Motion Picture News (Oct 1915)

October 30, 1915. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 51 Picture Makers Here Not Downcast Over English Tax Duty of One Cent a Foot on Unexposed Film, Two Cents on All Prints and Sixteen Cents a Foot on Negatives, Making a 1,000-Foot Reel Subject to $160 for the British Government, will Probably Result in the Shipment of Prints to the Colonies for Re-Shipment Tlience to England ALTHOUGH it is bound to bear heaviest on the American film industry, announcement of the new British customs duty on film imports aroused little comment among American film manufacturers, last week. Such comment as there was, was of an approving nature, and either a naturally philosophic nature, or a belief that the film business is braced to meet any kind of shock, has induced most of the largest manufacturers to welcome the new tax. The tax is imposed on all films imported into England, and went into effect on September 29. The duty is the equivalent of one cent a foot on all “raw” or unexposed film ; two cents on all prints, and sixteen cents a foot on all negatives. That this will hit the American producers the hardest is evident to anyone who glances through the pages of one of the British trade publications. A recent issue of one of these, The Cinema, of London, contains altogether sixty-six pages of film advertising, and thirty-four of these pages are devoted to advertising popular American brands. But, although for every 1, 000-foot negative shipped to England, someone must pay a tax of $160, the American producers are apparently happy. John R. Freuler, president of the Mutual Film Corporation, expressed the view that London will cease to be the world’s film market as a result of this tax, and instead of trading through London, foreign manufacturers will deal direct with the Continent and the British colonies. In this way Great Britain’s revenue from the new duties will not be nearly so great as was anticipated. Prints Shipped to British Colonies “American manufacturers will ship prints instead of negatives,” he said, “and these prints will go direct to distributing points throughout the British possessions. It is possible that prices on prints to the British colonies will be increased somewhat because of this duty, and we will see Russian and other distributors buying directly in New York.” Samuel Goldfish, executive head of the Lasky Feature Play Company, took a hopeful view of the situation. “It would be ridiculous to enter any protest against a war tariff in England, so discussion about the new tax may rest entirely upon its probable effects on American-made photoplays and film,” said Mr. Goldfish. “Regarded in this light, imagine what a boon the law is to English audiences and exhibitors who will not have to look at inferior American products in their theatres. Undoubtedly the law will have the effect of curtailing exportation to England of all save worthy productions in which the better manufacturers have sound financial faith. “It will keep out of England the riff-raff productions which for several years have made the English market a difficult one. “It would be a god-send to the American photoplay and film industry if some such measure could be taken here to curtail the overproduction of motion pictures which is becoming as acute a problem in this country as the overproduction a few years ago of theatrical entertainments. Welcomes English Tariff “Overproduction invariably means inferior quality, and no great industry can thrive when a large percentage of its output is inferior and unsatisfactory. “Regarded on that basis the English tariff is to be welcomed.” Adolph Zukor, president of the Famous Players Film Company, said : “The severe British import tax on film which has just become effective, is bound to result in a great advancement of the motion picture in England. It will necessitate the exclusion of all poor or mediocre film and make it profitable to export only motion picture productions certain of success, thus being a blessing in disguise to the producers of worthy subjects and definitely raising the prestige of the American motion picture in England. “This limitation of the import to films only of certain artistic merit will have many beneficial subsequent results, among which will undoubtedly be the elevation of the methods of screen presentation to conform AMONG the features released by Kalem during November, is one which it believes to be superior to any built along similar lines released by the company. It is the four-act modern drama, “The Pitfall,” and is to be issued on Monday, November 15. This picture was produced by James W. Horne from the scenario by Howard Irving Young, with a cast consisting of Marin Sais, Ollie Kirby, True Boardman, Thomas Lingham, Paul Hurst, Frank Jonasson and Edward Clisbee. Mr. Horne is the producer responsible for “The Mysteries of the Grand Hotel” ; “The Barnstormers,” and other Kalem successes. Among the dramas written by Mr. Young and issued by Kalem, are “The Net of Deceit,” and “The Apaches of Paris.” The biggest setting in “The Pitfall” is that which shows the main salon in the gaming establishment, known as the “American Monte Carlo,” operated by Deering, the villain of the story. In the scenes showing the “plant” while it is running in full blast, upwards of two hundred people are easily accommodated. Other November Kalem productions are: “The Coquette,” a four-act drama scheduled for release Monday, November 1 ; “The Woman of the Sea,” a three-act production released Monday, November 8, and “A Woman’s Wiles,” a three-act drama to be issued on Monday, November 22. “The Coquette,” features Rea Martin, with the higher average standard of the films themselves. “At the present time there are more poor films produced than the exhibitors and the public should tolerate. But with the embargo preventing the profitable importation of poor subjects and making possible only the trans-continental presentation of meritorious productions, the intelligent English public will respond in far greater numbers than ever before to the appeal of the screen. “This condition will inevitably react upon the American manufacturer, who, in order to have a foreign market, must raise the standard of production. Thus the stringent tax which upon first glance appears to be detrimental to the American film producer, is, on analysis, a decided benefit, not alone to the English trade and public, but to the international film world. “While at the present time the advantages of this condition will accrue only to the producers of the better film — in which class may we include the Famous Players Film Company? — its ultimate benefits will be extended to all producers with sufficient enterprise to recognize the circumstances and proportionately promote the standard of their productions.” the little actress whom Alan Dale characterized as the “best child artiste on the stage,” following her performance at Wallack s theatre, New York, in “Pomander Walk.” Jackie Saunders has probably never done anything better than the title role in "The Woman of the Sea.” This is a story of diplomatic intrigue in which a woman, in the power of an unscrupulous man, exerts her every effort towards the frustration of his machinations. “A Woman’s Wiles,” is a story of the Latin Quarter of Paris. A strong cast headed by Philo McCollough and Alma Ruben appears in this story of a woman’s plot to wed the man whom she thinks has inherited a fortune. CISSIE FITZGERALD JOINS KLEINE COMEDY COMPANY Cissie Fitzgerald Comedy Company is the latest recruit to the fun-makers now engaged in the Kleine Studios. The company is headed by Bickel and \\ atson, who in addition to Cissie Fitzgerald, are supported by Crimmons and Gore, long known to the American public; Snitz Edwards, one hundred pound star of the "Queen of the Moulin Rouge,” and "The Silver Slipper,” Maxfield Moree and Florence Morrison whose amplitude acts as an excellent foil for the diminutive Edwards. November Kalems in Flight Toward Success Mark Character of Pictures with Casts of Note Indicates Big-Hit Possibilities Upon Their Release Next Month, Beginning with “The Coquette” on the First Table of contents will hereafter be found every week opposite inside back cover.