BRITISH FILMS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14769, 7 October 1921, Page 2

BRITISH FILMS

> A “CLOSE SEASON.’ 1 TOO MANY PHOTO PLAYS. (Daily Express Cinema Correspondent) Three important Brilisii film-pro-ducing companies have dismissed their staffs and closed or sold I heir studios. They arc: Brnadwcst Films, Ltd.: Tim O. B. Snmuelson Film Manufacturing Co., Ltd.: Master Films, Ltd. Other large companies will probably follow suit, and minor producing confeerns must inevitably shut down. There are three principal reasons for this drastic slop:—The Irade decision to institute a ‘’close season” for film production, in order to enable exhibitors to work off their advance hookings and reduce the period between the completion of a film and its release date to about six months America’s proposal to place a prohibitive tariff on foreign lilrn imports. The general uncertainty of trading conditions in the entertainment business. Out of Work. Several hundred actors, actresses, and technical workers arc thus thrown out of employment, it is doubtful whether some of the firms which have closed down will ever reopen. Mr Sarnuclson, of course, lias “struck oil” in Hie motor-coach boom as all I tie world knows. He lias Hie Rockefeller touch in business, and sympathy would be wasted on him. His studio lias been purchased by Mr Rafael Sabatini, the novelist, who aspires to produce Ids own scenarios, in conjunction with Mr Sam Hardy, late general manager of the Stoll Film Studios at Hrickiewood. Broadwest and Master Films arc closing because Jhey cannot afford to continue unless their studios are fully employed. The overhead and standing charges arc considerable in a studio engaged on regular film output. The trade lias decided to allot 15 film productions lo Hie remaining British manufacturers to assist them in carrying on during the close season.