Film year book (1928)

Theaters — 450. Moscow 48 ; Leningrad 63 ; Odessa IS; Kiev 12; 1212 traveling motion picture units in Russian villages in 1927. Also 1788 clubs in which motion pictures are shown from time to time. Imports from U. S. A. — 1923— 16.000 ft.; value $ 180. 1925_165,000 ft.; value $10,500. 1926— 22,070 ft. ; value $ 1,686. Exports to U. S. A. — 1924 — 7,000 ft. ; value $ 90. 1925— 1 5,000 ft.; value $ 150. 1926 — ■ 8,402 ft.; value $ 150. 1927— 31,901 ft.; value $1094. General — A majority of the films made in Russia until recently were political. Now the Sovkino, which controls the industry, has realized the people need entertainment and are making pictures of which the subjects are drawn from the rich literature of the country. The works of Dostoievsky, Tolstoy, Gorky, Pushkin and Tchekov are being filmed. Production for 1926-1927 is scheduled as follows : Fea EducaCompanies turea tional Total European Russia: Sovkino (with Goskino and Leningradkino) ... 50 71 121 Mefhprabon-Russ 12 12 24 Gosvoenkino 13 32 45 U kraine : Vfko 29 S 34 Trans-Caucasia : Goskino (Georgia) 18 .. 18 Asgoskino 10 . . 10 Armenkino (Armenia) .... 5 . . 5 U. S. S. R. : Other companies 15 .. 15 Total 152 120 272 In exhibition, the field for improvement is best evidenced by the following : Leningrad, with a population of 1.070,000 has 63 theaters showing pictures, compared to 48 in Moscow with a population of 1,500,000. Each of these cities has four houses seating 1,000 and 18 with from 500 to 1,000 seats. Other important Russian cities having 200,000 population and the theaters in each follow: Kiev, population of 433,000. 11 theaters; Odessa, 317,000, 15 houses; Kharkov, 310,000, six theaters, and Rostof-on-the-Don, 236,000, four houses. There are 1,212 traveling picture units operating in villages, as compared with 396 at the end of 1925. This number would be larger if projectors were obtainable. In 1924, 200 projection machines were manufactured; in 1925, 600; 1926, 900; 4,000 are scheduled bv the end of 1927. DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS (Operating under Government control) MOSCOW Glawrepertkom, Tchistige Proudj 6. Goskino, Onlitra Stankewitcha 23. Megrabpom Russ, Twverskaia Yamskaia 3. Proletkino, Twerskaia 34. Selkino. Vosdvigenka 9. Sovkino, Malij Gnesdikowkij 7. SALVADOR Agitation — None. Censorship — 'Governors of each department appoint censors. Competition — 75% American, 10% France, 10% Italy, 5% German. Copyright Relations — • Inter-American Copyright Convention, Mexico City, Jan. 27, 1902. Ratified April 9, 1908. Production — None. Taxes — High. Theaters — 35. San Salvador, 5 ; Santa Ana, 3. Imports from U. S. A. — 1924 — 35,000 ft.; value $1,500. 1925— 3,300 ft.; value $ 100. 1926— 54,881 ft.; value $1,816. 1927— 48,762 ft.; value $ 351. Exports to U. IS. A. — None. SI AM Agitation — None. Censorship — None. Competition — 90% American. Copyright Relatione — None. Production — None. Taxes — None. Theaters — 42, Bangkok, 12. Imports to U. S. A. — 1923 — 44,000 ft.; value $800. 1925— 10,500 ft.; value $450. 1926— 72,350 ft.; value $3,493. Exports to U. S. A. — 1923—30,000 ft.; value $3,500. 1926— 84,610 ft.; value $52,565. 1927— 27,349 ft.; value $73,060. SOUTH AFRICA Agitation — Considerable agitation against American films. Censorship — Very strict. Each province in the Union of South Africa has the power to formulate its own censorship laws. Competition — 75% American. Copyright Relations — Copyright Act, 1909. By proclamation, June 26, 1924. Production — Some local production. Taxes — Moderate. Theaters — 400; Cape Town, 25. Imports from U. S. A, — 1923— 3,400,000 ft.; value $125,000. 1924 — 4,000,000 ft.; value $170,000. 1925— 3,400,000 ft.; value $133,000. 1926 — 3,390,344 ft.; value $120,903. 1927 — 2,926,789 ft.; value $78,686. Exports to U. S. A. — 1923— 2,000 ft.; value $ 125. 1924 — 5,500 ft.; value $6,500. 1925— 400 ft. ; value $ 40. 1926 — 31,495 ft.; value $9,693. 1927— 9,766 ft.; value $ 171. General — African Theaters, Ltd., and its affiliated company, African Films, Ltd., — the Schlesinger companies which control South Africa — are being challenged by Cinemas South Africa Films, Ltd., for supremacy in that country. Theaters have been acquired at Johannesburg, Durban, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Springs, Cape Town, East London, while negotiations are under way for others. The situation is being watched with interest by American distributors, especially so in view of the fact the Schlesinger interests have long offered far less for South African rights than the distributor felt he deserved. The market here has been practically a monopoly for a number of years. DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS JOHANNESBURG African Film Prod. Ltd., Box 2787. African Films. Ltd., Box 4552. Paris-London Universal Studios, Ltd., 24 Exploration Bldg. Sneider's Film Exchange, Box 6745. United Film Corp. Ltd., 15-19 Cullinan Bldgs. SPAIN Agitation — There seems to be no agitation at present against American films in Spain ; and, although there was a tariff increase several years ago on films imported, no further steps have been made. There seems little likelihood of any decree or legislation which will hamper the American trade. Censorship — There are two censor boards in Spain, one in Madrid and one in Barcelona, and it is worthy of note that a picture passed by one board is sometimes rejected by the other. In general, the findings of the Madrid board seem less critical. The Madrid board is composed of civil government officials and the prefecture of police, and the Barcelona board of members of the Society for the Protection of Children and civil government officials. The military part of the Government does not interfere, except in diplmotic matters, when it is requested to. Competition — 95% American. Copyright Relation — Established by Presidential Proclamation July 10. 1895; extended Dec. 10, 1898, and Nov. 26, 1902. Production— About 60 made in 1926; total for 1927 about 25. Produced primarily for Spanish speaking countries. Five producers and six studios in 977