Minutes of evidence taken before the Departmental Committee on Cinematograph Films (1936)

APPENDICES 31 5 May, 1936.] [Contin ut 'I . a foreign language for export. Post-synchronised and dubbed pictures are not regarded as foreign language versions. The importation of eight films entitles the importer to import, free of the prescribed registration fee, one film dubbed in a foreign language, the internal distribution of which is, however, strictly controlled. On the importation of five films the importer is required to undertake to produce or purchase one native cultural film, 250 to 300 metres in length, in the Czech language, of which four copies must be supplied at cost price to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (presumably for distribution abroad). (c) France. — The exhibition of foreign films in the language of the country of origin is allowed only in five cinemas in the Department of the Seine and in ten cinemas in other Departments of the country. During the period 1st July. 1935, to 30th Juno. 1936. post-synchronised films exceeding 900 metres in length, to the number of 94 in each half-year, may be exhibited in France subject to the following conditions : — (1) The post-synchronisation must have been entirely effected in studios situated in French territory and within four months from the date of entry of the application as detei mined by the payment of the appropriate tax. (2*) The film^ as exhibited to the public must be described as dubbed films and there must be shown the title in the original language, an exact translation of that title, the title of the dubbed version, names of the artistes concerned in the original production and in the postsynchronisation, the country of origin and the place in which the dubbing was carried out. The exhibition of foreign films from countries where the exhibition of French films is subject to restrictions is subject to any agreements made with the governments of those countries. This condition does not appear yet to have been strictly applied. Apart from these restrictions, the exhibition of foreign films is subject to the same conditions as to censorship, etc., as French films. The quota of post-synchronised films is not allotted to specified countries in fixed proportions. (d) Germany. — The importation of long sound feature films into Germany is limited to 105 in a calendar year. Import permits for these films are allotted as follows : — 60 (i.e., 4/7) to distributors of German films. These permits are issued free of charge but are not transferable and therefore can be used only by the distributors concerned. 30 (i.e., 2/7) to film exporters. These permits are transferable, as the majority of the film makers who would be entitled to them would have no use for them. The Ministry of Propaganda has fixed a price of 20,000 P.M. per permit as from 1st January, 1935. The remaining 15 permits are at the disposal of the Ministry of Propaganda. Long silent feature films are similarly restricted, the annual quota being 70. The Ministry of Propaganda has power to issue further permits " in the event of an important change in the position of the film market or for other important reasons," or in respect of films to be imported from countries witb whom or with whose industries reciprocal agreements exist concerning film imports, " for political or cultural reasons." (e) Hungary. — Under a decree dated loth May, 1932, a Hungarian Film Industry Fund was established to further the development of the Hungarian Film Industry. The income of the Fund is obtained from the issue of " Importation Vouchers " and from additional censorship fees on certain films. An importation voucher must be obtained from the Fund in respect of each imported sound film at the following charges : — gold pengo. Each film not exceeding 200 metres ... 100 Each film exceeding 200 metres, but not exceeding 400 200 Each film exceeding 40O metres, but not exceeding 800 ... 400 Each film exceeding 800 metres, but not exceeding 1.200 1.000 In addition to the regular censorship lies additional fees are payable on imported silent and sound films : — per censored metre. If the Hungarian captions have been made in Hungary ... 20 filler. If the captions have been made abroad ... ... ... ... 1 gold pengo. Importation vouchers are not required in respect of imported silent films, and news, educational, scientific and propaganda films are exempt from all the above-mentioned special charges. The National Board of Film Censorship issues its licence in respect of an approved film only on payment of the special additional fee and production of an importation voucher. The film industry may, with the approval of the Ministers of Commerce and Home Affairs, grant premiums on films made in Hungary in proportion in each case to the capital invested in the film. Fnder decrees issued in July, 1935, an Act for safeguarding the maintenance of the Hungarian language in sound film exhibitions was brought into force on l>t August, 19:3-5. These decrees provide for the issue in respect of each approved sound film exceeding 1.20O metres in length produced or synchronised in Hungary in the Hungarian language of " Censor's Tickets " (seven during the 1935-6 season). Each Censor's Ticket permits the examination by the Censorship Committee of one foreign film exceeding 1.200 metres in length. Quotas for half-yearly periods are fixed for exhibitors whose cinemas are equipped for sound projection. During the half-year 1st August, 1935 — 31st January. 1936, each licensed cinema proprietor was required to include in his programmes 101 per cent, of Hungarian sound films exceeding 1,200 metres in length of which one-half might consist of films synchronised in Hungary in the Hungarian language. For the half-year 1st February, 1936, to 31st July. 1936, the corresponding proportions are 15 per cent, and two-thirds. Police authorities are required to see that these requirements are complied with and to submit halfyearly reports on the subject. Provision is made Eoi the withdrawal of licences from defaulting exhibitors. (f) Italy. — Under a Decree Law of the 8th October. 1933, as amended by several later Laws. non-Italian fiction sound films of not less than 1,000 met res dubbed into Italian, may be exhibited only if the dubbing has been carried out in thai country in establishments situated in Italy, by artistic and