The New York herald., 1921-06-12

~ANAD iio w ELLIS, oIle Ol tit
leading exporters and importers
in this country. has just re-
turned from two months survey of
motion picture conditions in Europe
and finds the film business there is
beginning to show signs of life-a fact
which Los Angeles has already sus-
pected. Mr.. Howells, whose company
has branches in all the large Con-
tinental capitals and who keeps closely
in touch with foreign trade conditions,
estimated conservatively that in Eu-
rope there were something like 1000
completed picture plays, saved up since
the beginning of the war, and ready
to be strewn over this country in a
gelatinous flood.
However. he did not anticipate that
the State Constabulary or any Govern
mental aid would be required to stop
this deluge. pointing out that among
800 pictures recently produced in Ger
many only four had so far been deemed
worthy OF quickening the American
pulse.
In Berlin and other parts of Germany
consecrated to the films he said there
were about n score of companies turn
ing daylight into drama with the same
enthusiasm with which they turned
church bells into cannon. The Ufa. the
big German film combine. is in a process
OF decentralization. breaking up into
various small groups as individual clots
of talent which have decided to take the
destiny of the fatherland's film busl-
ness in their own hands.
To his mind the cinema industry
fQ hur hxr La
the only shadow of suggestion in that
direction being a financing arrangement
with the Reichsbank. He was not fully
cosnizant, Mr.. Howells said, as to
whether the Reichsbank was quasi
official, like the Bank Of England, or was
total abstainer from politics.
Mr.. Howells- has brought back from
Germany the latest authentic, close
range information as to the number of
American pictures which that country
is allowing itself to be enlightened with
and according to his survey the sum
total of enjoyment which Germany is
having on the American plan Is nil. A
plan to go into effect early this year
was that certain percentage of foreign
films were to be allowed in and licensed
divided up among the different native
companies according to a proportional
system about as complicated as tn.
former method OF representation in the
Reichstag.
A license did not expire with the end
of a pictures life. but could be applied
while still warm 70 another film. Con-
scquently licenses were eagerly sought
by companies and brisk trade wen,
on in them. But that did not heir
American pictures, for not one of them
Mr.. Howells said. has been allowed tc
nj aQvy1Q n
Teutonic emotions. A number of mega
tives have been sent there, he stated, bu,
as no prints could be made from these
they have simply languished in cap.
tivity.
We've had several pictures over
there for some time" he said, Including
one of Mary PicSford, and we were told
they would soon be free to go where
they would. But the Germans must
have been kidding u.s. for so far the
pictures have done nothing but accumu.
late dust.
The European pictures that appealed
the most to Mr.. Howells were Scandi.
navian. which clamped on the drama
strongly and made thrust at the emo.
tions which was good for the American
soul. Seven or eight companies. he said
had produced about thirty pictures which
were capable of charging down on this
country, all of them packing a punch
for which the public would be willing
to stay awake. None of them was sen.
sational or spectacular. but all were on Q
par with first grade programme pic,
ture made on the American premises
Censorship of movies. he found, was yer,
strictly enforced In Scandinavia, which
would make their pasteurized produc
suitable for the United States.
In Italy he observed about eighteer
companies gesturing all over the land
scapc. The italian picture, he noted
had a wealth Of costume detail and pu
spectacular scenes over just as the Ro.
mans did In their circuses. But Will,
the Italian picture might be interesting