International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1930)

PROBLEMS OF THE CINEMATOGRAPH IN ROUMANIA There are 591 cinema theatres in Roumania, 61 of which are in Bucharest. All these theatres carry on their business by permission of the Ministry of Arts, which has the power of granting or withdrawing authorization in accordance with a Regulation, which comprises provisions relating to the comfort, the hygiene and the safety of the halls. But, while the position is clearly defined so far as the cinema halls are concerned, it is less so as regards the shows given there. The great popularity enjoyed by this form of entertainment in Roumania as elsewhere — a popularity evidenced by the above figures — and the powerful influence it exercises on the public have created the necessity of a preliminary control or censorship of films. This institution has passed through many phases. In the beginning — that is to say, at the close of the war — it was committed to the care of the military (Ed. Note). Dr. Kiritzesco's clear statement of the practical methods used in the revision of films in Roumania may be completed by some data of a purely legislative character which afford a definitive idea of the present state of the censorship in that country. The revision of films in Roumania comes under art. 4 of the law on the organization and management of national theatres and the control of public spectacles, published in the Official Gazette (N. 67, of March 25, 1926); and is also regulated by later measures on the cinema, published in N. 65 of the Official Gazette of March 1927. There is likewise a ministerial circular, No. 26487, published in 1928 which lays down practical methods of control. The various rules contained in the above mentioned laws and regulations are briefly as follows : « The films shown must be accompanied by a document of authorization, and the first scene of each act must bear the inscription , above the photograph : « Approved by the Ministry of Arts and Public Worship ». Exception is made for news reels and topical films of purely local interest which are shown at Bucharest. In the case of these a simple permit signed by a commissioner of the Censor's Office is sufficient, and is valid until the first sitting of the Commission, when it is replaced by the ordinary authorization card. In addition to the powers of the Official Commission, the civil and military authorities have the right to intervene when the presentation of special films may be a potential cause of disorder, especially in those centres where there is a large youthful population. It is also the duty of the government authorities to prohibit the presentation of films in regard to which the prescriptions of the above mentioned laws and regulations have not been rigorously observed. All persons presenting films for revision must pay a tax. Formerly, the amount of the tax varied according to the length of the film, but since January , 1 , 1929 the tax has been fixed at 75 banio per metre. As far as the Censor's Office is concerned, no special measures are applied to educational films , which are subject to the same control as ordinary films, even when they are intended for schools, or educational institutions or associations. The tax on public shows, however, is reduced in the case of educational films. The measures providing for the censoring of films are very important . The rules on the question are not fixed, but simply indicate the lines to be followed. Generally speaking, the Censor