FILM INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12039, 17 January 1925, Page 7

FILM INDUSTRY

IRITAIN LACCINC BEHIND “ODDS AGAINST BRITISH PIG TURKS OVERWHELMING. ’ ’ AMERICAN SUPREMACY. LONDON, December 30. • That in its present state the British film industry has little prospect of successful competition- with America, is the opinion of Mr F. W. Thring, manag-ing-director of Electrio Theatres, and Mr W. A. Gibson, managing-director of Australasian Films and Union Theatres.

“I have looked over the British , picture field,” said Mr Thring to-day, “and have concluded that the day is still far distant when England will he able to produce anything to oust American films. The people holding the reins are incapable of producing what the British public wants, let alone the Australians.

“There will hare to be a change of heads in the British film industry—at present, they are inept and inefficient hunch as far as making motion pictures is concerned. I believe that, within a few years, the Americans, through controlling the bulk of the theatres, will control the bulk of the theatres in Britain and Australia. One thing which will save us is* British promotion of pictures that will sell.'

STUDIOS IDLE. ‘‘There is nothing we would welcome more than to he <anle to show British pictures, and British exhibitors are in the same position.” - Mr. Gibson said: “Since I have been in England, there has not been a single studio working. England is not producing pictures present. They oan make good pictures when they take, the trouble and get down to busmedST ‘Captain Blood’ is a first-rate picture; but One' or two good* pictures don’t make an industry. “TALKING” PICTURES.

Mr Thring and Mr Gibson will leave for Australia on January 10th if they can obtain, accommodation.

While in America .Mr Thring bought, an amplifying set similar- to those used in America for addressing open-air crowds of ,100,000. This will -be installed in a picture treatre, enabling the audience to hear big orchestras, concerts; and ■ important political speeches. It will be the largest and- most perfect amplifyer in Australia, and will ultimately he used in connection with “talking” pictures. £36,000 LOSS.

Sir Oswald Stoll, the London musichall magnate, aScribeg the Stoll Film Company’s year’e loss of £36,000 to the fight for British {detunes, against which 'the odds are overwhelming. The ' competition of mammoth foreign pesters, he states, compels British pictures to sing small in this respect because their only’ real standing is in the most restricted home market, though they please the British market. “IVe believe in the future of British pictures,” he added, “but are compelled to modify our policy.”