The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (May 15, 1941)

May 15th, 1941 “MAJOR BARBARA” HAD AMERICAN PREMIERE IN HOLLYWOOD Opened at Astor in N.Y. Gabriel Pascal's production of George Bernard Shaw's ‘’Major Barbara’ had its American premiere last week at the Four Star Theatre in Hollywood. At tended by a large list of the screen's most prominent personalities, the premiere was held for the combined benefit of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and Bundles for Britain. Immediately following the initial showing of ‘Major Barbara’ in Hollywod, Mr. Pascal flew to New York for the Eastern showing of his picture at the Astor Theatre. It had a preview on May 18, with the regular continuous popular-price engagement on May 14. A large block of tickets for the preview in New Work was set aside for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. : Wendy Hiller, who was starred in Pascal's production of Shaw’s '’Pygmalian,” is also starred in ‘Major Barbara.’’ Costarred with her in the new production are Rex Harrison and Robert Morley. “Major Barbara!’ was both produced and directed by Gabriel Pascal. It-is a -United Artists release. Flush-A-Way SELF-DISPOSING SANITARY Toilet Seat Covers @ An Indispensable Safeguard for Cleanliness and Personal Hygiene The Service That You Owe Your Patrons ® SOLD BY Sunclo Products 19 RIVER ST. TORONTO WA. 8601 | 2 | THE » Xill CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE OR MINNESOTA MUDDLE Federal Government Looks On — Republic Closes Deal. Atter both Minnesota Houses. Republic’s Minnesota branch passed the anti-block-offive bill , has concluded a deal with ae last month, it was signed by the | Osakis exhibitor, selling him Governor and became law. the coming season's entire out The Federal Government de-| Put under the State law. The clared that it would take no action to test the constituionality of law. Thus is uncertain where distributors stand. If they sell a whole season's product in Minnesota they may infringe upon the New York consent decree, and if they sell a block of five in Minnesota, they would infringe upon the Minnesota law. There were rumors that one major — no name was mentioned has instructed its Minneapolis branch to stop all sales in Minnesota until the position *-is..-cleareds:-+-But it does not look as though it will be cleared in a hurry. exhibitor has the right to cancel a minimum of 20 per cent. of the pictures bought. So far it is not known whether Republic headottice has confirmed the deal. Republic is not a party to the consent decree. Although the federal government has declared that it would take no steps for the time being, it is generally expected that the five majors who have signed the consent decree will challenge the constituionality of the Minnesota law, when their legal advisors have thoroughly gone into the matter. DISNEY'S WORKSHOP Walt Disney gives audiences a peep at some of his future productions in scenes of his current full-length feature, ‘The Reluctant Dragon,”’ soon to be released by RKO Radio. The story of “The Reluctant Dragon" is laid within the gates of the Disney studio itself. It combines actual motion picture technique with animation sequences to bring a new type of entertainment to the screen. The feature stars Robert Benchley in the role of a bewildered studio visitor. During Benchley’s adventures with Disney and his personnel, his path leads him through the fantastic jumble of the sound effects department where work is going on for a sequence in Dumbo,” the full-length animated feature with a gay circus locale, which Disney and his staff plan to release next summer. Then he is introduced to the weird mysteries of the multiplane camera. He is taken up to the top level of the roomsized mechanism. From his perch he looks down through the camera's various levels and sees one of the scenes from “Bambi” in the process of being shot. Bambi is Disney's picturization of Felix Salten’s famed story of a deer's life. Benchley’s hero, Donald Pr % i ANNA NEAGLE THE MERMAID Hollywood has shown movie audiences some unheard of things in unusual dances, but neither Fred Astaire, Ray Boljer nor the Hartmans ever thought of doing a complete dance routine under water. That's what Anna Neagle does in the title role of her current picture, RKO Radio’s “Sunny. It isn't generally known that back in England Miss Neagle was one of the best feminine aquatic performers; she holds several medals for swim springs, fancy diving and water stunts. So producer-director Herbert Wilcox capitalized on his star's versatility in “Sunny,” in which Miss Neagle performs an entire dance number while submerged in a glass tank. Ray Bolger and John Carroll head the supporting cast of “Sunny,” laid in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras. Duck, also bobs up in the camera department for another scene in ‘The Reluctant Dragon.’ Donald is shown being photographed in the sequence from one of his next year’s short productions, ‘McDonald's Farm." Page 5 THE REAL STUFF Newspaper reporters. will have no excuse to criticize the newspaper offices seen in Orson Welles’ "Citizen Kane”. Welles made sure that these settings would be entirely authentic through the offices of his old friend, Ashton Stevens, the veteran Chicago drama critic, Stevens visited Hollywood shortly before ‘'Citizen Kane” went into production to inspect at Welles’ invitation, the newspaper sets. One set represents a city room in the late 1890's. Stevens was able to point out several minor errors. Welles, who is producer, director and principal actor in “Citizen Kane,” first met Stevens in 1930. At that time, the critic saw Orson performing in a prepcratory school play and wrote in his column: “Tam going to put a clipping of this paragraph in my betting book. If Orson is not at least a leading man by the time it has yellowed, I will never make another prophecy.” Within a year — when Orson had turned sixteen — Stevens’ prediction came true. GENE TUNNEY RETURNS TO ‘INFORMATION PLEASE’ Gene Tunney was one of the first to follow his air appearance in “Information Please” with a bout before the cameras for one of RKO Pathe’s reel editions of the quiz feature. He returned to the air in another show last week. Tunney is now Lieutenant Commander James Joseph Tunney, USNR, and director of the athletic program of the United States Navy. “CAMPUS RYHTHM"” Hal Roach announces the signing of Frances Langford and Johnny Downs as the romantic leads in “Campus Rhythm,’ one of the first of Roach’'s streamlined features to be produced for United Artists during the coming season. “Campus Rhythm” is a musical, based on an _ original story by Leroy Prinz and Hal Roach, Jr. Prinz will direct the production. 2 PIONS a arn rel eat 2 MN tN cei release by © en ee ee ea ee ee ny emery Ke man aS CP elated PADI eT OR eee ai niacin med