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

106 COMMITTEE ON CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS 23 June, 1936.] Mr. D. E. Griffiths, Mr. S. Eckman, Mr. J. C. Graham, [Continued. Mr. J. Maxwell and Mr. F. Hill. 1094. (Sir Arnold Wilson) : You definitely deny the validity of evidence to that effect? — That we have played films at hours when the theatre was closed? I definitely deny that. 1095. Both in regard to the Empire? — I do not speak in that regard for any other houses than the one over which I have jurisdiction. 1096. The rumour has never reached your ears? — Yes, just as I have heard we purposely and maliciously play bad British films at the Empire to discredit British films generally. And yet any producer, whether Mr. Maxwell, or Gaumont-British, or London Films will state — or should state — that I have made repeated efforts to get the best British films available, and have offered more money than most West End cinemas can pay ; but most good British films are controlled by companies that have their own West End cinemas, and that being the case we have had no other alternative but to fall back to the less important films. 1097. Your view is the allegations made against the American renter of abuse are untrue? — Yes, I do say that. 1098. And has there been any difference of opinion in the K.R.S. in this matter as between the British and American representatives? — On the K.R.S. ? I do not follow. 1099. Has there been any difference of opinion between the American and British representatives on the K.R.S. in regard to the use of quota quickies, or are you all in the same boat? — I do not believe that subject has ever come up for discussion on the K.R.S. (Mr. Maxwell) : Do you mean in regard to the resolution itself, or these other matters? 1100. In regard to the misuse of the quota quickies, which is admittedly an abuse, whether it is due to the Act, as Mr. Griffiths suggests, or whether it is due to avoidable causes ? — It was discussed when we framed that resolution, naturally, and that resolution was the considered opinion of all the members of the K.R.S. 1101. What is the proportion of British to American members? — I think it is eight to nine. (Mr. Hill): There are 24 members. (Mr. Maxwell): The list is given on page 24 of the Blue Book. 1102. Does that list at page 24, roughly speaking, represent the capital commitments, or is the British membership overweighted having regard to the actual amount of real capital? — Do you talk of K.R.S. or F.B.I. ? 1103. K.R.S.? — Capital is hardly recognisable. A renting company is merely a service organisation — it requires little capital. 1104. Do you think the American representatives over American interests are over represented, under represented, or fairly represented on K.R.S. ?— Fairly represented. Each company of any importance is invited to have a representative there, and all the American companies except Fox are members, and all the important British distributing companies are members. 1105. If Fox came in there would be absolute equality of representation? — (Mr. Graham): They were in until recently, but they had private interests of their own. 1106. I turn to paragraph (b) of the first memorandum : — " That in the opinion of the Council an obligation which calls upon distributors of foreign films to produce five or six feature (pictures in the year, instead of the present number of 15 or 18, would more effectively serve the desired purpose of securing a. reasonable supply of worthv. I'ile British pictures, provided always it is accompanied by safeguards that this modified number of pictures are produced under conditions as to cost and otherwise that will ensure their being effective and creditable British pictures." Assuming the footage principle persists, the actual number of pictures needed to cover the required quota length does not arise? — (Mr. Maxwell): Footage is merely a translation of the number of pictures. It has to be on footage to be mathematically exact, to work out the law, but it really resolves itself into so many pictures. In other words, if you require to have 100,000 feet of British film it means in effect you have to have 14 to 16 British feature pictures. 1107. Your suggestion of five or six instead of the present 15 or 18 films means in fact you are advocating a reduction in the statutory percentage? That follows inescapably? — Yes. (Mr. Graham) : It is 6,000 feet minimum. (Mr. Maxwell) : It would work out at about 10 per cent., Sir Arnold, of the imported pictures. 1108. Who would get the greatest benefit from that, the British film industry or the American renter? — I think they would both benefit, but largely the British film industry. 1109. I should like to put that to Mr. Eckman. En fact, who would mainly benefit from the proposed reduction to 10 per cent., the American renter or the British film industry? — (Mr. Eckman) : I think the entire industry regardless of distinction and Great Britain as a whole would benefit. Mr. Maxwell has explained the difficulty if not the impossibility of making more than a limited number of pictures at present and in the future, as far as one can foresee. If a lesser number and therefore more worth-while pictures were made, the British public would benefit and if I may be forgiven for saying so, have an even greater respect for British films. The British exhibitors would benefit because if a lesser number of pictures were made they in turn would undoubtedly be compelled to exhibit proportionately less films also. And again it must be assumed that they must necessarily be better films. The British producer would benefit because the present number of pictures that are being made creates intense competition, forcing prices to a level beyond economic reason on account of limited personnel in every branch. A smaller number of pictures and resultant decreased competition from companies distributing foreign films would help in that direction and yet just as much money and probably even more would be spent because the smaller number of pictures made by so-called foreign interests would be made in such a manner and at such cost as would necessitate their release throughout the entire -world. This in turn would unquestionably help the world market for British pictures considerably. The only people who benefit from the present state of affairs are promoters who have erected studios for which they are seeking tenants. and " quickie " merchants who are interested only in turning out as much footage as they can, as cheaply as possible, to be sold for much more than it is worth so that the margin of profit enables them to thrive. And yet companies that are not engaged in production must perforce deal with these people there being no alternative. Practically every British producer has his own distributing company and, as already pointed out, distributors of foreign films are unable to engage in production on account of the number of films required of them and the limited available personnel to make them. Thus. if only five or six pictures of worth-while quality were made with all the necessary safeguards 1110. What safeguards? — As to cost. LIU. Do you associate yourself or did you associate yourself with the Report of the Advisory Committee which Mr. Maxwell, subject to one or two reservations signed? — (Mr. Maxwell): Of course, he does not know its terms. (Mr. Griffiths): We have not seen the Advisory Committee Report. 1112. It was not published, but I understood that we bad it printed in our first day's evidence. 1 am sorry. I thought it was printed. (Mr. Maxwell):