HIGH-GRADE FILMS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 93, 17 March 1927, Page 7

HIGH-GRADE FILMS.

EMPIRE ORGANISATION

AFFILIATED COMPANIES.

FORMATION IN DOMINIONS

LONDON, March 15. An announcement is made of the formation of an Empire-wide all-British film organisation, involving £1,000.000, and employing the foremost British authors, producers, anil actors. This foreshadows the springing up of a British Hollywood in the vicinity of London in which the first studios will be available at the end of 1927. Affiliated companies are being formed in Australia, South Africa, Canada, and India. The parent organisation will be the British Incorporated Pictures, Limited. The initial capital will be £500,000. The organisation will produce and distribute high-grade films, the affiliated companies undertaking the distribution in the Dominion-, and also producing individually. Half the capital of the British company has already been assured. The remainder will not be offered for subscription Before the production of the first film, when British exhibitors will be afforded an opportunity to participate. The object, is protection against powerful outside combines.—A. and N.Z. cable.

BILL IN GREAT BRITAIN.

LABOUR OPPOSITION

LONDON, March 15. The Labour Party has decided to oppose the Kinematograph Films Bill. Mr Raimay MacDonald will move an amendment, welcoming the restriction of “blind” booking, which gives British producers a. fair field, but objecting to the compulsion on British traders to supply goods irrespective of their comparative merit and the customers’ demand.—A. and N.Z. cable.

BILL IN THE COMMONS. SECURITY TO INDUSTRY. EFFECT OF FOREIGN COMPETITION. Received March 17, 9.55 a.m. LONDON, March 16. Moving the second reading in the House of Commons of the Cinematograph Films Bill, Sir Phillip CunliffeLister pointed out that the bill follewed the methods considered by the Imperial Conference. Only five per cent, of the films at present being shown in the Empire were of British origin. The Cinema was the greatest advertising power in the world. Foreign films operated against the British trade throughout the Dominions. Exhibitors throughout Britain recently received requests that if they objected to the bill to telegraph their local member of the House of Commons, on the prepaid telegraph forms enclosed. The requests came from a European motion picture company, of which the chief shareholders were Americans. Producers in America were enabled to forge ahead during the war when British film making was stopped. The bill was necessary to give security to the British film makers, but—the compulsory quota of British films had deliberately been kept low because it was recognised that competition was necessary for success. The British film industry involved great interests—both national and Imperial. The determinations of the Imperial Conference must be translated into action.—A. and N.Z*. cable.