The plight of the British Film industry is the subject
of much discussion. The Board of Trade, the London County Council, the Federation of British Industries and other august bodies have been devoting attention to it. In the cinema trade opinion is fairly equally divided between those in favour of a " quota," on the German principle, and those against. In Germany every exhibitor is com- pelled to show a definite percentage of films of German manufacture. The interminable discussions, resolutions and deputations of the past few months have had little result so far, and in the meantime the American film holds its undisputed sway. The publicity given to the subject has, however, directed the attention of the American producer to the possibility of restrictive measures in Great Britain. A friend of mine, an Englishman living in America, who is prominently connected with the industry, informed me that his company was willing to produce a series of " pictures " over here or build an up-to-date studio in England, but he had received little encouragement. American film technique is unquestionably better than ours. Surely we should be well advised to invite the leading American companies to help us to organize British film producing on more efficient lines. If the shortest road to prosperity is to call in American capital and American brains, national pride should not be per- mitted to interfere.
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