Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1940)

Grierson Appreciative Of Trade Support Ottawa — Tributes were paid to a number of Canadian government officials and film trade executives in a declaration by John Grierson of London, England, prior to his departure for Australia after acting as Canadian film commissioner under the national film board for three months. Among those who received personal mention for their support and cooperation were N. L. Nathanson, president of Famous Players Canadian Corp.; Col. John A. Cooper, president of the Motion Picture Distributors of Canada who has been appointed to succeed Grierson; Leonard W. Brockington, former chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., who has been made adviser to the national film board; Hon. W. D. Euler, minister of trade and commerce, and Hon. T. A. Crerar, minister of mines and resources, both of whom have been cabinet representatives on the film board. Referring to the film industry in Canada, Grierson declared: “Some of you will see films (of the national film board) through your social and business groups for that is another level of film seeing; and it is always wise to remember that there is more seating capacity outside the theatres than there is inside the theatres. Others again will see Canadian pictures in the theatres, for we have the warm cooperation in our work of the whole Canadian film industry and of men like Mr. Nathanson and Col. Cooper.” Grierson lauded the March of Time photographers for their thoroughness in making the issue which is to deal with Canada’s war effort, the National Film Board having cooperated in the production of this film. Grierson referred to its importance for Canada because the release would be shown in 11,000 theatres and to 40,000,000 persons. Grierson announced that one of the Cadian government films will deal with the common sense relationship between the Dominion and the United States, the working title of this picture being “The Undefended Frontier.” He declared that Canada had some good film technicians but the national film board would attempt to foster “a national school of film makers.” The board had drawn up a production program which included “films for children, films for national education generally, films on the peoples, frontiers and economic fronts of Canada. Other pictures would be one dealing with the Canadian Navy and periodic releases portraying the life of Canadian soldiers in Overseas service. A plan had also been put into effect for the sending of Canadian prints to the Canadian Expeditionary Force for the entertainment and education of the troops. Grierson made a plea for a Canadian film epic in the following words: “All film talk today is about the entertainment films from Hollywood. Well and good, but we would like some of that attention given to Canadian films and what films can do for the life of Canada. The newspapers in particular must help in this matter. We do not forget, too, that the provincial governments and the national industries, by initiating their own film programs, can do much to communicate knowledge of themselves to other parts of Canada and help us round out the picture. “There are, I know, big gaps to fill. I should like, for example, to see a really big film which would be a sort of Cavalcade of Canada — a film for the theatres of the world — to show Canada distinctively as a country with its own special destiny. We have not the technical means to do that ourselves and we must ask the cooperation of Hollywood or England for it. But there are two essential things which we shall not have to borrow. The essential story is here and I should like His Excellency, the Governor General, to take up the pen of John Buchan again and use his great talent and affection for Canada in writing the script for it. When Canada is mustering her forces and taking her part in the issue of nations, it is a propitious time to tell the world who you are.” Grierson's Outline of Film Goal Inspires Editorial Winnipeg — Warmly commending the part that the film can play in time of war and linking this with the work of the national film board, the Winnipeg Free Press comments editorially to this effect: “In his CBC talk Sunday afternoon, John Grierson, Commissioner of the national film board, left his listeners in no doubt that the motion picture is going to play an important part during this war. “Already the producers of ‘The March of Time’ are making a 25-minute subject called ‘Canada at War,’ and Mr. Grierson estimates that the film will be seen by 40,000,000 people in 11,000 theatres throughout the world — an impressive example of the work that the movies can do. “The film board’s production, ‘Call to a Nation,’ is already showing throughout the Dominion, and is a fine summing up of the scope and influence of the First War Loan. Others are being made at the present time. “ ‘The National Film Board,’ says Mr. Grierson, ‘is to be the eyes of Canada; to see Canada and see it whole — its people and its purpose.’ When he voices the hope that a really big film — one which will show the Dominion ‘as a country with its own special character and special destiny’ — will emerge, he is voicing the hope of thousands of other cinema-conscious citizens.” New Company to Operate Rex Theatre at London London, Ont. — The Rex Theatre, Ltd., has been incorporated here to take over the Rex, a suburban house, operated for many years by W. L. Stewart until his recent death. Rodney Smith has been appointed manager of the house under the auspices of the new company in which three local men are financially interested. Scripts Own Original Hollywood — Robert Buckner is scripting “Santa Fe,” from his own original, for Warner. Most Northerly Theatre Closes When Boom Ends Toronto — Canada’s most northerly theatre has been closed, according to reports which have filtered through to the film exchanges in Toronto. This is the cinema which was opened a year ago at Yellowknife in the North West Territories when it was given considerable publicity across the country, the proprietor being Nat Rothstein, a well-known exhibitor of Saskatchewan. The population of the mining settlement jumped to a thousand but the boom died down and now there are barely more people in the town than the 300seat capacity of the theatre. Apart from the falling off in population, further difficulty was said to have been experienced in the new policy of film exchanges to restrict the quantity of prints to be shipped to remote settlements because of the films which would be tied up over a period of weeks or months. In the past it often happened that a whole winter’s supply of pictures were taken into a distant camp before freeze-up. In some cases these were ancient silent prints but the entertainment was acceptable in the long wintry evenings even though such classics as “Tillie’s Punctured Romance” played repeat engagements at frequent intervals throughout the season. Hanratty Succeeds Moyer As Canadian Censor Ottawa — L. Clare Moyer resigned as the Canadian government motion picture censor for the war period in order to return to his regular post of Clerk of the Senate and C. J. Hanratty, veteran newspaperman, was appointed his successor as film censor. The Parliamentary session opened and closed the same day because of the decision of Prime Minister King to hold the federal elections as early as possible. Moyer has been left holding the bag because the Senate did not have a single sitting before Parliament dissolved. Theatre proprietors of the Canadian capital were stunned by the sudden turn in events because a Parliamentary session brings people to Ottawa from all parts of the country and the theatres reap the benefit. A further blow to local business was the fact that many persons lost temporary jobs which are available while the House is sitting. Censor Move Fails London — A request made in the House of Lords for censorship of news films, occasioned by the filming of the arrival of the Hon. Unity Freeman-Mitford, was turned down by the British government. Name Entertainment Officers Montreal— Captain “Gitz” Rice, who composed “Mademoisele From Armentieres” during the Great War, has been named entertainment officer at Barriefield camp and Howard Large, who organized the soldier concert party of the 16th battalion, has been named the entertainment officer in Saskatchewan. 112 BOXOFFICE :: February 3, 1940