The Cordova daily times., 1923-01-29
ENGLISH MOVIE
 MAN SAYS U. 5.
 FILMS TOO HIGH

LONDON, Jan. 29. --- People who have made great fortunes in the motion picture industry people like Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks, owe it to the in- dustry that made them. and which they helped make and cannot wish to destroy, to see that exhibitors get their films at the lowest reasonable price. Their help is needed by the industry in these hard times"
 Sir Oswald Stoll, head of the Stoll Film Company, the largest picture producing concern in Great Britain, voiced in the words quoted the pro- test of British motion picture exhibi- tors against "extortionate prices," which, they claim, they are being forced to pay for the really good" American films. American producers, they contend, must cut the price of their product and improve the gener- al quality of their pictures if they are to continue to reap profits from the British motion picture field.
 For Small Profit
 The lowest profit on which exhib- itors can live must be more than sufficient to compensate the occa- sional losses to which every exhibitor in hard times is exposed,' Sir Os wald continued. These stars of the screen who draw the public have 1t in thig power to insure ;his pi ( fit by 1'1n'ting the price that an exhibit. tor can ba charged and by insisting on the exhibition of their pictures at the orthodox picture theaters only. If this were done the jobbers in pictures, who exploit them unfairly to the detriment of the whole indus ttry, would have to change their methods"
 The business methods of many American producers were roundly scored by Sir Oswald. He predicted
 
 changed Americans not only would lose the foOthold in the film industry that they have gained in Europe but would strangle their own business in the United States.
 Wants Good Films
 "The exhibition of foreign films" Sir Oswald said, adds to the in- terest= f~-the~ cinema, but the good films are not allowed to reach the orthodox exhibitor, except at extor- tionate prices. The mediocre foreign films he is allowed to have at so- called reasonable prices. Most of these pictures are not worthy of being shown by the general exhibitor at any price.
 'If the foreign films are to be shown in this country the good films, as well as the bad, should be at the disposal of the general exhibitor at a profit. If foreign producers and their financial packers do not rec ognize this they will kill the picture industry"
 To controvert the activities of American producers. who now almost monop0lize the British picture field it is planned to hold British Film Week." Sir Oswald revealed. British picture theaters are to be asked to show during one week in 1929 only firms that have been produced in England.
 Backs Home Product
 British pictures are more remuner- ative to the exhibitor than some seem to belicve,' Sir Oswald con tinued 'Tu our own business last year a comparison was made between the average weekly profit for the number of weeks in which British pictures were shown and the average profit for the whole year. The aver age for the British pictures was the higher of the two by a substantial amount"
 The British film magnate was out spoken in his condemnation of the methods of a few astute American spectators whose sole activities are huge gamble performed to a loud and continuous advertising scream!" He charged that the American motion picture industry is being strangled by 'producing ring"
 Sir Oswald deplored film consoT- ship.