Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1937)

48 MOTION PICTURE HERALD October 2, 1937 GERMAN INDUSTRY, COMPLETING TRANSITION, TO SHOW 195 FILMS Exhibitors Object To Rental Prices Production and DistributionCompletely Changed, but Exhibition Branch Is Little Changed; Picture Output Restricted by J. K. RUTENBERG in Berlin For several years the German film industry has been in transformation. Production and distribution have been completely changed and only the exhibition branch remains steady and to a greater part unaffected by the general revolution of the industry. In former articles we have shown how the increase in production costs, the extension of the recording time, the more elaborate film planning and other reasons have led to a considerable tightening, if not to say serious crisis in the industry. The Film Chamber introduced, therefore, quite a number of drastic laws which recreated the industry to a large degree. One of the first provisions was the prohibition against new theatre construction. Another regulated admission prices, outlawing giveaways and sliding admission prices. The decrease of unemployment led to greater income for film theatres and filled the empty safes of distributors and producers who, out of the necessity to avoid a breakdown, merged into several mighty groups such as Ufa, Tobis and Terra. Things were entirely different in Germany a few years ago. In 1928, about 560 feature films were offered in Germany which at that time had no more than 3,000 active cinemas. This unbalanced ratio necessarily led to double features and to an unsatisfactory return in film rentals. The running of the individual picture was highly curtailed and after a few months the film was replaced with a second or third one. With the arrival of sound, the film offer was reduced by the introduction of a film quota. This quota system was necessary for Germany because the sound film led to a considerable increase in production costs and, on the other side, to a shrinking export business. In the first years of operation, Germany saw a yearly film offer of 350 feature films, and the economic crisis further severed the film business so that the yearly film offer had to be reduced even further. In 1931-32, a total of 243 feature films was released in Germany compared with 165 films in 1936-37. The following chart gives an idea of the film offer in the most important European countries : Film offer Country Population Theatres 1935-36 (In millions) Germany 67.5 5243 185 United Kingdom 46.1 4400 670 France 41.9 4200 455 Austria 6.8 760 330 Switzerland 4.2 350 565" Netherland 8.6 310 495 (In the above chart, films of more than 3,300 feet are listed). Film offer, cinemas and population, there COVERING ROOF NO NECESSITY Repairing a leaking roof covering a theatre auditorium is not a "work of necessity" when it is done on Sunday, according to a ruling of C. K. Carter, magistrate in Danville, Virginia. Mr. Carter rided 13 carpenters and roofers were guilty of violating the Sabbath law and fined them each $5, despite the theatre management's contention that the work could be done only on Sunday unless the theatre was closed. The defendants are expected to appeal the decision. fore, widely differ in the different countries of Europe. It is quite clear that the reduction of the number of foreign films admitted gives strong support to the home industry and enables a better film planning and more economical film exploitation. According to a semi-official source, the admissibility of the German film market is 200 to 220 feature films yearly, corresponding to 100 German-made feature films under present law. The same number — 200 feature films — will again be available to exhibitors this year. With this offer, the level of the 1933-34 season will again be realized after three years of considerably smaller film offers. The chart below gives the number of feature films offered in the last four years, showing the participation of the United States and European countries, notably France, Austria and Hungary. Feature Films Length Season Number in Meters U.S.A. Others 1933/34 216 501,342 61 30 1934/35 197 469,924 44 47 1935/36 189 457,412 34 47 1936/37 165 403,052 36 33 1937/38 195 36 35 German-made films will come largely from three production groups : Ufa, Tobis and Terra. Ufa and Tobis will contribute a total of 90 to 100 films with the rest coming from the Terra group, recently merged with the Syndikat Company, and some smaller companies. Ufa, its position recently strengthened in the German market, now distributes to all the leading first-run houses in west Berlin with the exception of a few houses in the southwestern section of the city. Ufa's two big studios in Babelsberg and Tempelhof will produce a total of 40 features, 40 shorts and two complete newsreel series during the coming year — in other words, 40 complete film programs. Except for newsreels, which it does not produce, the Tobis offer will not be much less. In the exhibition and distribution branch of the industry some important decrees have been published recently for the regulation of the film rentals for the new season. They are expected to further encourage the economic side of the industrv. by WILLIAM CROUCH in Chicago With theatres open again to children, after a three weeks' ban which cost exhibitors an estimated total of $800,000 in revenue, Chicago theatremen are turning their attention to other problems, foremost among which is the question of film rentals. Independent theatremen, ranging from owners of single theatres to operators of large independent circuits, are complaining bitterly against the current rise in film prices. They point out that increases were expected but charge the rises are so great the price of films is prohibitive. In many cases they report deals for the new season's product call for a 50 per cent increase. In some cases even higher prices are being asked while others report the general average increase is 25 per cent. Members of Allied Theatres of Illinois discussed the question at a meeting Tuesday and announced they planned to take definite action. Theatre business for the past year has been less than during the previous year, it is generally agreed. Exhibitors attribute this to the loss of bank night and other chance games and to the adoption of the double feature policy. The dual bill policy has not proven of much benefit to independent theatremen, although the larger circuit theatres have found it an increasing source of revenue. The ban on children attending theatres was put into effect by the health department as a result of an epidemic of infantile paralysis. Other problems confronting exhibitors include the question of increased theatre license fees and the working out of a new contract with the operators' union. The projectionists are seeking a 20 per cent wage increase. Three Join Monogram Staff Three additions have been made to Monogram's staff. Rose Sager has been named secretary to Herschel Stuart, treasurer, and Linda Sheridan and Buddy Hansen have joined the contract and play-date department. Norma Shearer Back in Films Return of Norma Shearer to the screen was definitely set this week with the decision to make "Marie Antoinette" here and not in England, as first planned. Hunt Stromberg will produce the film for MGM and Sidney Franklin will direct. Kallet's Regent theatre in Syracuse, N. Y., remodeled and re-equipped, reopened last week. Fred Donahue is the new manager. George H. Ketcham was the architect for the reconstruction.