FILM DICTATORS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12394, 13 March 1926, Page 9

FILM DICTATORS

• » . ■ _ , - U.S. BID TO CONTROL BRITISH CINEMAS America is prepared to spend £50,000,000 on buying up British picture theatres, it was stated at a meeting in of exhibitors representing 1000 cinemas in the metropolitan area. This “war” on the British film

industry is being waged secretly. The American magnates will buy under the camouflage, of nominees. Exhibitors want to free the British film industry from American dictatorship. The meeting was told that Americans had planned, or erected, cinemas on for f sites in London, and wore also:- trying to acquire key theatres throughout Great Britain. Dr Fowler Petrie, who called the attention of the meeting to the urgency Of the matter, said afterwards that if the British film industry cannot beat the Americana, then they would hare to rely on the Government. ’ who would, he thought, take drastic steps to stop the growing menace.