Talk About Films
The talks in Washington between leaders of the British and American film industries on what have been called " mutual pro- duction problems " are being conducted by Mr. J. Arthur Rank, Sir Alexander Korda and Sir Henry French on the British side, and by Mr. Eric Johnston and Mr. Nicholas Schenck on the American side. It may be said, with due respect, of all these gentlemen that they are capable of looking after themselves. It is even doubtful whether Mr. Johnston and Mr. Schenck need the aid of the State Department spokesman, who has protested against the British quota arrangements, and of Mr. Arthur Lockwood, the president of the Theatre Owners of America Inc., who has issued, on the same subject, a statement which is a remarkable compound of threats and bad logic. The Orders which provide that 45 per cent. of the first feature films shown in British cinemas must be British, until next October, when the quota is to be reduced to 4o per cent., are not liked by the Americans. That is perfectly clear without new statements. It will be the business of the Washington talks to try to smooth out the difficulty. The prospects do not appear to be good, but it is not impossible that they may be improved. First of all, the British film producers may find it very difficult to make enough films to meet even the reduced quota. Again, an agreement by the Americans to give a fairer showing to British films would help to reduce that dollar shortage, which has been largely respon- sible for the maintenance of the quota arrangement. It is time it was realised by all concerned that the wishes of the film-going public are more important than quarrels at the top. Mr. Lockwood's threat that good British films will be shut out of the United States unless more bad Hollywood films are taken here, does no good to the public in either country. If the British people can earn dollars, and the American producers can make more really good films, the quota barrier will cease to be necessary.
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