Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-14
NOVINC-PICTURED DIVISION SOUCHT
in DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Congress Expected to Approve Appropriation Soon
As Importance of Foreign Markets on Trade
Is More Strongly Emphasized.

Congress probably will soon approve
a sufficient appropriation for the De-
partment or Commerce to establish a
motion picture trade division, with a
division chief. and so accord to this
industry belated recognition equal
10 that already given smaller indus
tries.
The motion picture industry OF this
country. II was revealed. has a great
er interest in foreign markets than
nine American industries now repre-
sented in the Commerce Department
10y divisions.
A small unit in the specialties divi-
sion of the Department now looks
after some of the questions of inter-
est to the motion picture industry. Col
Jack G. Connolly. Washington repre-
sentative Of Will III. Hays, the over
lord Of the American film industry.
says that with the establishment of a
motion picture division the Depart
nent Of Commerce would be able to
maintain an expert in Europe to keep
in touch with foreign legislative pro-
posals affecting American Aims. and
could give the industry better stats
teal service and make surveys Of
foreign trade opportunities and con.
ditions.
dominate Foreign Field.
Motion pictures made in America
dominate the foreign field" said Col.
Connolly. There is no market abroad
Of any size or consequence in which
the exhibitions Of American films are
not greater than those OF all other
countries combined. The United King
dom screens 80 per cent American
productions to less than. 5 per cent Of
it's own; France goes higher than IS
per cent: Germany up to a year ago.
so per cent, the Scandinavian coun-
tries nearly 30 per cent. The Latin
American countries show our pictures
in similar proportion, as do also the
countries of the Far East, Australia
being our third largest market with
over 80 per cent American showings.
Canada shows practically as many
American pictures in proportion to
her theaters as we do in the United
States.
This foreign trade in American mo-
ton pictures sprang from compare
lively small beginnings. In 1913, the
last pre-war year. American exports
Of motion picture films were about
80, 900, 900 linear feet at a declared in
voice value of about $2250.000. The
war. which halted foreign picture pro-
ductlOn, gave an enormous impetus
to Americas foreign trade in motion
pictures, which lasted in common with
nearly all other manufactured COM
modities through the two years Of in
f1ation, which followed the armistice.
Even after the slump Of 1921. how
ever, it was found that over 40 .000.-
900 linear feet Of film at an invoice
value Of about $500. 900 had been
spent abroad during that year. In
1921, the first year that negatives were
separated from positives in the De-
partment Of Commerce statistical
schedule. about S,400, 900 linear feet Of
the former and 25,000.000 linear feet
Of the latter at a declared value Of
100000 and $5.400,000. respectively.
Exports Increase.
"Since that time a large rise has
taken place each year in the exports.
Europe is our leading market.
Latin America next and the Far East
third. OF individual markets. the
United Kingdom tops the list, with
two other English-speaking countries,
Canada and Australia. second and
third. Argentina stands fourth, Jar
pan fifth and Brazil sixth.
1.-THE lowest reliable estimate places
the gross revenue to the American