The Foreign Market
The Outlook
The quality of American made motion picture
productions has been their telling factor in the
international markets It is quality that has placed
our features, our comedies and other short length
subjects in the theaters of both hemispheres and
on both sides of the equator.
Quality in _ studio production is made possible
through the judicious application of. ample invest¬
ment. The money to invest should come from the
sales of the pictures themselves. That country
which derives the largest returns on its output
will continue to make the most excelling produc¬
tions— and because of its steadily developing and
numerically greater theater field, the United States
finds its producers most favored in this important
matter of revenue from within' its own territories
Our studios will therefore continue in the future,
as now, the dwelling place of quality—with all
that that means to the export markets
It is true that the present rate of excha-nge
permits productions to be made abroad for less
money than in this country. Nevertheless this ad¬
vantage to the foreign producer is but relative
and will dwindle in importance with the improve¬
ment in the balance oi" international finance
Mediocre pictures are today manufactured in
every country abroad where there are studios in
operation. It is not necessary to come to New
York or America for this class—and that condi¬
tion is both natural and beneficial.
But quality productions, and T make it my
business to deal in these only, now have, long
have had and always will have a ready market
abroad. And to America the world's film buying
fields rightly look for the best in films.
WM M. VOGEL.
Should Watch South America
During the last six months the only South
American territories which showed any real ac¬
tivity were Argentine, Chile and Uruguay.
■ Brazil has almost entirely ceased buying any
American films. This is easily understood in view
of the fact that. Brazilian money tuday is worth
only one-third of its par value in dollars. A year
ago Brazil showed about 85% American films as
against 15% of other productions, while today
the proportion is reversed. The public in Brazil
would be glad to see the return of American films
on account of their general superiority, but the
distributors and exhibitors claim that they cannot
even get their money back at the prevailing prices.
Something should be done by Amreican producers
to handle this situation, so that American films
shall retain their present position in Brazil. When
conditions will again be straightened out in Bra¬
zil the American producers will have no regrets at
having retained control of this important market.
In Argentina there is a slrong demand for films
better than the ordinary program picture. The
public taste has been refined by the superiority of
recent American productions and "any old thing"
will not suffice in the future. The public knows
jvhat it wants and will have it. There is an in¬
creasing demand for big pictures and it is a
noteworthy fact that some of the outstanding pro¬
ductions of the last year which have received
marked approval in the United States have also
met with great success in Argentina, Chile and
' Uruguay. Among such films are a number of
European productions. American _ producers
should study this fact as these productions may be
obtained much more cheaply than the prices
Americans would ask for films of equal grade.
Tn summing up, T may say that there is a great
demand throughout South America for good films
of the type made in this country. The exchange
conditions make it more profitable for South Amer¬
ican concerns to obtain their programs in Europe
at the present time. American producers should
endeavor to meet this situation in order to main-
., tain their position in Latin America
MAX GLUCKSMANN.
In my judgment the outlook for foreign busi¬
ness for the forthcoming year is very promising.
On careful analysis I find a steadily increasing
foreign market for high-class American produc-
timis, despite the present adverse rates of ex¬
change and the very much talked about competi¬
tion of foreign made pictures.
I base my reason for coming to this conclusion
upon the fact that foreign exhibitors have found
that American pictures appeal to their public, and
that they are beyond question their most Consist¬
ent box office attractions.
I am an optimist with a capital "O," -
E. E. SHAUER, Famous Players-Lasky.
An Optimistic View
I am of the opinion that economic conditions
abroad- as they exist these days can hardly be
worse than they are. The period of readjustment
'.o normal has been in progress in most parts for
tiearlv two years and is slowly but. surely reaching
the turning point Business during the 1921 and
1922 season should not only be bigger because of
the better economic outlook, but also for the
v-ery good reason that the old sleek of pictures Is
being gradually absorbed and foreign distributors
will find it necessary to take on new material.
J. H. HOFFBERG, Goldwyn.
Expects Continuation of Poor Business
Film export business in 1921 was very bad, es-
Tjecially to Europe; the Central Powers, with ex¬
ception of Czecho Slovakia, have only taken a
lew films.
The outlook for 1922 is not splendid and to my
opinion business will not be much better than it
was in 1921. The economic conditions in Europe
are still very bad and unless the unemployment
question will soon be solved, the amusement busi¬
ness is bound to suffer. Wages in all industries.
will have to be adjusted.
A further cause which might afreet tne export
of films from the TJ. S. may be the new import
duty ad valorem on foreign made pictures, and I
am afraid that countries like England, France,
Italy and Germany will reciprocate and make
higher duties fur American made films.
Film exporters in New York will face very dif¬
ficult times in 1922 and I think that they will
have to accept considerably less prices for many
territories, if not for all foreign territories, to re¬
main in existence. J. C. BARNSTYN,
British and Continental Trading Co.
FOREIGN BUYERS
Australia and New Zealand:
Australasian Films, Ltd. (.Millard Johnson), 729
7th Ave., N. Y.
Cuba and West Indies:
L. II. Allen. 110 W. 40th St,„ N. Y.
Medal F. Co. (Manuel Zeno-F. H. Knocke),
1476 Broadway, N. Y.
India Burmah, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, Fed¬
erated Malay States, Siam, Dutch East In¬
dies, Philippines and China:
I V T. A., 218 W. 42nd St., N. Y.
G Pearson, Hotel Astor, N. Y.
Robinson & Walker, White Bldg., Seattle.
Belgium, France and Switzerland:
Joseph P. Laniv, 1482 Broadway, N. Y.
British & Continental Trading Co., Inc., 220
W' 42nd St., N. Y.
Holland: T ,r
David P. Howells, 729 7th Ave., N. Y.
British & Continental Trading Co., Tnc, 220
W. 42nd St. N. Y.
Robinson & Walker, Stuart Bldg., Seattle.
Orient Pictures Corp., 302 Stock Exch. Bldg.,
Los Angeles,
T, V T. A., 218 W. 42nd St., N. Y.
Ono, 220 W. 42nd St., N. Y.
M.
L. H." Allen, 110 W. 40th St., N. Y.
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