FILMS AND THE EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 10

FILMS AND THE EMPIRE.

Hard upon the heels of the Imperial Conference, which discussed seriously the dominance of foreign cinema films in the theatres of the Empire, comes the announcement of a British measure designed to redress the balance. A British bill, reported to be at the drafting stage, is to propose the prevention of blind or block booking and the institution of a quota system. A compulsory quota, 5 per cent, of British films at the outset, will be required in every programme submitted. Operation of the quota will be postponed for one year to enable British producers to meet the demand. The block booking system, whereby a theatre-owner contracts in advance for a certain number of films, thereby binding himself to accept the bad with the good, has been blamed for depreciating the quality of moving pictures exhibited and for confirmi mg the grip of the foreign, picturemakers on the Empire market. If it can be eliminated, the' result, in the opinion of good judges, will be wholly beneficial. The quota system has placed the German film industry on its feet. Half the national requirements are now met by the German studios, and there is a healthy export trade growing. The proposed British quota of 5 per cent, is not a very drastic move. A subcommittee of the trade which some time ago made tentative proposals for a quota suggested 10 per cent, as a beginning. Sir Robert Donald, who has investigated the whole question very carefully, has stated that with the advance already made in the production of' British films the 10 per cent, quota could easily be filled immediately. Five per cent., with a year's postponement, is not, therefore, a very imposing requirement. Still, it is a beginning. If the bill becomes law a British opportunity, hitherto badly neglected, should be eagerly embraced. The lead should appeal to more than the British film industry. It should be noted by the Dominions, which have long paid lip service to the cause of Empire films. Britain has shown the way. If the cause is taken up with similar promptitude by other Governments, a valuable British industry should be given a chance to develop, and the constant Btream of films conveying non-British, if not necessarily anti-British, ideas and ideals should be checked to the ultimate benefit of the Empire.