Harvard business reports (1930)

456 HARVARD BUSINESS REPORTS the same market. At the same time, the decrease in number of pictures distributed clearly indicated a declining share in the market. The film decree of May 9, 1928, provided that authorization to release foreign films in France be in the form of import permits which became property rights to be disposed of as the owner saw fit, subject, of course, to the limitations of the decree. A provision enforcing export of the French productions was abandoned after long negotiations between the French and American industries, and the seven import visas were supplemented by two additional ones when the French film was exported. Each distributing company was also permitted, during 1928, the important concession of free visas up to 60% of the total foreign product which it brought into France during 1927. The French Film Decree of May, 1928, was as follows: French Film Decree1 (Adopted May 9, 1928) Article I. The commission decides that the motion picture year for which the present regulations are established will run from October 1 to September 30 of the following year. The following provisions are equally applicable during the period from March 1 to September 30, 1928. Article II. The commission decides that all French films (provided that they are not in any way contrary to good morals or the public order) will receive the visa of the Film Control Commission required for their release in France, her colonies, or protectorates. This visa does not prejudice in any way the classification of these films in the first or second category, nor the rights they may have to protection. Article III. Every film produced by a firm entirely French is considered a French film of the first category. The author of the scenario must be French, the technical director, the director and his assistant or assistants, and the cameramen must all be French; the interior scenes must be made exclusively in studios owned by French firms and situated on French territory. The leading roles may include foreign artists, but the proportion of these artists must not be more than 25%. In any case, and no matter how many leading roles there are, the right to one foreign artist is recognized, even if the number of leading roles is not divisible by four. On the request of a producer the commission will have the power to decide to permit in the leading roles a higher percentage of foreign artists than that provided for in 1 Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Trade Information Bulletin No. 617.