But a Trifling Percentage
My views of the invasion of foreign produc¬
tion and its effect on the American market
have not changed. I expressed them some time
ago, and I still feel that the very slight per¬
centage of foreign films which arc of the quality
and character to interest this country will have
no perceptible effect on the domestic market.
They will keep no actors out of work m this
country and they won't keep any good Ameri¬
can pictures off the screen. Neither will they
lower or raise the price of rentals in this
country. I venture to say that, not 2% of the
pictures that are shown in America the coming
year will be made outside of America
CARL LAEMMLE, Universal.
Stabilizer Only
The foreign market will only act as a stabil-
ier to American manufacturers. The foreign
classics will soon be beaten by our manufac¬
turers, plus the American popular stars in
such casts. Individuality counts too much to
fear foreign film in America.
E. V. RICHARDS,
Saenger Amusement Co., Inc.
No Cause for Alarm
There is no cause for alarm. The quality of
pictures made by American producers defies suc¬
cessful foreign competition.
WILLIAM A. BRADV,
Pres.- N. A M P. I.
Sees No Menace
The effect upon the American market, of the
foreign picture I have already covered fully
in an editorial in "Motion Picture News " I
can sum up the latter briefly in this way—
that since the box-office is the basis of our
entire industry and since the box-office needs
very badly a good and varied product from all
over the world, and since the income of the
box-office may vary by hundreds of nulllions
according to the product it receives, I can see
no menace in the foreign made product. If it
is any good it ought, on 'the contrary, to be
a great help. , '.WM. A. JOHNSTON.
Had Good Effect
The advent of foreign pictures here will be
of all-around benefit " to all concerned, except
the over-paid attaches of our studios. The
low cost of imported product allows a greater
profit for the distributor and in turn enables
the exhibitor to benefit by the low rentals The
invasion of foreign pictures, however, will not.
effect any fundamental revolution in our indus¬
try. The limitation of subjects, and the lack
of modern, up-to-date, American atmosphere
and setting reduces the chance of the domestic
producer being swamped out.
J. J. SCHNITZER, Equity.
No Cause for Worry
American producers need have no fear over
the influx of foreign made films, unless films
made at great expense are sold in this country
at exceedingly low prices Competition is the
life of business and if European producers meet
US on equal grounds as to the cost of produc¬
tions, I do not believe we have any cause for
Worry.
JIMMY GRAINGER.
Will Never Gain Real Footing
Foreign pictures will never gain anything
approximating a representative footing in Amer¬
ica. There are several reasons, chief among
which is that the few _ foreign pictures accepted
by* the American public have been culled from
scores which have been submittted The re¬
mainder were valueless for use in this country.
These importations, generally sneaking, have
performed the real service of effectively em¬
phasizing the great superiority of the American
product.
JOHN S WOODY, Realart.
Will Wake Up Americans
The invasion of foreign product is a good
thing, because it will wake up a lot of our
American producers to some new ideas. There
is a sameness and a la,ck of good pictures to-
day that, is appalling. ^ ^ aEMBTJSCH.
Doesn't Favor Foreign Material
I have never been m favor of importing films
from Europe. Those pictures which are now
being shown as foreign products were made
before the war. I consider .it manifestly un¬
fair that efforts should he made to market
these films in America. We believe that Ameri¬
can producing companies can present better
pictures and certainly it can produce those
which will suit the general American public.
JULES E MASTBAUM,
President, Stanley Company of America.
No Invasion Possible
I don't think that a wholesale invasion of
foreign product is possible. Comedy and drama
are largely a matter of geography. I remem¬
ber, many years ago, when the foreign films
dominated this field, and just as soon as Amer¬
icans learned how to make films, and to make
them in sufficient quantity to supply the de¬
mand, the foreign films disappeared from this
market, excepting, of course, a few great films
that found their way in here occasionally, and
,o it W..1 be thus in '!-LtogHTMAN|
Gen, Mgr., Asso. Producers.
No Need to Worry
I don't think the American market need worry
about competition from abroad.
We will always get the best European pic¬
tures and welcome them in accordance with
their artistic and commercial worth. But, the
"run of the European motipn picture mill will
never find a place in the American motion pic¬
ture theatre any more than the European
spoken dramas have found a place on our stage-
Americans want the best from whatever
source obtainable and no business man would
be stupid enough to hold out against the best
no matter where it comes from.
ROBT. W. PRIEST, The Film Market.
Congress Will Protect
I believe the demonstration against foreign
pictures by the American public will make those
persons who would flood our market with cheap
pictures, hesitate, It is not good business in
many communities to show German _ or other
foreign pictures at this time. Meantime, Con¬
gress will act to adjust, the situation so as to
protect American P^'*-^ NEn,AN.
Nothing Serious
That the invasion of foreign film is not to be
regarded seriously; their worth while product
should be welcome; as to the others—why waste
time or space? ^ ^ ^ ^^
Open Market a Necessity
With regard to foreign films- The motion pic¬
ture is the only international language possible
and if the world is to advance, ,the motion picture
screens in every nation must be available for the
best pictures produced by all nations of the world.
AL. E CHRISTIE.
Has Helped American Standards
The invasion of the foreign pictures has prob¬
ably done more to help the standard in American
pictures than any other innovation of late years.
So far the influx of good foreign pictures has not
been large enough to seriously disturb the Amer¬
ican market as a whole, though some of the small¬
er producing companies may feel the effects
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