MOVING PICTURES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 263, 5 August 1942, Page 4

MOVING PICTURES

A Product Not In Short Supply , An article that can still 'be imported into New Zealand in quantities greater than can be used is the moving picture film, and any impression that members of the public may have that there is a shortage of films in this country is unfounded. Probably it is the longer runs that some films have been gaining lately, compared with a few months ago,’and the revival of some very old successes, that has given rise to a feeling that there is a lack of new features. The secretary of the Film Exchanges Association, Mr. R. M. Stewart, to whom was referred a suggestion that there was a shortage of films, said that, on the contrary, there was, if anything, a surplus. All the exchanges had sufficient features for the remainder of 1942 already on hand. There was no restriction on the importation of films into the country, though there was a restrictiou on the transmission abroad of the returns from them. Their export from the United States was restricted very little, for they had a priority rating only a little below that of munitions, the United States Government valuing the cinematograph film highly as a supporter of morale. Largely for the same reason, the production of the American studios had not been reduced. In England fewer films were being made than before the war, but they were of the best type. '■ When a film had a long season it was because the patronage it attracted from the public warranted the extension of its season, jsaid Mr. Stewart, the length of a film’s run being strictly related to the box-office takings at the theatre where it was being shown. Recently some films popular years, ago had been reissued. They were usually pictures with historical themes and did not become dated quickly, and so when seen from a new print were as enjoyable as ever. Their reissue was undertaken only because the trade expected that the public would appreciate the opportunity to see them again and people who had not seen them 'before would enjoy them as much as a newly-pro-duced firn. ■