Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

BRITAIN ASKS RISE IN FILM QUOTAS by PETER BURNUP in London Recommendation for a five per cent increase by 1947 in the feature quotas for both distributors and exhibitors in England was made in London Tuesday by the British Board of Trade. A 10 per cent increase in the short subjects quota by the end of 1947 also was proposed. The British Government also authorized the derequisitioning of film studios, now in process, as follows : One remaining stage at Denham ; three stages at Pinewood ; the entire Merton Park studio, and two stages at Elstree. The Army and Royal Air Force Film units are still producing at Pinewood studios, therefore, it was considered unlikely, for security reasons, that British producers would be permitted access to the Pinewood cutting rooms even when that studio's three sound stages were derequisitioned. Regarding the Board of Trade increase in feature quotas, resolutions placing the new quotas in effect require the passage by both houses of Parliament before the end of this year, and would take effect April, 1945. Passage of the measure is considered assured. The distributors' feature quota, now 20 per cent, will remain the same in 1945, but will increase to 223^2 per cent in 1946 and 25 per cent in 1947. The exhibitors' quota, after remaining at its present 15 per cent in 1945, will go to 17^ per cent in 1946 and 20 per cent in 1947, according to the board's proposals. The quota advances called for in the short subject class are sharper, in view of the fact that there is a plenitude of British shorts, resulting primarily from the extensive Ministry of Information production. For distributors, the board asks for an increase from 15 to 22^/2 per cent in 1945, followed by 25 per cent in 1946 and 1947. For exhibitors a parallel increase is asked to 20 per cent next year from the 12J^ per cent now in ei¥ect, followed by a levelling off at 22^^ per cent in the two final years of the new period. The board also recommended a blanket rise of 50 per cent in the existing labor-cost test figures set up by the 1938 Parliamentary Act. These now stand at $30,000 per production, or £1 (about $4) per foot for minimum quota ranking; for double quota, a production col between $90,000 and $150,000 or £3 to 5 p| foot; and for triple quota, a minimum of $1501 000, or £5 per foot. London film circles predicted that America companies would accept the quota percental increase willingly, realizing the necessity f(| increasing Britain's film output. All the derequisitioned studios are destind for the British producers pool, meanwhil ; Several months ago, the British Film Prij ducers Association set up a pool committee • allocate the available studio space as and whd the Government turned back sound stages ; the film-makers. The Board of Trade uh i mately will be the arbitrator in the event th : allocation disputes arise. . ; To Use Brdtish Equipment It also was learned that the British Gover , ment is determined to permit the re-equipme j of film studios to be undertaken by Briti ' sources, wherever possible, in order to stim late all-British industry and to correct the pre ent adverse dollar exchange. Application f import licenses for equipment material will scrutinized by Government officials with t utmost care, it is understood, to ascerta whether British plants could manufacture t needed materials. At present, a technical committee represer ing equipment manufacturers and film pr ducers is in the process of formation and pr sumably will function for the purpose of d; termining whether manufacturers' potentia ties can meet studio requirements. THE WIDENING RANK EMPIRE * Week fay week for more than two years the pattern of the activities of J. Artltur Rank in the developing world scene of the motion picture has been unfolding. ■ It has now developed broad scope in production, distribution, exhibition and equipment. It extends, too, into non-theatrical provinces. It is, in outline at least, comprehensive of all that the motion picture does. There is more than incidental significance that this all in a fashion relates to the wide field of British industry, in which Mr. Rank is so vital a figure. B Despite the relative areas of the subjoined graphic representation, the motion picture may not be said to be more than an incidental part of the total Rank interests. B But there is cfoser integration between the general field of industry and commerce and the special field of the screen than exists elsewhere on the motion picture map. — TR. Hellman Closes Reissue Deal Marcel Hellman, producer, left New York fji London last weekend after having closed a de with English Films, Limited, for the reissue three Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., films, and "Cri^ Over London." Mr. Hellman also purchased soi story properties while in the United States. E glish Films will represent him in this country. Accountants Honor Minter James Minter, managing director of Renoy Pictures Corporation, Ltd., London, who for ma years has been an associate of the Association Certified and Corporate Accountants, has be made a Fellow of the organization. OTHER INTERESTS Anglo-Belgian Produce Co. B. I. Transport Co., Ltd. Birkenhead Silo Co., Ltd. Buchanans Flour Mills, Ltd. E. Joyce & Co., Ltd. Eagle-Star Insurance Co. H. N. G., Ltd. Leicester Square Estates Methodist Newspapers, Ltd, Horace Marshall & Sons John Greenwood & Sons J. Rank (Newcastle). Ltd. Hughes, Dickson & Co. K. O. Cereals Co.. Ltd. itamin Milk Co.. Ltd. Industrial Agency Co. Joseph Rank, Ltd. Youma (En Methodist Publications Riverside Milling Co., Ltd, P. C. T. Construction Co. News Agents & Stationers Supply Co. Sunbeam Milk Bars^ Ltd. Wood Productions, Ltd. Methodist Times Co. Rank's Ireland, Ltd. Springfield Stores, Ltd. Roberts & Wrate, Ltd. Rank's, Ltd. Weaver & Co., Ltd. Trading Corp. for Educational & General Services, Ltd. Rank's Pensions, Ltd. Trafford Mills. Ltd. gland). Ltd. J. ARTHUR RANK PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATION. LTD. I DISTRIBUTION EAGLE LION DISTRIBUTORS G. B. DISTRIBUTORS EAGLE LION U. S. & S. AMERICA) BRITISH DISTRIBUTORS, LTD. (INDIA & FAR EAST) PRODUCTION BRITISH PICTORIAL PRODUCTIONS D. & P. STUDIOS 1 [ S. 8. SCREEN SERVICES INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS TWO CITIES FILMS GAINSBOROUGH PICTURES DENHAM STUDIOS PINEWOOD STUDIOS G. B. INSTRUCTIONAL FILMS RELIGIOUS FILMS 26 MOTION PICTURE HERALD. DECEMBER 16, l<