BRITISH FILM “SLUMP.”

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1925, Page 2

BRITISH FILM “SLUMP.”

LONDON'. Nov. 18. “It is quite true that British films are in a desperate way.’ said Sir Oswald Stoll, chairman and managing director of the Coliseum Syndicate, Ltd., and other amusement companies, yesterday. He was discussing the almost complete standstill in the national mo-tion-picture making industry. “The Americans, by means of tremendous advertising and the employment of ‘spell-binding’ salesmen, mesmerise many British exhibitors into +he belief that certain of their films are masterpieces,’’ Sir Oswald said. “And the Americans deliberately undersell to retain their grip, on the world’s markers. Take, for example. Bermuda. American film firms will send there pictures for t'H, which cost £SO to print, thus keeping out all others. TAX FOREIGN FILMS. “In the interests of purely British pictures an idea it appears to be a pretty good one—-has been conceived whereby a 10s. stamp would he affixed to every contract made for the exhibition of an American or other foreign film, and a (Id stamp to a contract for a British film.”

Sir Oswald Stoll explained that his own organisation is now responsible for “a now method of European co-opera-tion designed to prevent the American film from driving the British film off a not too patriotic market. “Moon of Tsreal,” now at the London Pavilion, is the first issue of this co-operative movement. AA"e are now going to work with European firms. Firms abroad been driven to this co-operation bv their Governments. Tn Gernianv a German film lias now to be made for every foreign one shown. “If British films are really wanted they can easily be obtained. Ihe trouble is that the public does not ! r fff" the chance of seeing sufficient of them.