Kinematograph year book (1944)

164 The Kinematograph Year Book. FILM EXHIBITION AND KINEMA TECHNIQUE HE main preoccupation of the Film Industry during the fifth year of X war has been one of preparation. In only a few cases have discussions been advanced to the coherency of planning, yet the post-war rehabilitation of our Trade and the means of facilitating the change-over from abnormal war prosperity to a solid basis of ordinary commercial operation is engaging the attention of most of us. And it is a curious fact that the only concrete and logical moves made for the ultimate benefit of the Industry resulted in widespread charges of " dictatorship " and " monopoly," and led the Board of Trade to intervene in unprecedented fashion. J. Arthur Rank has never disguised the fact that he regards his wide theatre, production and equipment interests as the dominant factors in his campaign to force open foreign markets, particularly the American, to British products. The announcement was made, however, that the Board of Trade would tolerate no kind of a monopoly, and in his effort to implement that pledge Hugh Dalton, the President, obtained from Mr. Rank and the A.B.P.C. interests a gentleman's agreement to make no more acquisitions and /or no sales of shares without the permission of the Board of Trade, which in effect has stabilised the holdings of each of these concerns at some 607 kinemas. These matters, vital as many may prove to the ultimate prosperity of the Industry,are of high policy, and, as such, mostly outside the scope of the exhibitor, whose main concern has been to carry on, and in making the personal contribution to the war effort he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has again justified the Trade as the principal promoter of public morale. Attendances last year may be slightly down, but, on the whole, in spite of the one-third increase in the Entertainment Tax, they represent not a great reduction on the record figures put up by the Trade during 1941-42, when it was estimated that the patronage achieved the thirty million mark. Consider what organisation, what minor miracles of improvisation and what devotion to a public duty was entailed in catering for those millions who have to depend solely upon the kinema for their amusement. Notwithstanding all kinds of restrictions and other operating difficulties, renters, exhibitors, transport companies and staffs have seen that a constant flow of entertainment keeps pace with the demands of the public and the propaganda requirements of the Government. This has been done, though at a cost of much blood and sweat on the part of many short-handed staffs, who deserve more credit than is usually given for their many instances of ingenuity, and often courage, which have characterised their efforts, particularly in the early months of 1944, when " blitz " conditions again appeared. The resumption of raids in the Metropolis affected evening patronage to a certain extent, but after one or two raid-free nights business generally returned to near normal. The importance of planning for the post-war world has not been ignored by C.E.A., who substituted for C. P. Metcalfe's suggestion of a Policy and Liaison Committee a Planning Committee, comprising members of the General Purposes Committee. In any case, machinery has been set up to start the consideration of the many problems which Trade speakers contend will face the exhibitor in the near future. A number of oromising subjects have been submitted for consideration, but the majority are those which already in one way or another have occupied the attention of the C.E.A., as, for instance, a national licensing system, control of new kinema building, disposal of W.D. equipment, uniform Sunday opening, and so forth. One proposal put forward By A. L. Carter.