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From: markrose@spss.com (Mark Rosenfelder)
Subject: Re: American movies abroad [was Re: International Language.
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References: <3ek5e3$m2n@lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk> <1995Jan7.214953.26905@midway.uchicago.edu> <D28A3v.1o3u@austin.ibm.com> <1995Jan12.081935.27907@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 1995 19:45:15 GMT
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In article <1995Jan12.081935.27907@midway.uchicago.edu>,
Daniel von Brighoff <deb5@midway.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>olivier@glasnost.austin.ibm.com writes:
>>When I was in France two months ago, I wanted to go see a movie. I went
>>to the local theater. It was showing eight movies. All American ones. Now
>>I wonder what are those protectionist measures, but they sure are not
>>working very well.
>
>That doesn't mean they don't exist.  Early last year, in fact, there
>was an acrimonious debate between the US and France over removing
>France's "barriers to free trade" in the film industry.  Articles on
>the debate should be easy to come by.  The French authorities even had 
>the gall to call the French film industry "the last viable alternative 
>to Hollywood."  Apparently they haven't heard of a place called "Asia."

It seems only appropriate for French authorities to show some gall...

>>In fact, you have it backward. The American films are not having an amazing
>>success. They are the only one left to see.
>
>By definition, that is amazing success.  They have demolished their
>competition.

We needn't quite accept either the boasts of the American film industry
or the scare stories of French propaganda.  France still has, perhaps
because it has taken steps to ensure that it has, a viable film industry.
An indication is that the same year _Jurassic Park_ was the top-grossing
film in Germany, Italy, and the UK, the biggest film in France was
_Les visiteurs_.

>If Europe is being swamped
>by American movies, it is the decision of the European movie-viewing
>public.  If they don't like the movies playing in the theatres, they
>can always stay home and view "Baywatch."

A resigned acceptance of the decline of a national industry is a bit
easier when it's somebody else's problem, isn't it?  What possible reason
is there, even on mere economic grounds, for the French government to sit 
still and allow an important industry to go down the drain?  
