Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

CEA Sees Film Bill As Aid to Producers . . . Members of Association's General Council say proposed legislation does nothing for exhibitors except increase their obligations by PETER BURNUP LONDON: Exhibitors here enter on the holiday Season in an anxious mood following the study — by the officers of their Association — of the text of the Government’s Films Bill and the subsequent debate in CEA’s General Council. Accuse BOT of Bad Faith Gist of General Council’s review of the suggested legislation is that the bill does nothing but heap further obligations on exhibitors in aid of producers. Accusations of bad faith on the part of Board of Trade officials were also freely flung around in the course of General Council’s debate. The bill is in three parts covering, respectively, the proposed statutory “Eady” Levy, the National Film Finance Corporation and the quota obligations. Exhibitors take the view that the Finance Corporation is the concern only of producers visa-vis the Government and their officers accordingly have nothing to say in that regard. But they are united in an all-out fight against both the levy and quota proposals. Exhibitors agree on the necessity of maintaining production at the highest possible level, both for a maintenance of a proper supply for their own programme and as a dollar-earner for the country at large. They concede also that without some form of Government subsidy the production industry here would quickly dissolve. See Danger to Plan But, so exhibitors maintain, the Government should itself find the wherewithal of the subsidy and not mulct the exhibitors’ fading box office in what is, in effect, a second tax in addition to the existing crushing entertainment tax. They declare also that, in any event, the whole pattern of the Government’s levy plan is in grave danger of falling apart unless the ordinance is accompanied by tax reduction. The inclusion of the quota proposals in the bill has provoked just as bitter criticism in General Council and is the occasion of the aforementioned accusations of bad faith on the part of Board of Trade officials. In the circular letter sent to all the trade associations February last, it was expressly stated that the question of quota legislation might conveniently be left for future consideration. CEA accepted that suggestion, although its officers had very definite views on the necessity of amending the present Quota design. Influential M.P.’s of all parties in the Commons take the same view and the quota proposals in particular will be met by forthright opposition when the bill comes up for review in the House. Much point is made in informed Whitehall quarters of the circumstance that the bill is largely an “enabling” measure which leaves the crux of its several proposals to be covered in “regulations” to be made by the Board of Trade. The suggestion is that that arrangement allows for full consultation with the various sections of the industry concerned. Indeed, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board — Mr. F. J. Erroll — gave a categorical pledge to the London Branch of CEA in the following terms: “There will be time and opportunity in the course of the next few months to decide on equitable and acceptable arrangements.” EXTEND BBC AND 1TA WEEKDAY TV HOURS The BBC and its rival the Independent Television Authority will in future be free on weekdays to make television broadcasts during the periods they think best to meet the needs of their audience within the present maximum of 50 hours a week and eight hours in any one day. This was announced in the House of Commons by the Postmaster General, the Government Minister charged with the regulation of all television matters. Under the present rules, studio TV broadcasts have been forbidden before 9 A.M. and after 11 P.M., or for more than two hours in the morning. They were not allowed, moreover, between 6 P.M. and 7 P.M., in acknowledgement of an argument that telecasts between those hours made children resist being sent to bed or hampered them in their school homework. That argument appears now to have been given up as lost. In the words of a Government spokesman “some gradualness in this field is desirable.” All that despite, the Government doubtless found itself in a highly anomalous position by reason of the circumstance that the 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. ban did not apply to events broadcast from outside a studio. There were, particularly during the summer, frequent exciting sporting broadcasts at times when parents were anxious to get children to bed, or persuade them to tackle their home-work. On Sundays it will remain the rule that normal programmes must not start before 2 P.M. and there will be a compulsory evening break from 6.15 to 7.25 P.M. in order to avoid affecting Church attendances. As neither the BBC nor ITA has been using the full 50 hours a week both will be able to fill the 6-7 P.M. gap without cutting other features. The independent TV companies welcome the new arrangement because “it will lead to the better planning of more varied programmes.” They might have added that it will likely prove highly profitable; for many advertisers have been pressing for the use of the hitherto evening gap. "MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE" FOR INDUSTRY RELIEF DRIVE What is described as “a magnificent response” to the industry’s drive in aid of the Lord Mayor of London’s Hungarian and Central European Relief Fund is reported. Since the seat-to-seat collection was started in every cinema in the country in the first week in December, £73,000 has been returned. But this figure is by no means final. Many exhibitors are handing over the proceeds of their collection to their respective local authorities; while Scottish theatremen are making their own arrangements. The final figure is expected to be well in excess of £ 100,000. Variety Club’s Shut-In Committee, under Mike Frankovich and Sam Lomberg, has also been active in meeting the needs of the hundreds of refugees. • Entertainment tax receipts continue to show an encouraging upward trend. The Monthly Digest of Statistics published last week reveals that last October’s receipts by Customs and Excise were £67,000 up on October, 1955, at £3,050,000. From June to October this year the total receipts have been £ 1,012,000 more than for the same period last year. ! ODEON TAKES OVER HOUSES FROM CURRAN Eleven cinemas of the Curran Group in Northern Ireland are to be handed over to Odeon (N. I.) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Rank Organisation, January 1. Cinemas concerned are the Regent, Apollo, Astoria, Broadway, Capitol, Lyceum and Regal (Belfast), Tonic (Bangor), Majestic (Portrush), Strand and Midland (Londonderry). Agreement has been reached after negotiations which have taken place over some considerable time. • Nathan Cohen, a director of Anglo American Distributors and one of the pioneers in the current mode of joint Anglo-American production, flies to New York December 28. Purpose of his trip, says Mr. Cohen, who just completed a highly successful year’s term as London Variety Club’s chief barker, is to renew acquaintance with his American associates. He plans to negotiate further co-production deals. 18 MOTION PICTURE HERALD. DECEMBER 22. 1956