Evening star., 1914-09-27
War and the Movies.

THE war is placing American move
! ing picture companies in posi-
tion far from enviable. On the one
hand golden opportunity Is beckoninE
to them. On the other hover black
clouds of disaster.
With the almost complete discon-
tinuance OF European commerce the
motion picture companies of this coun-
try have been greatly benefited. Bus
the cutting of of foreign articles OF
import has sadly furrowed the brows
of many movie" magnates.
Germany, be It known. is the sole
producer Of an article, known to tho
Photographic profession as hydro
quinon. And. furthermore, this is the
one Photographic developer which
produces a clear. concise, black and
white film. Ordinarily a developer can
be used which brings out pictures with
less contrast. Not SO. however. in
movie film. To make a clear reel.
such as is demanded by the American
public. hydro quinon is necessary.
From no other country but Germany
can 1t be obtained. And Germany has
stopped exporting it. Also, the sale
of this article heretofore has been
practically controlled in New York
When this supply is gone. what?
Motion picture companies otherwise
are enthusiastically preparing to take
advantage of the increased opportuni-
ties offered as result of the war. Inn
ported machines and accessories will
now be replaced by those of American
make. In South America, in particu-
lar, practically all the motion picture
trade carried on was with European
firms. Now. however. it seems to be
veering to American merchants.
Consul General Julius G. Lay writes
from Rio de Janeiro. Brazil, that moving
pictures constitute the most popular form
Of indoor public diversion in that city,
there being. all told. about thirty-five pic
ture houses In operation there. He states
that there are six makes of films most
popular. Five of them are of foreign
make. and the sole American company's
films mentioned come last.
So
With their supply cut Off from Europe.
managers Of moving picture houses in
South America will turn to American
firms for their reels. And that is why
such lamentations can be heard from the
movie magnates. Increased opportuni-
ties stare them in the face. and at the
same time they are confronted with the
possible shortage Of the one dlm develop.
er which produces a perfect grade OF
film.
While Central and South America offer
perhaps the most favorable opportunities
for American film manufacturers, that y
by no means the sole market. From
China the American vice consul general
at Hongkong. A. E. Carleton, sends an
interesting account Of the situation there.
stating that Of the business carried on
in that country prior to he war but 70
per cent was with American companies
There are enormous possibilities for
Americans in the motion picture trade
in China. he declares.
Concerning the situation, one motion
picture man declared that 1t should bring
American chemical genius to the surface.
THE moving picture business in this
country" he said. represents one Of our
largest enterprises. 1t is still to get its
full growth. Under such circumstances
it seems incredible that it could be en-
tirely upset by the stoppage OF a German
developer. 1t appears to me that it should
bring to light some American article
VIII ch will produce the same results. This
would not only save the motion picture
business itself. but would add to Ameri-
can products another made at home"