The Canadian Independent (Feb 15, 1938)

Page 20 anadian INDEPENDENT VOL. 3, NO. 4 — FEB. 15, 1938 S. H. FA'LK Managing Editor Published Semi-Monthly by The INDEPENDENT THEATRES ASSOCIATION 511 Hermant Building 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada Subscription Rates: Canada and U.S., $5.00 Per Annum Address all communications to The Managing Editor The CANADIAN INDEPENDENT 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada EDIT VIEWS (Continued from Page 1) the 1937 Paris Film Exposition). Mr. Young proceeds, “It will be argued that the unknown actor gives a fine performance as the Emperor, so do Charlie Laughton and Cedric Hardwicke in innumerable films.” To begin with, this blase critic who is evidently too much the tired business man to wish to be confronted with any but the usual and routine, rules himself out as a critic when he admits prejudices; and when a critic is too disinterested to bother to look at product, he would be wiser to pass over such omissions in silence. A critic appraising a film is in much the same position as a chemist making an analysis. Either job should be done on the merits of the specimen in hand. The ideal critic is like a filtre through which the material he is considering should pass_ to be clarified and tested. If the critic admits that the fabric of his testing apparatus is so loose in mesh, to begin with, and he _ so tired and jaded that he lets the substance run through unheeded, he is shirking his job. If, on the other hand, as he admits, his fabric is so clogged with prejudice that it cannot filtre anything properly anyhow, he damns himself doubly. ~ Mr. Young’s observation that any acting or direction in foreign films, no matter how capable, has been duplicated in Hollywood or England, puts him in the ludicrous position of the per son who said he didn’t want THe CANADIAN ISSUED FOR THE BENEFIT OF QR DEPENDENT THEATRE OWNERS Fest oe nigte a) RS Sr Rs Oe Oa gi cr PA UE IES Be We ENS Eee SE Urban, Toronto’s Operatic Maestro in Hollywood Braheen Urban, who directed Toronto’s cycle of Opera here two years ago, is working on the 20th Century Fox lot in Hollywood. He is composer-director of a musical romance titled “Forbidden Melody,” which he produced with amateur talent drawn from the chorus and extra ranks of 20th Century Fox. Mrs. Urban is still in Toronto organizing a local operatic group. Simone Simon Dangerously IIl The little French 20th Century Fox film star, Simone Simon is suffering from an attack of Bronchopneumonia that keeps two physicians alternating at her bedside, awaiting the crisis. Work on “Josette” in which Miss Simon was costarred with Don Ameche was suspended. The shooting was practically finished, but some of the star’s voicerecordings were still to be made. a book as a gift for he already has a book. In distinct contrast with this critic’s insular exclusiveness is the attitude of Augustus Bridle, of the Toronto Daily Star, writing on the need of a foreign-language theatre in Toronto: “What Toronto wants is films expressing the art and the life of other peoples than our own. The screen is meant to be the most powerfully international, because it expresses the actual life of our country. But at present the screen is less cosmopolitan than the stage, or the novel, or the concert program or even the art galleries.” Opinions among critics will necessarily differ, but attitudes should remain alert, intelligent and unobstructed by prejudice. We disagree violently with everything Roly Young says but we would defend with an editorial, his right to say it, INDEPENDENT. PATRONIZE THE ADVERTISERS WHO MAINTAIN ||. =a Feb, 15, 1938 I.T.A. MEETING DECRIES RADIO COMPETITION (Continued from Page 1) people a night play Bingo in that city. In Hamilton, Ont., considerable space is used for newspaper advertising of the chance game called ‘“housy-housy,” which attracts from one to two thousand players a night. The situation was attacked in Kitchener, Ont. and the game was outlawed. The meeting passed a resolution that since Bingo, under its various names, was in many instances promoted by organizations selling “prizes” for a profit, and that since institutions lending themselves to its use do not enjoy the full profits themselves and that such games are conducted for the most part in tax-free property, and that this practice is therefore an unfair form of competition to the regularly-constituted theatre business, that the matter be referred to the Toronto Board of Trade for consid | CAN.-U.S. TRADE PACT (Continued from Page 1) and 3 cents a running foo} of films crossing into Canada. The preferential British levy is one and one half cents per foot. Sealing down of the current rates, it is believed, would bring a_ proportionately greater prosperity to the Canadian wing business. of the PRODUCTS THE COMPLETE LINE OF MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING SUPPLIES FOR YOUR THEATRE Cleaning Compound, Deod orant Blocks, Paper-Towels, Cups, Toilet Papers, Soaps, Disinfectants, Brooms, Brushes, Mops, Etc. 19 River Street WA. 8601 Toronto eration and action. Mr. Thomas Walton, a new member of the ITA took the floor to stress the need of change in the clearance schedule. Nat Taylor who occupied the chair in Mr. Freedman’s absence, offered to cover the subject of clearance in his report on Conciliation. The Conciliation Committee, a comparatively new body organized to function within the Film Section of the Toronto Board of Trade, is to hold its next regular meeting on Feb. 16. Mr. Taylor stated that ITA representatives on that committee, of which he ls one, have taken the unalterable position that until clearance is dealt with as the first and most important subject for consideration, that they would refuse to cooperate on any minor, less important subject. “Clearance, as it exists in Toronto, today,” said Mr. Taylor, “is diabolical, and is used as a weapon by chain interests against independent exhibitors.” A letter from Colonel Cooper was read _ inviting the ITA _ to make sugges tions for amendments to the Standard Contract. Nat Taylor informed the meeting that the Board of Directors had replied by reminding the Colonel that the associa (Continued on Page 7) COMPLETE THEATRE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES & Coleman Electric Co. 258 VICTORIA STREET TORONTO