Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1936)

May 2 3, 19 3 6 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 67 NATIONALIZING OF FILMS FEARED IN SOCIALIST VICTORY IN FRANCE General Secretary Predicts a Move to Centralize Control of All Business; Would Open Films to Vicious Propaganda by PIERRE AUTRE in Paris The landslide toward the Left, in the French Chamber election, with unprecedented gains for the Extreme Left, may have a decisive influence on the destiny of the motion picture industry of France. For the first time the Socialists will figure as the largest party in the French Chamber with 146 seats, and the Communists will have 80 seats. The cabinet will be in the hands of the Socialists, with Leon Blum as prime minister. It is wellknown that one of the most important aims of the Socialist Party is nationalization of industry. In the Socialist program, such organizations as the Bank of France, public and private banks, insurance companies, industrial concerns, railways would be managed by the State under the direct control of the Government. So, too, with motion picture business. Interviewed a few weeks ago by the weekly fan magazine Cinemonde, Paul Faure, general secretary of the Socialist Party (S. F. I. O.), said they wanted to make a national institution of the cinema industry. "If some day our party holds in its hands the whole political power, it will make of the cinema industry a state institution, this because it is impossible for a Government which wants to induct a new kind of policy to leave a medium of propaganda as strong as the cinema in the hands of groups which may have interests contrary to those of the Government. "I have the real feeling that a Socialist State easily would make a cinema industry much better than this one of the present capitalist states. "I would not use the cinema especially for propaganda purposes. Sometimes we could make some pictures showing our social ideals. But I do not think that propaganda is everything in the cinema. The first condition is to make artistic and fine pictures which are entertainment. If the artistic quality of the films is improved, minds of the patrons will be improved too. Propaganda in Newsreels "Newsreels would have first to show real things, to be loyal and honest. There will have to be propaganda in the newsreels for such ideals as peace and social equity. "We would welcome foreign pictures. They bring to our screens an original note. They help us to know the soul of other nations. It would be stupid to ban them. But it would be stupid, too, to open our borders unreservedly to foreign productions. This is a quantity problem which has its artistic and commercial factors. "It is generally agreed that state monopo TICKET SPECULATORS SENTENCED IN RUSSIA The former managers of three Leningrad theatres and several other theatre officials were among thirty sentenced to prison this week by the Leningrad Provincial Court of charges of wholesale private speculation in theatre tickets. The three managers received prison sentences of ten, three, and eight years respectively. Four minor employes of various theatres were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment each. The speculation, the prosecution alleged, deprived the state of hundreds of thousands of rubles in revenue. lies, especially in France, have given very bad results. Some may be afraid that the Socialist state would make pretty bad pictures. "State enterprises may have defects, but it is easy to control them, to improve them. "If the motion picture industry comes into the hands of official organizations where producers and patrons are together represented, instead of being managed by irresponsible state employees as under the present monopolies, it is sure we shall go forward." The Communist Party has refused to participate in the new Cabinet, and it is certain that the Socialist Cabinet will not be able to apply its program at once. First it must gain the confidence of the nation, and that will not be easy. But, in any case, there is a big danger that the cinema industry will lose its independence. Would Restrict Freedom of Movement Nationalization of the cinema industry means nothing but seizure by two main companies, supported and managed by the State, of the whole commercial activities of the French cinema. Business freedom of distributors and exhibitors, creative freedom of producers, independence of the newsreels, all would be abolished. It is a general report that it is because of this possible nationalization move that the Tribunal of Trade postponed its decision concerning the receivership of GaumontFranco Film-Aubert (G. F. F. A.) as well as Pathe Cinema. It is expected that the government will group these two big concerns as the foundation of the socalled National Cinema. The Radical Socialist Deputy Malvy has not forgotten his ideas of a national Studio, nor has Radical Socialist Deputy Petsche dropped his plan for National Distribution directly controlling theatre receipts. Mr. Malvy and Mr. Petsche may both participate in the Socialist Government. The French trade press is urging complete cooperation of industry elements in a working organization to protect its interests and to protest at once against nationalization plans. Nothing will be done by the new govern All Films for Export from France Must Have Visas from Board of Control Under Censorship Decree Recently Announced ment for a few months. The Socialist Government will not be officially chosen before June 1, when the new Chamber goes into action. It is reported that the new Cabinet will include a state secretary for radio and cinema, who would be a Socialist deputy. Censorship Tightened An unexpected decree tightening film censorship was signed on May 7 by the President of Republic and was published in the issue of May 8 of the Journal Officiel. The decree affects cinema control and public performances as well as exportation of pictures. Here is in short what is the decree : All films to be shown publicly must be submitted to the minister of national education. No picture can be shown publicly if it does not get a "visa" from the Board of Cinematographic Control. Visas may be refused to foreign pictures which in themselves are not considered offensive when the producer of these pictures has participated outside of France in public performances of pictures contrary to France's interests. This means that foreign producers and distributors risk losing the French market if they show films anywhere in the world which displease the French censorship board. Something similar happened in Spain a few months ago when the Spanish Government asked Paramount to stop everywhere in the world performances of "The Devil Is a Woman," or face a banning of all Paramount films in Spain. There was such a development a few years ago with "Beau Geste," which was banned in France. So, too, with Rex Ingram's "Mare Nostrum," when the German Government asked MGM to destroy the film. Board Must See Films First All pictures must be shown before the Board of Control at least one week before the first public performance or the trade show. Every picture in foreign language must be shown to the Board in the same version as it was exhibited in its original country, with exact and full translation of the title, subtitles and dialogue, and with indication of the French title as well as the French surimposed titles. Members of the Board of Control are to have a special card allowing them to go freely to any cinema in the French territory. Any individual or any company desiring to export a picture out of France must ask the Board of Control for a special exportation visa. The Board will refuse this special visa for all pictures whose showing in foreign countries would be opposed to France's national interests. The exported version will have to be exactly the same as the version shown in France. A special "French trade mark" must be (Continued on follmving page)