Canadian Film Digest (Mar 1974)

Page four The Canadian Film Institute is a publicallyfinanced body operating on the Federal level out of Ottawa. Its main purpose is to provide research materials in the world of film — all film, not only Canadian efforts. Its task grows greater as the world of film itself expands. Yet, as the following statement of principals illustrates, the policy behind one of its main functions and one of the most important necessities for Canadian film persons, that of establishing a public archives for film knowledge, does not really exist; or, as in so many other areas of film, it has been shunted over to some other bureaucratic entity that has no real relationship to film. Peter Morris of the Institute presented the following Statement of Principles at the recent Winnipeg symposium: “‘As a group of concerned film professionals, we feel that certain decisions are being made by the federal government which are detrimental to the development of film culture in Canada. These decisions have been made within the confines of the public service without reference to the professional opinion of the film community. . ‘A policy concerning film archives has been evolved by the Public Archives that will have long term ramifications for film archival work throughout Canada. This policy was shaped by senior staff of the Public Archives, and adopted by a committee of four civil servants. These men have limited experience and knowledge of film archival work. Furthermore no agency or individual active in film archival work was asked to comment on the proposals now ready for presentation to Cabinet. “Nearly two years ago a brief entitled “Cinema Canada’ was presented to the Secretary of State. No response was ever received to the proposal. Its key recommendation was for a federal government agency with responsibilities for film archival, film cultural and information work. It would be The Canadian Film Digest CFI archives proposal announced an agency with a primary role in the art of film, which could parallel for Canadian and foreign film the work of the National Gallery in fine arts. In order that it properly reflect and be responsive to the interests and needs of film makers, teachers and the film community at. large, it was recommended that this agency not be made a section of some larger entity. It was also recommended that the existing resources of the Canadian Film Institute be incorporated into this new film cultural agency. “To suggest that the Public Archives adopt this role and enter the film cultural field is a mystifying resolution to an important question. The Public Archives is operated by historians and librarians; it has no roots in, nor links with the film community: yet we are asked to assume that this agency will suddenly become responsive to the needs of this community. The established pattern in other countries is to have a “cinematheque” or ‘‘film museum”’ concerned with film as art, while the national archives devotes itself to preserving newsreels and other historical records. Can anyone visualize the Public Archives stimulating Canadian cinema in the way the Cinematheque has French cinema? “We call on the Secretary of State to establish an independent commission to examine this whole question and make recommendations directly to him. This commission must include representatives of the film community as a whole, film archival and cultural agencies, film makers and film professors. There is no reason why this commission should not be able to present its report within three months. “We call for this small delay on a question of great importance to the Canadian film community. Why accept a policy which may compromise the development of film and film culture in Canada when a proper enquiry will give us the opportunity of creating a policy which will better serve our needs?”’ Variety Club plans Mame nighi sige SR Variety Club Chief Barker Doug Wells accepts Players panel. Tent 28 of Variety Clubs International, headquartered in Toronto, will host a fundraising pre-opening night of Mame, Warner Brothers’ new musical starring Lucille Ball. Date is March 28 at the Eglinton theatre, and tickets are ten dollars per couple. Variety expects to raise about $2,000 for their efforts at Variety Village by holding this event. By the beginning of March over half the tickets had been purchased. Sales are being handled by Mrs. Harrison at the Club offices and Jim Cameron of Famous Players. More news and activities were announced at the monthly meeting, held March 5th. Saturday, March 16th a St. Patrick’s Day Party was held. Event was sponsored by Women of Variety and tickets were $3.00. Tent 28 is celebrating its Silver anniversary this year, and Chief Barker Doug Wells said that consequently the June graduation exercises at Variety Village will be extra special. He also announced that the Variety International Convention, to be held in San Francisco May 28-31, has apparently attracted enough interest in Toronto area to explore the possibilities of a charter flight. Need extra copies of the Yearbook? RARITY GLU OF ONTARIO. a $500 cheque from reps of the Miss Famous The second annual Bikeathon fund raising day has been scheduled for April 21st, with the 28th being the alternate date. Three new courses have been added this year to bring the total to six in the Metro area. Syd Koffman and Jack Sturman are chairmen of the event. Special guests at the luncheon included the British High Commissioner Sir Peter TelfordHeyman; British trade commissioner Reginald Samples; Australian Trade Commissioner R.B. Hines; CTV executive Arthur Weinthal; Bill Banner from Capitol Records; Ben Kaplan from West Coast Variety; and CBC people Jim Guthrow, Ray McConnell, and Chuck Weir. Entertainer Rolf Harris was one highlight of the gathering. He sang, told jokes, painted, and performed to a very appreciative audience. Chief Barker Doug Wells was presented with a $500 donation to the Variety Heart Fund. Source was the Miss Famous Players Theatre Panel, who have decided to make Variety their charity project this year. Group is made up of Grade 12 and 13 representatives from Metro schools. They meet every third Saturday for a screening and a talk by a special guest. Guests have included TV personality Sue Lumsden, a police cadet, and a grooming demonstration. Just contact our office. 175 BLOOR ST. E., TORONTO M4W 1C8 [416] 924-3701 March 1974 Market Report ENTERTAINMENT STOCKS STOCK CLOSE CLOSE NET . HIGH LOW. JAN. 4 MAR.1 CHG. 73-74 73-74 TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE. Baton aM 4.90 —.23 7% 4.80 Bushnell 9 8% —t 9 BY% Canadian Cable Systems 15% 16% +1% 18% 13% CFCN me 7 +% 8 65% CHUMB 8% 85 — 9% 8 IWC Industries Ltd. 2.25 2.15 —=10 2.50 2.00 Maclean-Hunter Cable 12% 12 —l\y 12% 11% Premier Cable : 9 9 — 93% 814 Q Broadcasting 3.65 3.60 —.05 Rank Organization 6% 6% — 754 5Y, Selkirk A 13% 135 +% 14% 12% Standard Broadcasting 934, 845 —1% 1056 7s Western Broadcasting 1134 12% 4+% 12% 11% | MONTREAL STOCK EXCHANGE Astral 1.40 1.30° —.10 2.25 1.10 VANCOUVER STOCK EXCHANGE All Can 2.50" 3.45 +.% 3.60 2.35 ‘NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE Columbia Pictures : 3% 3% Ry ae an Walt Disney 445%, 435 —1 123% 35% Gulf & Western 24% 255, +1% 35% 2136 Tomes 20% 19% wh 48 16% MCA 21% 24¥, , +3 34% 17% Metromedia 8% 8% ommmae 6% MGM 11 1344 +2%4 24 1Y%, Transamerica 94 9% +5) 1756 84 20th-Fox 6Y, 8% +2% 12% 5 Warner Communications 1634 17 +% 394% 9 AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE Allied Artists 3% 3% —% 4 1% Cinerama 1% 1% Tee ate ¥ Filmways 4Y, 5 1% 6 248 General Cinema 12% 123% +M% 37% 7 “Talk Back” to Pat Daily —(CHEeS This is CHIC heartland... are °YOU listening? ZIO™AM-RADIO 102:1SFM Last Tango Manitoba win upheld The Attorney General’s department of the Manitoba government has lost its bid to have the decision regarding Last Tango in Paris reversed. Pic was again found to be not obscene. The distribs, United Artists, and the exhibs, Odeon-Morton Theatres, were charged with having and showing an obscene film when the pic opened last year. In the trial that followed, both distrib and exhib were cleared. The government, _ however, was not satisfied, and appealed . the verdict. The Manitoba classification board had rated the pic restricted, but no matter what rating this body gives, it is really only advisory, as the pic and those in volved in showing it are still liable for prosecution under the criminal code. Censorship is a provincial matter; obscenity is in the federal criminal code, but is administered by the legal divisions of the provincial governments. Great confusion arises across the country because of this mangled specialisation of powers. Added to the Manitoba situation was a rumoured political axe to grind, as a rivalry supposedly exists between the two arms of the provincial government. Legal fees for the accused are said to have been upwards of $75,000. At the time of the Appeal decision last month, the government hinted it would carry the case farther, but to date has not done so.