GERMAN FILM TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1920, Page 11 (Supplement)

GERMAN FILM TRADE.

! 'AN ENORMOUS VOGUE. .. It is one of tlio curious features of the film industry that in Germany import may promote the export of the same class of goods. Having developed the cinematograph business enormously during the war, Germany thought she could sell her pictures to others without buying any in return, and so ins-ease lier holdings of that foreign currency of which she stands in such sore n;ed, father nations are not, however, so easily imposed upon. Italy, with «.vhom the German film produce,rs, were already doing a very profitable trade, slammed the door abruptly when she discovered that the transaction was to be onesided, and even accommodating Austria threatened reprisals. As a result of this, writes a Berlin correspondent, the German Government has just decided next year to allow the import of for-1 eign films to the extent of 15 per cent, of the quantity produced in this country in 1018. The total length made in Germany that year was 750 miles, so that the import will lie 112 miles, or sufficient for 150 big filnw. As a moderate American film to-day costs in Gt-r----many from 5000 dols. to OOOOdols., or, say, 300,000 marks the of the 11? mile 3 to be imported will come to between 25,000,000 and 30,000,000 marks. It is however, calculated that many films Will be procured by barter in kind so as to eliminate the element of exchange, and that the rest will be more than counter-balanced by the export. One of the papers, in publishing this news, gives some interesting figures to show the enormous rogue of the cinematograph in Germany. Among the big producing firms 'is one employing 1400 persons. Besides its theatres in Germany, it owns fourteen in Switzerland and others in Holland, Scandinavia, Finland, and Poland. One great historical film which is at present completing has swallowed up' a capital of 5,500,000 mftvks. The latest film to bo widely puffed was "Sumurun," in which a number of the best-known actors and actresses took part. "For the opening performance, which was in Berlin a few days ago, tlu> receipts amounted to 211.400 marks, of which, by the way, (1000 was deducted as taxation. Besides the big companies, there are between 150 and 100 small firms which produce films. They mostly operate without elaborate apparatus, depending for success on the popularity of their performers. It is not uncommon for these firms to pay their stars 2000 marks a day and even more. Second-class actors aiid actresses can. count on getting as much as 000 marks daily. Supers, on the other hand, are very poorly paid. The paper from which these figures aro taken remarks that the cinematograph is an "extraordinary suitable means for bringing the nations together and facilitating mutual understanding." This means, of course, tliat the propaganda weapon, which was used so effectually against neutrals durinn- the war, is now to be tried on us. However, "England France, and the United States have so far rejected German films," though, oddly enough, the secondnamed "has recently shown a certain interest" in them.