FilmIndia (May-Dec 1938)

November 1938 FILM INDIA of studios, which are working day and night and producing pictures. To help the industry Mussolini has raised the quota percentage and now for every two outside productions, one Italian picture will be shown. Nearly 500 foreign films are shown in Italy every year, which means that Italy must produce nearly 2C3 films of her own to maintain the quota supply When foreign films with the Italian language dubbed come into the country, they have to pay over £250 per film as tax,, even making it compulsory to get the dubbing voice of Italian nationals only, thus providing the Italians with jobs. For the film "Scipione L'Africano", Government lent 12,000 regular soldiers and 4000 horses. In addition Government compelled the circuses to give hundreds oi elephants. A hundred Roman galleys were required for a certain scene. A Government officer supervised their construction. The Italian film industry is under the control of the Director General of Cinematographs, an official body under the Propaganda Ministry. The State owns two companies. The National Institute Luce mainly doing propaganda and educational production work and the other E.N.I.C. which is a corporate financial combine which helps independent producers. Our petty dictators should emulate this example of the Big One who is known for thoroughness. Film industry will soon become a major industry in Italy with her dictator in this frame of mind. THE HUNGARIAN VVA1 The Hungarian Cabinet has decided to use the film for national propaganda. The films which the Government intends to use for this purpose are already under production and some of them will have country wide release in winter. Some of the subjects are "Construction of National Waterways", "Life of the Hungarian Soldiers", "Schools and National Culture" etc. To give an opportunity to the villagers to see these films special arrangements of release will be made by organising touring cinemas. Every aspect of national life will be recorded on the celluloid. \ WALKING TICKET? It is whispered in the local colony of Germans that Mr. A. Von Leyden who began life as an assistant in India and later on became the General Manager of Agfa Photo Co., has been relieved cf his job by his erstwhile principals in Berlin. Mr. Leyden will ljrobably settle down in India and take up the printing line or help his brother who is a commercial artist. The news of Mr. Leyden's severance of connection with this well known firm will come as a big surprise to every one in the local film industry as people could not have forgotten several instances of Mr. Leyden overbubbling enthusiasm in the promotion of business for Agfa. The Germans seem to believe In mysterious methods of business seeing that only a couple of years back. Mr. Rege their influential Sales Manager was suddenly asked to leave a business which he had so assiduously built up. Mr. Rege's departure made Mr. Leyden Mr. J;»]nakbhoy C. Vakil, B.A., M.R.P.S., of Messrs. Mangalbhoy & Co., Sole Monopolists for Gevaert Photo Production of Antwerp, has returned to India by s.s. Conte Rcsso on the 17th inst. after undergoing complete training in all the departments of photo materials and cinema films and special training in X-ray films at the Gevaert factory which is the largest factory in Europe and one of the best manufacturers of photographic materials, X-ray films and Cinema films. He is the first Indian to be requisitioned by the factory for such training and is also the first Indian to have had training in the laboratories of British Films Productions Ltd., London. the cock of the walk, but it is obvious that Mr. Leyden could not enjoy for long the position which he had spared no pains to get. + * * CREATOR OF 'POPEYE' DEAD The death occurred of Mr. F. C. Segar, at his home in Santa Monica (California) at the age of 44. He was the creator of the famous film cartoon character, 'Popeye the Sailor-Man'.