The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Sep 2, 1941)

September 2nd, 1941 Teronto Mayor Okays Newsreels There will be no more police interference with press and newsreel photographer coverage of civic events, Mayor Fred Conboy decate: ~ During the’ Warrior’s Day parade at the C.N.E. complaints were ‘made when photographers seeking close-up shots near the saluting base were forced away by police in certain areas set aside as “prohibited territory.” A representative of the Associated Screen News made his complaint official ‘when he took the matter to the mayor. “Toronto needs the publicity and it ‘has been reported to me that during the last six months more shots portraying ‘Toronto have been shown on newsreels than dur‘ing the past six-year period. ‘These pictures shown in the U.S. have done much to _ encourage tourists and make known to people the advantage of visiting the city.” Exhibs Choices In ‘Look’ Poll The current issue of Look Magazine prints the results of its recent poll of the exhibitors to find the theatre operators’ opinions and preferences. They voted two to one that good stories are better draws than big stars. The voters named ‘Gone With The Wind” 1941’s best money feature, with “Buck Privates” second. Slapstick comedy was recognized as having the most appeal today and animated cartoons got the call as the best short subjects. The exhibitors found that the war had moved newsreels into a spot of great importance. The vote against double features was three to one. “New Super GARDINER Projector” With Barrel rear shutter Has no equal for fine projection and long life. As low as $9.00 weekly. GET OUR PRICES AND YOU WILL SURELY BUY FROM US “YOU CAN GUESS THE REASON” at ‘OF YOUR MONEY THE LEST YE “Souk, PROUK POS AKL colieuert: THEATRE SUL LLLES WE 207 OR MORE along St. CK. Zé YEARS ASK-Y, te MGA ae) ACL UWE UE BOMINION THEATRE EQUIPMENT €O 847 DAVIE ST VANCOUVER B.C. The Exhibitor Page 9 Picture Pickups Now that Hollywood, in its search for new faces, is bringing back old ones—how about the strange case of the Misses Bankhead and Lillie? Both girls became stars in England, then came to America and yanked the Yankees into the aisles with their great work. They looked like naturals for Hollywood. They got several chances but celluloid stardom wouldn’t stick. Bea’s last picture was, I think, “Dr. Rhythm,” in which she was paired with Bing Crosby. The critics howled but the public didn’t. Just giggled. So she went back to New York. Shortly after the war started she went to England to serve as best she could. Her off-stage name is Lady Peel. There is some talk of her coming this way again to help the War Victims’ Fund. Tallulah, too, had her whack at Hollywood several times and missed. She created the leading role on the stage of ‘‘The Little Foxes,” which Bette Davis has just played for the Sam Goldwyn movie version. 2 There isn’t a doubt in the world that both girls are great in their respective fields. But the pre-camera workers of Hollywood can’t seem to catch their unique personalities and talents for transfer to the screen. The studio that gets over that hurdle will have two of the most profitable stars in Hollywood history. * * * * * Another cinema mystery is the indifference of Hollywood to opera. The flexibility of the screen medium should make opera as acceptable as operetta. The latter is a highly-successful movie form. Hollywood has fine singers, some of whom play non-musical leads. Like John Boles and Dennis Morgan. Opera singers are imported to play in Hollywood-tailored scripts. In most scripts are several scenes from some popular opera. But opera, as opera, is ignored. With unmatchable color available and with regulated sound to take the screech out of sopranos and the bawl out of baritones, you’d think rewritten opera would be a cinch. Movie makers have traded on public interest in symphony music but, except for a rare try, that rich and enduring phase of theatre doesn’t get a look-in. The superb color background of “Blood and Sand” provides an idea of what the melodic and immensely-popular ‘‘Carmen”’ would look like on the screen. * * * * ok Speaking of opera and “Carmen” brings to mind the remark someone made once that the great American cultural quest is for a Carmen that weighs less than a bull. A number of years ago I visited the Los Angeles Philharmonic auditorium to watch a Civic Opera performance cf Bizet’s masterpiece. Carmen was a well-upholstered matron who might well have opened a spaghetti joint and dreamt of her musical yesterdays. Her traditional lover, Don Jose, was a bejowled and porky fellow as young as the first tractor and every bit as lithe. They tore around in a manner allegedly dashing but looked like a couple of wrestlers squaring off to this unappreciative eye. * * * * * Im the last scene Carmen dies on Don Jose’s knife while trying to dash past him into the arena to see her new lover, Escamilleo, being hailed for Buffalo Billing a bull. Something happened. The lethal work was sloppy. Carmen hit Don Jose like a flying tackle—so hard that they hit the floor six feet apart! There they sat for a few minutes, dazed and staring at each other. Then Don Jose got up and finished the scene. It ruined the climax, of course, and I expect the roars that came from the crowd will harass those two until their last days. Me, too. I like “Carmen” and have seen it four times since. Each time I watched that scene with fear and humorous curiosity. I don’t think Pll ever be swept up into the spirit of that tragic finale again. %* * * * * Along the main Hollywood boulevards are.spots where a tour ist may hire a guide to drive his car. Each guide has a set of rules. Here are the five main points: _ Always speak well of any of the movie people. Do not repeat any scandal you might have heard. Do not let patrons go on private property. Do not let patrons pick flowers from estates. Try to prevent autograph hunters from bothering the players. Hell Hath No Fury ..Chorines Scorned There used to be a cafe near a Toronto movie and stage show. Most of its business was done with the actors and chorus girls. One day it rained and a couple of chorus girls decided to eat inside. They ordered by ‘phone. The food was delivered by a ‘waiter who, by the boss’s orders, wouldn’t leave the food without a dollar deposit for the dishes, etc. The girls felt that they, because of their long and loyal patronage, were deserving of better treatment than that. They phoned the boss but he wouldn’t change his mind. The girls conferred, then paid the buck. The utensils were worth much more than that. They ate. Then they bent the knives and forks, broke the planks their steaks had arrived on, tore the napkins and crashed the dishes. They sent the mess back. There wasn’t anything the ungrateful owner could do about it but keep the dollar! Packing Them In Ketchikan, Alaska.—A_ record Klawock salmon pack, piling up faster than cases can be shipped south, led cannery operators and town officials to remove seats from the only movie theatre for storage space today. A shortage of cans may force a shutdown before the season ends, R. J. Peratrovich,, ‘cannery operator, said. Other canneries have been similarly swamped. TR 25.2)