Film year book (1928)

third grouping are to be found houses controlled entirely by British interests. Imports from the U. S. A. — 1923— 14,500.000 ft.; value $ 650,000. 1924— 26,000,000 ft.; value $1,800,000. 1925— 36.000,000 ft.; value $2,300,000. 1926— 14,423,079 ft.; value $1,445,840. 1927— 10,390,711 ft.; value $1,124,722. Exports to U. S. A. — 1923 — 1,700,000 ft.; value $130 000. 1924 — 1,300.000 ft.; value $135,000. 1925— 1,020 000 ft.; value $ 60,000. 1926— 940,585 ft.; value $ 72.637. 1927— 761,470 ft.; value $ 43,082. General— The biggest development of 1927 in the United Kingdom was the passage of the quota law. It remains to be seen whether or not the restrictions placed on American pictures as a foreign product imported into the country will result in American organizations entering production in England. As 1928 dawned, this seemed unlikely — for a year at least. As a matter of fact in the early fall, negotiations were started in both London and in New York for the sale of British pictures to meet quota needs. First National is the only American company producing in Great Britain, having started in an experimental way with "Confetti" which has turned out so favorably that it will be released on the American as well as the English market. This company's British pictures presumably are eligible, likewise, as quota pictures. A factor which has disturbed Britain and which may be considered as one reason, at least, why the effort to rehabilitate production took on so earnest a form is that during 1926, American distr butors in London rolled up a gross of $38,000,000 from exhibitors in rentals. The year witnessed one extremely important merger in England. Ostrer Bros., London bankers sponsoring Gaumont, merged that company •with Ideal Films, F.B.O. Ltd. and W. and F. Film Service with operation of each continued as a separate entity. American participation within the British trade took a dual form. Late in the year, First National Pictures, Ltd. and Pathe Freres Cinema, Ltd. were amalgamated and the exchanges of both merged under the name of First National-Pathe. One angle of the deal involved directly First National of New York, the Stanley Co. of America and the group composed, in part of Will Evans and Lords Beaverbrook and Ashfield which control Pathe Freres and Provincial Cinematograph Theaters, Ltd. and provided for the jo'nt construction of a big first run in the West End of London. Loew's, Inc. and the United Artists Theater Circuit, Inc. both of New York shortly after, arranged with the Evans group to buy about 25% of the stock of P. C. T. which is the most powerful group of theaters in the United Kingdom, numbering over 100 houses. Both of these deals, it is> interesting to note, are in reality alliances, since control continues in the hands of the British group. British exhibitors, aware for some time that American interests were dickering with the P. C. T. rose in arms over what they feared would be domination from across the seas. Through the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n, a trad'ng scheme was formulated and a booking combine organized. Distributors, speaking through the Kinematograph Renters' Society, pave notice of their refusal to serve them. At this writing, it appeared probable that the trading plan would develop as a step to offset the buying power of the P. C. T. by handling product direct from the producer, British and all others. PRODUCERS LONDON Aerofilms, Ltd., Aerial House, The Hyde, Hendon, London, N.W. 9. Astra-National Prod., Ltd., 101 Wardour St.. W. I. Benstead, Geoffrey, 5 Gt. Newport St,. W. C. 2. British Controlled Films, Ltd., 73 Baringhall St., E. C. British Film Craft, Ltd., 245 Wood St., Walthamston, E. British Instructional Films, Ltd., Regent Studios, Park Road, Surbiton. British International Pictures, Ltd., 149 Regent St., W. I. British Lion Film Prod., Ltd., 8 New Compton St. W. C. 2. British Phonofilms, 31 Denmark St., W. Burlington Films, B. I. P. Studio, Elstree. Explorers Films, Ltd., 175 Piccadilly, W. I. Gainsborough Pictures, Ltd., 42 Cranbourn St., W. C, 2. Gaumont Co., Ltd., 6 Denman St., W. I. Godal International Films, Ltd., 12 D'Arblay St., W. I. Graham Wilcox Prod., 174 Wardour St.. W. I. Hepworth P cture Plays (1922), Ltd., Hurst Grove. Walton-onThames. Ideal Films, Ltd., 76 Wardour St., W. I. Napoleon Films, Ltd., 8 New Compton St., W. C. 2. Nettle/old Prod., Archibald. Hurst Grove., Walton on-Thames. New Era Films, 26 D'Arblay St., W. I. Parkinson, H., 12 Little Denmark St., W. C. 2. Pathe Freres Cinema, Ltd., 84 Wardour St., W. I. Piccadilly Pictures, 47 Cranbourn St., W. Quality Film Plays, Ltd., 5-6 Red Lion Square, W. C. 1. Stoll Film Co., 155 Oxford St. Triangle British Films, Ltd., 26 St. Ann's Court, Wardour St., W. I. Victoria Films, Ltd., 127 Wardour St., W. I. Welsh. Pearson & Co., Ltd., West End House, 3-6 Rupert St., W. I. Whitehall Films, 82 Coleman St. Wilcox Prod., Ltd.. 117 Regent St., W. I. W. P. Films, 92 Wardour St., W. I. DISTRIBUTORS LONDON Allied Artists Corp.. Ltd., 86 Wardour St., W. I. Alvan Prod., 29A Charing Cross Road, W. Anima Film Co., 8 New Compton St.. W. C. 2. Argosy Flm Co., 191 Wardour St.. W. I. Astra-National Prod., Ltd., 101 Wardour St., W. I. Benstead, Geoffrey, 5 Gt. Newport St., W. C. 2. British Exhibitors' Films (1922), Ltd., Compton House. 99A Charing Cross Road, W. C. 2. British International Film Distributors, 191 Wardour St. Butchers Film Service, Ltd., 175 Wardour St., W. I. Crest Films, 22 Denman St., Piccadilly Circus, W. I. Educational Films Co., Ltd., 76 Wardour St., W. I. European M. P. Co., Ltd., 167 Wardour St., W. I. Famous-Lasky Film Service, Ltd., 166"-170 Wardour St., W. I. F. H. C. Pictures, 2 Gerrard Place, W. I. Film Booking Offices (1919), Ltd., 22 Soho Square, W. I. Film Distributors, Ltd., 89-91 Wardour St., W. I. First National Pathe Co., Ltd., 37-39 Oxford St., W. I. Fox Film Corp., 13 Berners St., W. I. Gaumont Co., Ltd., 6 Denman St., W. I. Graham Wilcox Prod., Ltd., 174 Wardour St., W. I. H. & S. Film Service, Ltd.. 26 Litchfield St., Charing Cross Road. W. C. 2. Cabled News Service — A Film Daily Feature 985