Evening star., 1928-02-14
BY LEMUEL F. PARTON.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW York, February 14.-The Amer
can moving picture industry has quiet
little embassy of its own at Washington,
exchanging almost daily diplomatic
amenities with foreign ambassadors to
America. This was disclosed here with
the news that the British ministry OF
labor had forbidden Miss Alden Gay,
American actress, to open in a play in
London. This followed other disquiet-
ing dispatches. telling OF the increasing
American films and plays in other Coun-
tries.
Three years ago, 81 per cent of Amer
lean made films were sold in foreign
countries. Last year about so per cent
were sold abroad Since the investment
bankers began backing the movies. in
vested capital has been incr ,asingly SEN
Sitive and alert. and now the movies
are finding new uses for the morning
coat and Spats, hitherto worn only OH
the lot.
Caricature Is Banned.
Any seasoned movie fan will recall
the caricature of the Englishman, ridic-
ulous in speech and manneIisms. the
loutiSh German, the Machiavellian 1tal-
this is absolutely and positively out.
And to make sure that 1t is out. lead
ing producing concerns cooperate with
foreign ambassadors. with scissors at
hand. ready to snip out any bit uf ac-
ton. characterization or dialogue which
might be offensive.
Some of the companies have repre-
sentatives at Washington, who thus
function as ambassadors to ambas-
sailors 1t Is we'll known that any one
who remains in the moving picture In
dustry long enough to get a good JOB
is first-class diplomat. so there Is no
lack of skilled co-operators. Others
send men from New York or Holly
woed on special occasions. AS a re-
suit. the moving picture industry IS IN
intimate touch with foreign legations.
and it Is said that it has proflted vast
ly by the ambassadors suggestions as
to what would pleace their country
men-and particularly as to what
would displease them.
Occasionally the ambassador Is taken
to a flash" room and shown the pic
ture before its public display. At other
times he is merely consulted in the in
terest of an accurate. and, OF course.
inoffensive. presentation of scenes and
subjects involving his country, This
regard for the international cash regis
ter has brought steadily increasing Tor
eien sales. and last year films sold
abroad brought the industry something
over S50.000000
Co-operation Pushed.
This cooperation with representatives
Of foreign countries has been encouf-
aged bv individuals and organizations
working for better films. The National
Board Of Review. not legally empowered
to censor films, but whose findings are
accepted in some States as censorship.
definitely favors such Understandings
before films are produced. On its own
account 1t Is now working up plan
by which foreign students at the inter-
national house OF Columbia University
would cooperate with producers III
casting foreign scenes or characters.
BritainS oStenSible reason Tor pairing
Miss Gay was that Immigrants are not
allowed TO take jobs that English labor
could fill" There Is now enough un-
employment in England to make this
appear an adequate reason, but 1t comes
at time OF increasing opposition TO
American plays. films. actors and music
both In Great Britain and France. The
British Parliament has just passed
bill. to become effective April !. by
which any person booking Aims must
handle British films to total OF Tia
per cent OF their entire offering for a
year following Several American pro-
ducers, to meet this situation. are or
ganizing British corporations. by which
they will be able to take care OF their
quota.
L. s. Films Favored.
In France, as in Great Britain. 1t Is
not denied that the opposition to
American importations comes from
competing producers. News has just been
received here that French exhibitors
at a meeting OF their trade organiza-
ton vehemently opposed the proposed
governmental plan TO control importa-
tions through the censor Exhibitors
not only in Europe but In Africa. Aus
tralia and South America have insisted
that they can All their houses with
American films and that they have
much less success with those OF other
manufacture. Even the Westerns.
sinking to a decline in the United
States. are now sure winners In other
countries.
PRIVATE SHOWINGs HERE.