Canadian Film Digest (Feb 1973)

The Canadian Film Digest Books FEBRUARY 1973 The Magic of Fred and Ginger The Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Book by Arlene Croce New Press, $9.95 Fred and Ginger, Ginger and Fred, AstaireRogers — the names immediately bring to mind grace, beauty, music, and above all, class. They were the dance duo of film, from the beginning to now, and finally we have a book which does true justice to their achievements. Arlene Croce approaches the subject of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from two proper vantage points. She is a film critic and edits the Ballet Review, So instead of syrupy, empty nostalgia and high camp, we are given a true assessment of the skills and _ artistic achievement of the duo. But at the same time Croce never forgets that that what we are seeing is fun. In fact that is her central point about Astaire and Rogers: each time they began a dance it seemed that they were doing it for the first time. Their spontaneity was their greatest gift. It wasn’t that easy. The process of developing their numbers was long, arduous work. When a rough draft of the script was ready, Astaire, Hermes Pan, and their accompanist would go into seclusion for two months before filming was to begin. Nobody had any Say in their numbers except these men. Later Ginger would be brought in and Hermes Pan would teach her part to her. Remarked Pan, ‘First I was Ginger then I was Fred.” Pan himself was instrumental in the numbers, but Astaire deserves the major credit. What is really fascinating is that Pan looks, talks and walks exactly like Astaire. From the back you couldn’t tell them apart. _ Croce never belittles Rogers’ contributions either. She maintains that Rogers was the perfect dancing partner for Astaire. Witty, bright, and saucy, she was also straightforward and just as spontaneous as he. In Roberta she praises Rogers’ “‘beautiful supple back that let her arch from his arms like a black lily.’’ The author has few kind words to say about the scripts. They never equal the dances in quality. But could they? Or should they? After all, who can pay attention to a script when we are waiting for them to dance? Even though the supporting cast, like Eric Blore, is superb. At the same time the decor was most important. In the midst of the Busby Berkely vulgarity, an artificiality was created in the Astaire-Rogers vehicles that was. perfectly suited to their dancing. Dominantly white, like Venice in Top Hat, a world existed where, in the midst of the Depression, people actually did wear top hats, white ties, and tails all the time. Perfect. Each film is analyzed fully. Each number is described and the history of the production is given. Of course all the credits are included. What is best about the book is the illustrations. They are numerous, large, and illustrate the text. An added feature is a photo for page flipping in the upper corners — an entire step can be seen, simply by turning the pages quickly. . Sometimes she waxes too enthusiastically in her descriptions, but Croce does have one thing on her side. If you had twenty hours to watch any film you choose, you would have to pick an Astaire-Rogers — or preferably all of them. r a "2, . : me, i “he 4 PY a oe ‘eh ‘ .) Fred and Ginger dance Cheek to Cheek. To get the people and information you need to cope with every aspect of the Canadian Film world, Yearbook Toronto 5 CANADIAN FILM DIGEST YEARBOOK Send your order to: The Canadian Film Digest 175 Bloor St. East Only $5.00 per copy. Or $4.50 for 2 to 5. Or $4.00 for 6 to 10. Are you looking for actors, technicians, teachers? We will provide a FREE listing in this column to help you. Send your information to Casting, The Canadian Film Digest, 175 Bloor St. East, Toronto 5. ANY personnel, not only movie people, are eligible. Amalgamated Artists Vancouver, B.C. Alex McCallum of Amalgamated Artists Casting Agency has been appointed as casting director of an upcoming feature film to be shot in B.C. in the late part of 1973. He requires pictures and resumes from boys between the ages of 11 and 13 years, and girls between the ages of 3 and 12 years. ACTRA members preferred if possible, but non-ACTRA members are invited to send pictures and resumes as well. Please mail to Amalgamated Artists Casting Agency, c-o The Arts Club, 1181 Seymour St., Vancouver 2, B.C: Backdoor Theatre Workshop Toronto Backdoor Theatre Workshop has received a LIP grant. Gino Marrocco will be holding open auditions for actors and actresses. Also needed: Resident stage manager, business administrator and jack of all trades. 474 Ontario St., Toronto, Ontario M4X 1M7, (416) 9611505 aa , Camelot Little Theatre Ottawa (Hazeldean) Ontario Play polishing director for three one-act plays to be done in three quarter staging beginning of May. Availability from April 1 or 8 up to May 5. Salary plus transportation — approximately $1,250 — negotiable. Selection of plays contingent on advice of successful applicant. Some workshop expected between rehearsals in the stage crafts of own choice. Interviews at Theatre Ontario, in Toronto on Saturday February 10. Deadline for application January 26. Send resumes to Alan Raeburn, Theatre Ontario, 559 Jarvis St., Toronto M4Y 2J1, Ontario. Centaur Theatre Montreal Looking for a House Manager whose responsibilities would include supervision of building maintenance. Job available immediately; salary open to discussion. Apply in writing to: Mr. Stephen Gentle, Centaur Theatre, 453 St. Francis-Xavier St., Montreal 125. ‘Citadel Theatre, Edmonton Citadel-on-Wheels, touring and workshop company of the Citadel Theatre, is interested in original Canadian scripts suitable for performance by a company of six. Participatory theatre preferred. Age group catered to: 5-8, 912, 13+. Address manuscripts to: Irene Watts, Director, The Citadel Theatre, 10018 — 102 Street, Edmonton, Alberta. T5J 0V7. Also: / Resumes are now being accepted in preparation for casting the 1973-74 8-month season of the Citadel-on-Wheels. Rehearsals mid-August. Auditions in Edmonton only. Address resumes to: Irene Watts, Director, The Citadel Theatre, 10018 — 102 Street, Edmonton, Alberta. T5J 0V7. Disada Productions Montreal, Quebec Disada Productions is looking for a male lead for an upcoming film to be shot in Spring 1973. The role calls for an Indian boy between the ages of 14 and 18 to portray a 16-year-old youth. Send pictures and resumes to Peter Adamakos, Disada Productions, 232 St. Jacques Ouest, _ Montreal 126, Quebec. Gallery Theatre London, Ontario Invites applications from young actors and actresses interested in joining a small resident company, to produce children’s, lunch-time and late-night theatre from January through May in London. Please send photographs and resume immediately to Ken Livingstone, Artistic Director, Gallery Theatre, 36 York Street, London, Ontario N6A 1A5. Loyalist College, Belleville, Ontario Variety show director or _ directorchoreographer for a group in Belleville which will produce a stage show of music, song, dance, skits, etc.; part of an annual festival in early April. Rehearsals start late February, and would be regular throughout period, so that residency in Belleville would be essential. Salary approx. $1,300. Contact: Ted Bairstow, Drama Department, Loyalist College, Belleville, Ontario (613) 962-9501 ext. 270, Digest Casting Page 15 National Film Board Montreal Planning low budget one hour dramas for TV and one and a half hour dramas for features. Looking for original film scripts or outlines. Please submit same to Rosemary Chapley, Studio Eight, National Film Board, P.O. Box 6100, Montreal 101, P.Q. New Century Theatre Saskatoon Twenty-fifth street house-NCT is looking for the following: theatre technician, music composer, actresses, actors, dancers and designers. Mostly looking for versatile people who can fill several bills. “‘Some of the above positions will be paid, some will be nonpaid, but all of them will be geared towards individual artistic development and the growth of original theatre in Saskatchewan. Apply to twenty-fifth street house, New Century Theatre, 202-102 2nd Ave. N., Saskatoon, Sask. Patti Payne Toronto Shooting’ begins February 28 for CBC-TV’s eight one-hour episodes of Pierre Berton’s National Dream. Casting here and points west — mostly men in the 30to 60-year-old range. Documentary to be shot across Canada from the end of February into June. Director is Eric Till and producer is Jim Murray. Photos and resumes to Patti Payne, 2264 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Toronto 500. Sarnia Little Theatre Sarnia, Ontario Part of the Ontario Arts Council professional training program administered by Theatre Ontario. Stage management seminarworkshop includes.seminar approaches in both lecture and practice for March 3 weekend. Salary $150 plus travelling expenses. Reference job number 010-72.. Deadline February 2. Send resumes to: Alan Raeburn, Theatre Ontario, 559 Jarvis St., Toronto, Ont. M4Y 2J1. DIGEST MOVIE QUIZ NO. 4 1. Who played the title roles in The Princess and the Pirate? 2. In a certain movie, Paul Newman’s role was described as ‘‘the man with the barbed-. wire soul.’’ What was the movie? 3. Bob Hope and James Cagney danced together in a certain film. What was the name of the film? 4. Identify the following: a short red-haired actor, his manager brother, and actress sister. 5. What is Julia Wells’ reel name? 6. Who composed the theme music for Gone with the Wind? 7. Much to Cole Porter’s surprise, Roy Rogers sang one of his songs in Hollywood Canteen. It subsequently became a hit. What was the song? 8. In what movie did Jeannette Macdonald sing Some of These Days? 9. He made his movie debut as the laughing killer Tommy Udo, who, along with other bad faults, pushed old ladies down the stairs. Which actor was this? 10. Two musical stars sang A Couple of Song and Dance Men. Who were they and in what film did they sing it? Answers: "SOTyS eng ul oireysy paiy ‘Aqsoig Bulg “OT “YIeUIPIA, PreYoIY °6 ‘ONIBW. «8soy'g ‘Ul A sua 4,u0q ‘2 ‘JaUIa}g XB 9 “SMoIpuy ane ‘*s ‘Aouseg ouueer pue ‘TIIq ‘sauler *p ‘SAO WY 9]}}IT UdASS SUL ‘€ “PNH ‘% ‘adoH qog ‘ode eIUISITA “T Digest Classified Wanted—800 good used theatre chairs. Write C. Wilson, Box 142, Barrie, Ontario, or call Toronto (416) 364-3674. For Sale: Tape recorder. Uher 4000L portable mono. 5’’ reel to reel. Professional quality. All accessories. Contact the Film Digest, Box C, 175 Bloor St. East, or call (416) 924-8895, Do you have an article to sell,’a service to supply, a position to fill? Place your ad in the Digest Classified for only 80 cents per line, Send your copy to Classifieds, The Canadian Film Digest, 175 Bloor St. East, Toronto 5,