The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 14, 1923. POSSIBILITIES THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. It OF THE RUSSIAN FILM MARKET. No Chance for Importers but a Good Field for Producers on the Spot. N view of the continual ferment in the social life of Russia I and the contradictory reports about the state of Russian industry, a representative of the Firm RenTEr anp Movine FictunE News called this week on a member of a big Russian industrial company in the city, who is also interested in the film market of bis native country, to, learn, if possible, the exact condition and prospects of the kinema trade there. = This gentleman has but recently returned from Russia, and is intimately acquainted with all the latest developments. ‘When you speak of the possibilities of moving pictures in Russia,’’ he said, in answer to a question, ‘I do not suppose that you altogether realise what a vast field there is—or would be in normal times-—for this industry. You must remember that Russia has a population of 140 millions, and that before the war the kinema was very popular all over the country wherever it appeared. The Revolution and the industrial upheaval which followed practically put an end to this form of entertainment. Now, about 800 picture tl:eatres have been re-opened in Russia, but at present the country is in no position to import films from abroad, and, consequently, the business is in a languishing state. ‘* Russia is simply not able to buy foreign pictures. Any proposition to get world films before the Russian people must be self-supporting. If you send your pictures there, you are bound to sell them for roubles, which are no good to the foreign produccr at the present rate of exchange. The only way in which INTERESTING NEW ENTERPRISE Graham Cutts to Produce for Go-Ahead Trade Trio, NTERESTING particulars as to a new enterprise in connection with the production of British films are to hand. We understand that behind the scheme are three young men well-known in the profession—Mr. M. E. Balcan, Mr. J. M. Freedman, and Mr. Victor Saville. Inspired by an unbounded belief in British film production—not so much in its achievements as in its possibilitics—they got into touch with Mr. Graham Cutts, the producer of ‘* Paddy-the-Next-BestThing ’’ and ‘‘ Flames of Passion,’’ as the most likely man to sive effect to their ideas, and were fortunate enough to secure his services. Adaptation of Well-Known Play. Mr. Cutts’ first picture for the new company will be Michael Morton’s play; ‘‘ Woman to Woman,”’ the well-known stage suceess, which ran for twelve months at the Globe, and is about to be produced at the Broadway Theatre, New York, and to be revived in London. The film version will be something more than a mere adaptation of the play, for the author and produccr have collaborated in the writing of the scenario, so as to transmute the stage values into those of the screen. The cast crnnot be disclosed at present but will be of exceptional strength. Mr. MacDonald, whose photography in ** Flames of Passion’? will be remembered, will have charge of the camera, and the production will start almost immediately. Every Production a Big One. As to the future of this most interesting new enterprise, no he could get an adequate return for his goods would be to use the money obtained for his pictures in Russia itself, by erecting studios, engaging casts and producing films of Russian life on— the spot. ‘* Tam convinced that in the near future the business of picture producing in Russia will develop into a most successful enterprise. Because in that vast country you can obtain any amount of excellent background and every kind of weather condition. You also have continual new developraents which are strange to the outside world-—exciting phases of life and human character which the film has never yet dealt with. ‘*Another and important point is that, although industry is just now crippled in Russia, art is not dead; and the people are still wonderfully suscentible to the influence of the screen. Splendid types, wonderful artistes, beautiful scenery and sympathetic audiences—all these are to be found in Russia by any enterprising promoters who desire to exploit this market from within, But if anyone thinks he can import pictures into Russia for pounds or dollars, he is w rong. <A self-supporting proposition would, on the other hand, no doubt turn out very profitably.”’ This is the opinion of a Russian whose name cannot at the moment be mentioned, but who, as already stated, is well versed in his country’s affairs and closely connected with some big British industrial concerns, eut-and-dried program has been arranged, and the promoters are not wedded to any special type of picture. But two principles will be rigidly adhered to. Each production will be a hig one, both in cceneeption and execution; and secondly, the number of pictures produeed in a year shall be strictly limited, the company being convinced that in picture-making mass production is not compatible with, and, indeed, is the enemy of quality. Conducted by men endowed with faith and experience, and with the necessary capital at its command, the new enterprise should meet with the success it deserves. Its future will certainly be watched with great interest by all concerned in the British film industry. THE ELIMINATION OF REWINDING.—Contd. comes neglible for practical purposes at about 26 revolutions per minute of the revolving table. When the aperture of the unprojected film is six inches in diameter the table must, for the first spiral, be revolved at approximately 38.5 revolutions per minute to discharge the film at 60 ft. per minute. -At the last spiral of a 2,500 ft. film, the {able is running at 14.44 revolutions per minute. The difference in the centrifugal force at these two points is as 2,665 is to 1, and ecases to be affective at twenty-six revolutions. It therefore became necessary to devise a method for larger reels, which would positively set the driving dise in its correct position for every spiral of the film as itwas discharged. This is carried cut by the Helix machine. The Way Non-rewind is an important invention that will be of the utmost value to the kinematograph’ industry.