Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

BRITISH SEEKING DEAL IN FRANCE by EUGEN WEBER in Paris In an attempt to boost British screening here, three representatives of the British Film Producers' Association have arrived in Paris for talks with official representatives of the French Government and the industry. The delegates are Air Commodore West, of the Rank Organization ; Sir David Cunnynghame, British Lion, and Major R. P. Baker, of Ealing Studios. These three delegates and members of the British Embassy in Paris will confer with all interested French Ministries, as well as Messrs. Fourre-Courmeray and Cravenne, of the Centre National de la Cinemtographie. Seek 44 French Films The British are after a special, bilateral agreement which will allow them to increase the number of films they can import under the recent Quota Regulations. They would like to double the approximately 22 features now permitted them. The French will come to an understanding -only on a reciprocal basis, making sure that French films will receive increased exploitation in England, where, at the moment, French films are shown only in certain specialized houses, most of them in London. V To cut production expenses and improve shooting conditions, four French producing companies have agreed to pool timetables and means of production. This is an important step for the French industry, since one of this industry's chief weaknesses is its heterogeneous nature, the large number of small producers, none of them owning their own studios ; the waste due to lack of storage space, etc. To try and overcome these drawbacks. Alkam, Les Productions Cinematographiques, Les Films Raoul Ploquin, and Safia-Les Gemeaux, after coming to an agreement among themselves, have also made arrangements in common with the So■ciete Franstudio, which controls the Pathe•Cinema and Gaumont studios, and with the G. T. C. Laboratories, guaranteeing them a regular number of films to work with. The companies concerned are at present ■filming "Hans le Marin" (Safia — with Jean Pierre Aumont), "La Veuve et l'lnnocent" (Les Productions), and "Le Mystere Barton" (Alkam — with Francoise Rosay). See New Portuguese Market Contrary to earlier announcements, Portugal has not suspended all imports. The Portuguese Government will grant no more import permits for goods payable in dollars. The decision, thus, affects mainly American products, and, of course, American films. The French are experiencing certain difficulties in respect of the Portuguese market. But there is nothing to stop film trade between the two countries. In fact, there is satisfaction in the industry about the new opportunities Portugal's dollar shortage is opening to French films. ISRAEL by ALBERT D. MATALON in Tel-Aviv The American Managers' Group has decided to ask the Motion Picture Association to send a representative to Israel for dis cussions with the Israeli Government regarding the importation of films and remittances of royalties. V The two most important theatres in Jaffa, the Nabil and Alhambra, each with a seating capacity of about 1,250, have been leased by a cooperative society which will repair the cinemas and their equipment. This action constitutes an asset to the American and European motion picture industries since these theatres formerly screened Arabic pictures most of the time. The society will change this policy. V Admission taxes again have been increased. This action, it is believed, will hurt attendance here since the admissions, before the addition of new taxes, already were rather high. The old admissions ranged from 40 cents to 90 cents. With the new taxes, the new admissions range from 47 cents to $1. V The Middle East Film Distributors Company has been formed to produce a newsreel on Israel events. Previously there had been only one company, Carmel News, producing newsreels locally. YUGOSLAVIA by STOYAN BRALOVITCH in Belgrade Not a single American feature was shown in any of the 16 Belgrade theatres during the* month of October. Theatre-goers are looking forward with great impatience to seeing American films as soon as the arrangement recently concluded for the importation of American films becomes operative. During October, 11 Russian, two Yugoslavian, one Czech, one French and one English were shown here. V "To Victory" is the best and most expensive Yugoslavian feature of the year. Made from the book of Oscar Davitcho, a progressive writer who spent considerable time in the headquarters of General Markos while the general was organizing his army, the feature deals chiefly with the life of the Greek partisans. It has many interesting scenes in Greek homes, the offices of the UNO control commission, and in police stations and prisons. AUSTRIA by HUBERTUS ZU LOEWENSTE1N in Vienna The Vienna State Opera House has gone into the production of picture versions of some of the more famous operas. The first picture, to be started early next year, will be Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro." For this purpose the Opera House has signed contracts with the newly founded Wiener Film-Produktion Company and London Films, Ltd. Production has begun on the new Unitas feature, "Vagabond." Paula Wessely, Attila Hoerbiger and Siegfried Breuer play the leading roles. The Benesch-Film Company is beginning work on "The Supreme Law." . The outdoor scenes are to be photographed in the Tyrol Alps. JAPAN by J. WEBSTER in Tokyo Shochiku K. K., the only studio in Japan that has steadily increased its output since war's end, is expected to reach its goal of 50 productions during the coming year. The company expects to employ both their main studios in Tokyo and Kyoto, in addition to its smaller studio in Kyoto, which had been abandoned during the war. This small studio will be rehabilitated and at least five pictures produced there during 1949. The company's Ofuna studio in Tokyo produced 26 pictures this year and will produce 28 in 1949. The Kyoto studio will produce 22 next year as against 17 this year. Shochiku will also distribute two or three productions of independent producers. V The first production to go before the cameras after the lengthy strike at Toho Kinuta Studio wil be "Tonosama Hotel" ("A Feudal Lord's Hotel"), starring Roppa Furukawa, the popular comedian. F. Kurata will direct. See Argentina Market For Much Equipment Argentina is a market for at least $1,000,000 worth of U. S. motion picture equipment when trade controls are lifted, the Commerce Department has reported in Washington. A report by film chief Nathan D. Goldman pointed out, however, that licenses for equipment .imports have been suspended since early this year and sales prospects now are "poor." Mr. Golderi said that a new film producing company, Willpere Films, has been formed in Buenos Aires. It plans to build studios on the outskirts of the city. 34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 4, I94S