Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

38 MOTION PICTURE HERALD July 2 5, 19 3 6 U. S. FILMS DOMINATE INDUSTRY IN HOLLAND No Quota Restrictions Are Being Imposed; Admission Tax Only Box Office Burden by PH. DE SCHAAP in Amsterdam Until now the Dutch government has not made any obstacle against importing foreign film productions into Holland. Although such is the case with a great deal of other "merchandise," no laws have been made to moderate the current of foreign pictures in Holland, and American, as well as German, English, French, Austrian and other companies are releasing their productions every season without meeting with any obstacle from the part of the government. Only for publicity material, as stills, posters, mats, printed matter, etc., certain restrictions have been made. It goes without saying that the foreign companies did their utmost in order to reach the first place and a free competition was the result of it. Undoubtedly it was the American industry that succeeded in reaching the first place in this competition, for some years already. This has been due to several facts. Of course, the American companies took care of an extended publicity campaign in order to make the U. S. product among more popular Dutch patronage, but the principal cause for the victory of America must be found in the fact that Germany saw its influence decreasing steadily, qualitatively as well as quantitatively. America has made substantial use of the decrease of German pictures, and the French and English industries, too, made progress in releasing their productions in Holland. The French industry has become more popular. Its influence has been stimulated by the tremendous success of "La Maternelle" (already some years ago), and by the Harry Baur pictures. The most popular actors and actresses in Holland are undoubtedly the American players. Stars such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, Charles Laughton, Dick Powell, Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Ruby Keeler, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy always meet with a fair patronage. Know English Language The fact that the Dutch public often can follow the English dialogue of American pictures, helped of course by the superimposing of Dutch titles in the American copy, has proved to be very important in the development of American pictures in Holland. As the Dutch public generally much better understands a German dialogue, the victory of American pictures over the German productions, therefore was still more significant. Of the German productions only one proved to be a big hit, "Mazurka," from Willi Forst's direction, starring Pola Negri. Holland is a country with about 7,500,000 inhabitants. It has four important towns: Amsterdam, with 800,000 inhabitants; Rotterdam, with about 600,000 ; the Hague, with 480,000, and Utrecht, with 161,000 inhabitants. The foundation of concerns and trusts marked its influence on the Dutch motion picture trade. Holland counts about 325 cinemas. Nearly all theatres are sound-theatres, giving one performance in the afternoon and two in the evening in the most important towns. Domestic Industry Founded The progress of American pictures seemed to decline two years ago by the fact that domestic production began to develop. Following the example of other countries, in Holland, too, a motion picture industry was founded, and the country now has two studios, one at "Filmstad," Wassenaar (near the Hague), and another at Duivendrecht, suburb of Amsterdam, named "Cinetone." Hereunder follows a review of the number of features and shorts released in Holland by foreign countries in 1935, with comparative information during 1934, the 1934 total being the second given for each country in each case : COUNTRY YEAR FEATURES SHORTS 34 265 733 35 240 731 Germany 34 91 201 35 84 185 England 34 27 52 35 25 37 34 55 230 35 48 185 34 5 3 35 4 4 Holland 34 1 1 228 35 10 398 34 9 23 35 23 28 34 2 35 4 3 Tsjecho-Slovakia . . 34 10 13 35 18 25 Other countries . . . 34 7 15 35 13 26 TOTAL 34 482 1,498 35 469 1,622 or, in percentage: 34 55 49 35 51.2 45.1 34 18.9 13.4 35 17.9 11.4 34 5.6 3.5 35 5.3 2.3 34 1 1.4 15.3 35 10.2 1 1.4 34 1 0.2 35 0.9 0.2 Holland 34 2.1 15.2 35 2.3 24.6 34 1.9 1.5 35 5 1.7 34 0.4 35 0.8 0.2 Tsjecho-Slovakia . . 34 2.1 0.9 35 3.8 1.5 Other countries . . 34 1.4 1 35 2.8 1.6 Censorship in Holland depends upon the government. In 1935, 16 features and 10 shorts have been disapproved, the same numbers as in 1934. Among the 16 features 10 were American, 4 French, 1 English and 1 Tsjecho-Slowakian productions. Taxes are raised on the entrance fees of the cinemas, in each municipality. These taxes are very high; at Amsterdam, for instance, 20 per cent is due. The Dutch Motion Picture Federation often tried to diminish this high percentage, but until now in vain. This federation has much power in Holland, and is a combination of Dutch cinema owners and the booking offices. All internal differences between its members are solved by it, and problems of general kind are studied by the federation. Next to the board of theatre owners a department exists taking to heart the interests of the booking offices. During the last years the Dutch theatre owners have been inclined to "close" the Dutch trade, viz., to prevent foundation of other cinemas that would enlarge the competition. The Dutch Federation therefore passed a measure resulting in a ruling that no new cinemas may be founded without special permission of the federation. Out of this point of view the Dutch motion picture trade established a condition in which free competition is impossible. Some American companies have made objections against said disposition. In spite of the fact that the best pictures from foreign industries are released on the Dutch market, the general situation in Holland steadily becomes less favorable. Purchasing power of the Dutch public decreased considerably and the economical crisis heavily marked its influence. Entrance fees of the cinemas went down in the big towns as well as in the country, and the future has a somber aspect. 400 Expected at Southeast Session An attendance of 400 exhibitors is expected at the annual convention and frolic of the Southeastern Theatre Owners Association to be held August 2nd, 3rd and 4th at Jacksonville, Fla. Edward Kuykendall, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America ; Edward Levy, national legal counsel, and O. C. Lem, southern director of the M.P.T.O.A., have been invited to attend. Exchange officers, salesmen and supply dealers also are expected The tentative program includes only one business session, to be held on the opening night, followed by a buffet supper at the Hotel Mayflower. Golf, a beach party, a shore dinner at Jacksonville Beach, a dance and a banquet are scheduled for the succeeding days. Milton C. Moore, of the Riverside Theatre, Jacksonville, is general chairman. Youthful Players Receive First Roles Judy Garland and Edna May Durbin, 13year-old Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer players who have been attending training sessions for the past year under Dave Gould, dance director, and Oliver Hinsdell, dramatic coach, this week received their first film assignments with parts in "Every Sunday," short feature which Felix Feist, Jr., is directing. Hamlin Improves Tom Hamlin, editor and publisher of Film Curb, who is seriously ill at the Post Graduate Hospital, in New York, was reported Tuesday as "very slightly improved."