Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1947)

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MCM STARTS 16mm LIBRARY IN EIRE by TOM SHEEHY in Dublin After much early confusion the 16mm situation in Eire is just beginning to clarify. MGM is the first major company to adopt a definite policy on the 16mm library question. They have set up a film renting establishment managed by Cedric Burling and are renting complete programs on a percentage basis to commercial exhibitors and on a per capita basis to educational establishments. Previously the only sources of 16mm features were one library run by a prominent Dublin chemist and a library run by Gaumont-British. Unlike MGM, Gaumont Britsh has not established its 16mm renting concern with its 35mm renting office. Instead, it has established the office with its G. B. Kalee equipment depot in Dublin. They rent features and shorts separately at fixed rates. The only other major company to enter the Eire market with 16mm film product is Pathe, which will distribute through an Irish firm, Substandard Equipments, Ltd. On the equipment side of 16mm, British suppliers were first in the market. From 1939 until last March, 1947, 87 per cent of the projectors sold were British, only seven per cent were American. Now Eire is geting direct supplies from America, for which there is a great demand, especially in educational circles. There is not much scope here for 16mni entertainment mobile units since practically every town in Eire of more than 1,000 inhabitants has at least one 35mm cinema or hall used as a cinema. However, there are already signs of keen interest in the use of 16mm educational films in the grades and vocational schools and for adult education. BELGIUM by LOUIS QUIEVREUX in Brussels The World Film Festival to be held in Brussels June 1-30 will be bolstered by two other allied meetings. The Fourth Congress of the International Catholic Film Bureau will be held in Brussels from June 16 to 26 to examine, according to the organization, "sympathetic cooperation with world film unions and to bring constructive Catholic help." The International Federation of the Film Press al^o will hold its Congress in Brussels during me month of June. Additional features to be exhibited at the festival continue to be received. Argentina will show "A Sangre Fria," "Albeniz" and "Kreutzer Sonata." Switzerland will show "The Reign of Matto" and "Citizen and Peasant." Poland is offering "Harmony," two puppet films, two educational films and a documentary. Holland will show only short films. Sweden is sending "Rotagg" and Denmark will show two educational films, "Denmark Is Growing" and "The Seventh Age." Britain is sending "Odd Man Out," "Great Expectations," "A Matter of Life and Death" and "The Overlanders." V The Institut National de Cinematographic Scientifique has been formed in Brussels to produce films of "pure scientific interest" to aid scientists, industrialists and teachers. URUGUAY by PAUL BODO in Montevideo All theatres of the Compania Exhibidora Nacional S.A., the second most important circuit in Uruguay, have been transformed into newsreel theatres. These theatres include the circuit's first run house, the Ambassador, and a new theatre which will be constructed. This situation leaves Bernardo Glucksmann in practical control of all American pictures for this year since he owns the three remaining first runs here. The local representatives of all American producers, except MGM which has its own theatre in Montevideo, have signed with the Cinematografica Glucksmann and United Cinema circuits, both under the management of Mr. Glucksmann. V After 10 weeks of shooting, Cumbre Productora Cinematografica has finished its first picture, "Asi Te Deseo," in the Orion Studios of Montevideo. The stars of the picture are the Argentine actors, Roberto Airaldi and Carlos Morganti. V Sonocolor, Ltd., a new company which will produce documentaries and publicity shorts, has been founded in Montevideo with offices in Calle Soriano 912. Carlos Paez Vilaro is the general manager. A new distributing company, Filmos del Uruguay, recently was formed in this city at Calle Constituyente 1570. Directed by Alfonso Cao and Jose Surraco, the company will distribute European, Spanish, Argentine and Mexican product and will operate the El Mundo, a neighborhood theatre which will be remodeled. V Don Tomas Berreta, president of Uruguay, attended the recent opening of the 1,600-seat Cine Astor in Pando, about 25 miles from Montevideo. MEXICO by LUIS BECERRA CELIS in Mexico City There will be no change, for the present, in the foreign exchange rate, the principal quotation of which is 4.85 pesos to the U. S. dollar, which has lasted since September, 1939. This was announced by Ramon Betata, Secretary of Finance, in a speech at the thirteenth annual convention of the Association of Bankers of Mexico held recently at Acapulco. He announced further that there will be neither new taxes nor increases in existing taxes this year. V Small-scale producers are organizing what they hope will be a company big and strong enough to meet competition from the large producers and, at the same time, be eligible for an important share of the $2,000,000 credit the Federal Government is reportd to be preparing to grant producers. y A new distribution company has been started here by Carlos A. Madrazo, ex-Congressman, and Adan Ramierz. They hope to be the exclusive distributors of English pictures in Mexico. GERMANY by HUBERTUS ZU LOEWENSTEIN in Berlin Production is on the increase in Germany and Austria. Studios have been rehabilitated and new distributing and producing companies formed. A dozen features are in progress. The Neue Deutsche Filmsgesellschaft, with studios at Geiselgasteig, near Munich, has started production on the first German picture to be made in the U. S. zone. This is "Between Yesterday and Tomorrow," budgeted at 700,000 marks and with production time set at 40 days. Also at the Geiselgasteig studios, the Jewish Film Organization has started production of the first full-length picture in Yiddish. It deals with the fate of the Jewish people from the bombardment of Warsaw to the present day. The German director, Herbert B. Fredersdorf, is assisted by various Jewish co-directors. A Berlin branch of the French financed and controlled Internationale Film-Alliance has been established with offices in BadenBaden. The company intends to distribute French pictures throughout Berlin and the British-American zone. The French industry is very actively engaged in the German market. Throughout the French zone American pictures have fallen behind French productions. International Film Exhibit Set for Venice, August 14 Venice will hold an International Exhibition of Motion Picture Technique (from August 14 to September 10. Organized under the patronage of the Commune of Venice and of the scientific section of the Ministry of Public Education, the exhibition will embrace all phases of the industry, starting with the manufacture of raw film, going through the exhibition of completed films, and including an historical survey of the industry. All nations have been invited to participate. 44 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MAY 10, 1947