Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

TAXES DISRUPTING FRENCH INDUSTRY by MAURICE BESSY in Paris There is a growing revolt within the French industry, directed at the National Center of French Cinema, the legal and official organization ruling the industry here. The revolt threatens to halt production and close theatres. Mainspring of the revolt is the question of taxes. It is generally believed the French industry cannot carry on if a reduction of entertainment and "de luxe" taxes is not made. Recently the French National Assembly passed a bill which would change the rates of entertainment taxes and reduce from 17 to 13 per cent the "taxe de luxe" on exhibitors' receipts. Unfortunately, it has been proved that, under the new system, the reduction of taxes would be very small — from three to five per cent for the provincial theatres and, at the most, from six to eight per cent for the larger theatres. This bill drew vehement protests from all branches of the industry. In a special meeting, the French Film Producers Syndicate ruled that, starting February 17, there would be no new applications made to the National Center for authorization of productions. The only new films to go before the cameras from now on will be those for which directors, actors and technicians already have been engaged. The Exhibitors Syndicate of the Paris region decided at a February 19 meeting that all motion picture theatres should close down soon to protest excessive taxes. It was also decided that the Exhibitors Syndicate should not participate in the National Center of French Cinema — regarded as State interference with private activities. At the same time the Regional Exhibitors' Associations held meeitngs in various parts of France and decided to close their theatres •if the Government did not reduce the taxes. On February 20, the National Confederation of French Cinema, representing production, distribution, exhibition and technicians, made a full and detailed report of the situation and suggested four solutions to the problem, including a propaganda campaign to warn the public of the serious situation of the industry and the stoppage of all activities within the industry. This last remedy would be only "at the last limit of resistance." ITALY by ARGEO SANTUCCI in Rame The Catholic Cinema Center, collaborating with O. M. I. Nistri, manufacturer of 16mm projectors, plans to establish 22,000 16mm theatres in Italy within the next five years. This program has already been presented for the approval of the Holy Father. Approximately 200 of the theatres will be opened immediately by Cine-Films, the company established by the merged interests of the Catholic organization and Nistri. It must be pointed out, however, that there is currently a shortage of 16mm features in the country. V The Italian Government collected approximately 3,000,000,000 lire ($7,500,000) in taxes on theatre admissions during 1946. V The Quattro Fontane theatre in Rome has been derequisitioned by the E. N. S. A., a British military entertainment organization. The theatre is a first class house with about 1,700 seats. MEXICO by LUIS BECERRA CELIS in Mexico City Circuito del Norte, important theatre circuit of Monterrey, has petitioned the Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbitration for authorization to close its business, on the ground that operations are not profitable. It is reported that it is not lack of business but excessively high operating costs, largely labor, that is forcing the circuit to close. V Local exhibitors have reported to the Federal and Municipal Governments that they cannot accede to demands of certain interests, including labor, that first run admissions be reduced from 85 cents unless their employees agree to a wage cut. The admission is a new high. V Pedro Tellez Vargas, secretary-general of the National Cinematographic Industry Workers Union, has asked President Miguel Aleman to arrange for the union a working agreement with its rival, the Picture Production Workers Union. Both unions have been quarreling for two years. Efforts are also being made to merge the two unions, but that is considered difficult, if not impossible. Producers are eager for any kind of a peace that promises to be lasting, since frequent flareups between the two unions have hampered production. BELGIUM by LOUIS QUIEVREUX in Brussels Film circles here are protesting Government intervention in the production and screening of newsreels. During an extraordinary meeting of the Belgian Syndical Chamber of Cinema, the Newsreels Section passed a motion of protest against measures taken by the state Control Commission for Films, claiming unconstitutional intervention by the Commission in newsreel production. According to present regulations, newsreels may be shown without previous viewing by the Control Commission, but the Commission has been censoring views deemed unfit for the public. Following an official refusal by M. Liebaert, the Economic Affairs Minister, to allow cinema theatre owners and directors to fix admission prices as they please, the Association des Directeurs de Theatres Cinematographiques Beiges organized a referendum among its 1,200 members, asking: "Do you agree to go on strike and close your theatre if the minister does not change his mind?" The response has been overwhelmingly in favor of a strike. Out of the first 200 answers 198 are in favor of a strike. Because of heavy taxation, some cinema theatres are losing up to 200,000 francs a month— about $4,600. 20th -Fox Buys Loew -Robbins Music Interest Transfer of a substantial stock interest in the Loew-owned Robbins Music Corporation to 20th Century-Fox was announced this week by Charles C. Moskowitz, president of the Robbins company and vicepresident and treasurer of Loew's, Inc. It is understood a 26 per cent interest and approximately $700,000 were involved. The Robbins group includes Robbins Music Corporation ; Leo Feist, Inc. ; Miller Music Corporation ; Walter Jacobs, Inc. ; Big 3 Music Corporation ; Gene Krupa Music Corporation ; Robbins International Corporation; Variety Music, Inc., and the newly formed Harry Warren Music Corporation, set up as a subsidiary after Metro had taken over last year. The stock interest figuring in the purchase presumably is that which Loew's acquired from Jack Robbins when he severed his connection with the company's music subsidiaries. At a stockholders' meeting of Robbins Music Corporation this week the following directors were elected: Mr. Moskowitz, Leopold Friedman, J. Robert Rubins, Joseph R. Vogel, Jesse T. Mills, Joseph H. Moskowitz and W. C. Michel. The last two also are vice-presidents of 20th-Fox. Newly-elected officers include Mr. Moskowitz, president; Mr. Friedman and Mr. J. H. Moskowitz, vice-presidents; Charles K. Stern, treasurer ; Abe Olman, secretary ; Harold J. Cleary, Bernard Prager and Stephen Levitz, assistant secretaries, and Mr. Mills, assistant treasurer. Republic Pays 25 Cents Republic Pictures' board of directors last Thursday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share on preferred stock, payable April 1, 1947, to stockholders of record March 10. 46 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 8, 1947