The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jan-Feb 1923)

THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. January i, 1923. DOMINANT .PERSONAL | FILM | Felix Kallman of the Ufa, and | the Outstand| ROUND THE TRADE IN BERLIN, AND THE IMPR VISIT to the film industry in Berlin is instructive because of the impression one receives of absolute efficiency in the various offices that one visits. The premises of any of the film companies situate in Berlin are very much more elaborate and spacious’ than the offices that we are accustomed to calling upon in Wardour Street. Berlin has its Wardour Street; that is to say, that its: film industry is mainly housed to a large extent in one thoroughfare or in other streets leading off. The latter end of Friedrichstrasse is the Wardour Street of the Gorman film industry, although one finds the biggest concerns, such as the Uta, Efa, Decla, Terra Gloria, housed in vast offices some distance away. The principal concern controlling the German film industry is the mighty Ufa Company, the presiding genius of which is Mr. Felix Kallman, who has been in control during the past few months. : Ufa is financed by the big German banks, of which the Deutsche and ’ Dresdner are mainly interested. Mr. Kallman is an exceedingly interesting man tointerview. He is easily the most dominant personality in the German film industry to-day. Close upon 70 years of age, Mr. Kallman has made his mark in other fields of commerce, and the fact that the banks put him in control of the Ufa Company shows the extent of their confidence in him. Mr, Felix Kallman is the man who was the great factor in the General Electric Company’s success in this country. He it was who erected their great factory at Hammersmith, and he has been actively identified with other great commercial interests which, under his wizard touch, have been turned from comparative failure into big financial successes. A slight, spare man with a keen face, the prominent feature of which is his shaggy eyebrows, Mr. Kallman impresses one with his personality and his determination to make anything he touches a success. He is intensely anxious to see the. Ufa Company dominant in the world’s markets, and it may be mentioned that, under his control, in November Ufa declared a dividend of 30 per cent. Mr. Kallman knows that pictures, to be a financial success, must be made suitable for the markets. of the world, and accordingly, wise in his generation, he is concentrating upon great productions which he knows will make ‘an instant appeal not only to this country, but to America. The Ufa will be-controlling such big productions in 1923 as ‘' Oliver .Cromwoll,’’ which is to be made in Germany and many exterior scenes to be taken ove®Here, whilst ‘‘ Martin Luther’’ and “‘Imogen”’ are also scheduled. for production. Myr. Kallman looks. ahead, and sees that the German film industry, to gain entry into other countries, must necessarily throw. their own doors open to the productions of the world, and to this end is a strong opponent of the law whick only admits a certain number of films into Germany. ‘‘ I am,’’ said he, in the course of a most interesting conversation I had with him, ‘* bitterly opposed to the ‘ Contingent,’ which I have always endeavoured to get removed. This is, as you know, a measure imposed by the Allies, so that we cannot do more than urge its removal, and I am hopeful that very shortly we shall have this embargo on foreign films removed altogether, and a free entry will be allowed into this country . Of all productions of the world. It is only by throwing open our screens to Ericn Pommer. the world’s productions that the film industry, both here and abroad, can hope to meet with financial success.”’