The Film Quota The Government's decision, announced by Mr. Walter
Runciman last week, to continue the film quota scheme for the next ten years follows the recommendation of the Moyne Committee and brings at least one element of stability into the precarious future of the British film industry. At present British films are about zo per cent. of the films shown in this country ; but many of them are produced merely-to satisfy the quota and do little credit to the industry. Such films will not give British producers the position they should occupy ; the one condition of success is to improve quality ; only this can give British producers the oppor- tunity of competing in the American market, and only this can justify an increase in the quota, which the Moyne Com- mittee advised should be raised to 5o per cent. in the next ten years. The quota has justified itself as a measure of protection for an infant industry in which other than merely commercial considerations are involved, and there are good grounds for increasing it as recommended. But merely quantitative expansion is useless. The films must be good films and there is much to be said for the appointment of a Films Commission to ensure that British films reach a reasonable standard.
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