Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1940)

April 6 1940 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 2<5 LATIN AMERICAN FIELD CALLED OPEN (EXAIPE), National Organization for the Acquisition and Importation of Foreign Films, which is under the control of the ministers for foreign trade and exchange, popular culture, and finance. The highlights are : "The Monopoly ceased to be the agent for purchasing foreign films, although it will act as agent in remitting payment to foreign companies. A list of Italian firms will be established, which will deal directly with foreign companies for the purchase of films. These firms must be either producers of Italian films or distributors who participate in the financing of Italian films. Distribution by a foreign company through its own company in Italy is no longer possible, and the total quota i of films to be imported for the year will be determined as to value by the ministry of foreign trade and exchange, separately for each country of origin. No film may be distributed unless a license is issued." Foreign exchange remittances are controlled in Latvia. Malta requires permits for all imports not from the United Kingdom, as well as exchange transactions. "It is expected," says the Bureau, "that the Spanish ministry of commerce and industry will issue regulations to control practically all phases of the picture business in Spain. Import Control Increases Feature imports into Switzerland are now subject to contingents. All items imported into Yugoslavia from countries not under a clearing arrangement (this includes the United States) are subject to import control, and exchange shortage makes permits 1 scarce. In Argentina in October a relaxation of exchange limitations came about, restoring the privilege of importing American films without restrictions as to quantity. The 1940 budget law assesses a 5 per cent tax on the full amount of remittances and is retroactive to 1934. Chile's Exchange Commission makes film exchange funds subject to a higher rate of exchange than necessities. In Peru it was disadvantageous for American companies to obtain dollar exchange. Foreign exchange in Uruguay must be purchased at the "free" rate, 40 per cent higher than the "controlled" rate. Venezuela, too, exercises strict control over . its foreign exchange. The French Moroccan government prohibited I the importation of goods from countries other , than France and Algeria, except under special license, but all films are received from France and Algeria. Up to Sept. 15, 1939, foreign exchange was available in Canada, on an open, free-market basis, but on that date the foreign exchange control board was created. Import permits are granted freely and foreign exchange is readily available. Virtually the same conditions exist in Australia, New Zealand. Burma. Ceylon, and , Palestine. Japan, with rigid regulations already, enacted new laws under which, since Jan. 1. 1940, no theatre is permitted to show more than SO foreign features a year. American funds continue to be frozen, and no exchange permits have been granted since 1938. In Egypt close government control is exercised, but American dollars are available. Iraq's exchange regulations virtually parallel Egypt's. American Exports Drop Statistics of American film exports for the 12 months of 1939 show a decrease of 34,600,000 linear feet in positive and negative sound films shipped, compared with 1938. This is a decrease of 17.8 per cent. A total of 160.582,315 linear feet, with a declared value of $3,400,657, BEST SELLERS AND RENTERS Richard Llewellyn's novel of a mining family in Wales, "How Green Was My Valley", which is to be -made into a motion picture by Twentieth Century -Fox, has supplanted "Kitty Foyle" as the best selling novel, according to the listing in The Retail Bookseller, house organ of The Baker d Taylor Company, New York, for the period from February \2th to March 11th. "Kitty Foyle", which is to be filmed by RKO Radio, continues to lead the Best Renters listing. Ten Best Sellers (Based upon a count of sales from February 12th to March 11th) I. How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llewellyn. 2. Other Gods, by Pearl S. Buck. 3. Native Son, by Richard Wright. 4. Kitty Foyle, by Christopher Morley. 5. Decade, 1929-1939, by Stephen Long street. 6. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Stein beck. 7. The Nazarene, by Sholem Asch. 8. And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. 9. Show Me a Land, by Clark McMeekin. 10. The Trees, by Conrad Richter. Ten Best Renters (Based on nationwide reports) 1. Kitty Foyle, by Christopher Morley. 2. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Stein beck. 3. How Green Was My Valley, by Rich ard Llewellyn. 4. Escape, by Ethel Vance. 5. The Nazarene, by Sholem Asch. 6. A Smattering of Ignorance, by Oscar Levant. 7. Portrait of Jennie, by Robert Nathan. 8. Moment in Peking, by Lin Yutang. 9. Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal, by Lloyd Douglas. " • 10. No Arms, No Armour, by Robert Hen riques. was exported in 1939 as compared with 195.237,129 linear feet, valued at $4,268,818 in 1938 (valuation based upon raw stock film costs). Foreign Film Production Production in 39 foreign countries last year totaled 1,738 feature films, an increase of 32 over the 1,706 in 1938. The Far East led with 1,025 produced in 1939, as against 967 for 1938. Japan, leader in the Far East, accounted for 500 features, followed by India with 205. Hong Kong produced 100, the Philippine Islands 60, Burma 50, China 44 and Manchuria 38. Siam during 1939 accounts for 12, Chosen 7, Australia 6, and Java 3. European production continued to drop, 562 features being produced as compared with 609 during 1938. Germany had the greatest number, 155, while England's total was estimated 104, Mr. Golden said "about 75 features produced" would come closer to being correct. Italy jumped its production to 90 features from 47 in 1938. French dropped from 122 in 1938 to 62 for 1939. In the Near East, Egypt produced 16 feature films during 1939, the same as in 1939, and Turkey accounted for 4 features as against 3 the year before. Latin American countries maintained production schedules, with 131 features. Argentina led in South America with 60, an increase of 10. Mexico dropped to 42, compared with 60. Cuba accounted for 12, against 2, and Peru dropped from 11 to 7. Brazil turned out 6 compared with 4. Chile, with no production in 1938, turned out 2 features, and Uruguay and Venezuela each produced one, compared with two and one respectively in 1938. Features produced in Mexico and Argentina continued to provide significant competition to American films in various Latin American countries, particularly among the poorer classes. The gay, comic pictures from those countries, usually instinct with the spirit of the Latin American races and localities, and always fully intelligible to the Spanish-American spectators, naturally exert a strong pull. Of the Latin American market the Bureau says, in conclusion : "In Latin America there would appear to be a promising field for expansion and for productions of a somewhat new character — fitted more precisely, more fores ightedly, to the requirements of a great territory which comprises a variety of distinctive markets." Photo Goods Exports Down American exports of photographic goods in February of this year dropped by S216,000, compared with the same month of last vear, the Department of Commerce reports. The figures are: February, 1940, $1,306,000 ; February, 1939, $1,522,000. Hays Discusses Educational Film Before Indiana YMCA Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., at the dedication of the new Y.M.C.A. Building in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Sunday addressing his remarks to the youths of today and the problems they faced, said that the organized motion picture industry, acting upon the recommendations of its Advisory Committee on the Use of Films in Education, was without profit, making available to educational institutions several hundred non-current theatrical short subjects selected by experts as suitable for teaching purposes. Mr. Hays said that the trustees charged with responsibility for supervising the distribution of these films "in accordance with the conditions covering their use, which fully protect the exhibitor from any unfair competition, have completed arrangements for including the teaching classes of the Y.M.C.A. in this program." MGM Wins Basketball Title The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer basketball team this week defeated the National Screen Service team by a score of 39 to 34 to win the championship in the New York metropolitan area.