International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1932)

— 460 — practical details concerning on the one hand the distinctive marks which films should bear and on the other the formalities to be observed by cinema managers in obtaining the films and the division of cinemas into categories according to which the charge for LUCE films is made. Finally there are the regulations contained in arts. 4-5 of the Decree-Law of April 3rd 1926. Art. 4 stipulates that local police are not to approve programmes in cinemas which do not contain a film such as prescribed in art. 1 , unless the manager can prove that he has applied for such a film and it has not arrived. Art. 5 determines the penalties for offenders against the law and its regulations. The local prefect can order the temporary closing of the cinema and in extreme cases the sections 30 and 37 of the law on Public Safety may be invoked and the lessee of the cinema may be deprived of his licence. The above is a brief description of the present situation in those countries which have answered the questions put by the I. I.E. C. with regard to the educational cinema and its official treatment. Besides those States which merely encourage the production of cultural films in an abstract and generic way and do not supplement this with practical fiscal measures ; there are two systems in force the German System and the Italian System. These are merely different means to attain the same end. The German system has the advantage of allowing the lessee complete liberty as to the choice of educational films he will show ; he is not obliged to accept any films that are offered to him in advance. The Italian system, on the contrary, ensures a regular presentation of cultural films and prevents the lessee from preferring the higher profits on theatrical to films to taking the reduction of taxes which the presentation of educational films will allow him. This system seems to answer better for the formation of a certain taste in the spectator, for guiding him along certain pre-determined paths of scientific knowledge and general culture. It is without doubt a kind of imposition on the spectator, but one which may be conceived as perfectly advantageous to him. It is however impossible to state definitely that one of these systems is better than the other. The Italian system is more easily applied in countries where a State institution is already charged with the task of supplying educational films and thus has a practical monopoly of educational cinema activities. The LUCE institute started as early as 1 926 to give public shows of an educational character on the public squares of small villages. The obligatory showing of this type of film in the ordinary cinemas was a result of this activity. It was the LUCE itself that demanded and obtained the measure. This is almost exactly what occurred in other countries where a similar system is in force. On the other hand, in those countries where no such institution has ever existed it is evident that the only practical way of favouring the educational film is by a system of detaxation. In fact, there are, to date, two systems, different means of attaining the same ends, which are suitable to countries according to the various intentions of the latter. But the adoption of one or other of these systems cannot be considered as a complete solution of the problem. Many other things should help to build up the educational cinema and develop it. In the first place, fiscal measures, in order to be truly efficacious, should be integral. In the article on the fiscal regime of the film in the July, August and September Nos. (1929) of this Review, which formed the basis for the plan for the international abolition of customs duties on educational films, the figures given above were quoted and showed that if many countries give a