 207 installations for film and disc. There are no regular showings of silent pictures. Imports from U. S. A. — 1935— Positive sound 3.802.697 ft. $70,149 Negative sound 6.413 ft. 641 1936 — (First 10 months) Positive sound 3.436.539 ft. $60,011 Negative sound 41,050 ft. 1,873 DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS AMSTERDAM Iiergfilm Comp., Hemonylaan 21. Croeze Bosman N. V., Universal Film Booking Office, Nieuwe Doelenstraat 8. N. V. Filma, N. V. Kinotechniek, Prinsengracht 530. Filmverhuurkantoor Fan., Rynstraat 112. Filmverhuur R. Minden, Haarlemmerdyk 82. Filmverhuur Odeon, Jekerstraat 92. Film Finn, Singel 469. Intern Filmagentuur I. F. A., Westermarkt 21. Lumina Film, Nes 23-25. Meteor Film N. V., Keizersgracht 794. Metro-Goldwynn-Mayer Comp., Damrak 49. Munt Film, Hemonylaan 27. N. V. N'ationaal 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 Filmbedrvf, N. Z. Voorburgwal 278-280. Uex Film. Keizsgeracht 665. Intern. Tobis Cinema N. V., Tobis Film Distribute N. V., Jan I.uykenstraat 2. N'. V. UFA Film Maatschappy, Heerengracht 590. Universal Film Agency, N. V. Aafa Films. Holfi "Hollandsche Film Industrie," Damrak 53. Victoria Film, Damrak 60. Warner Bros. First National, Keizersgracht 778. OTHER CITIES Express Film Comp., Heemraadschapslaan 13, Amstelveen. 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 Fabrick, Waldorpstraat 8, den Haag. Melior Films, Weissenbruchstraat 316, den Haag. Filmverhuur "Nederland," Spuistraat 21. den Haag. Filmverhuur Amfilmin, Frans Halsplein 2, Haarlem. D. L. S. Film Holland. Monopole Film N. V.. Monopole Productie N'. V. Coolsingel 51, Rotterdam. Polugoon Filmfabriek. Koudenhom 8, Haarlem. Profilti Filmfabriek, Boschlaan 3. den Haag. Filmfabriek Holland. Bcstevaerstraat 7. Amsterdam. NETHERLAND INDIA Legislation — None. American pictures are popular with the public and the official attitude towards them is favorable. Censorship — Remains strict as to all subjects involving racial or religious differences, strikes 1235