Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1924-Apr 1925)

Page scan 00080 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
May 1924-Apr 1925
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1924-April 1925)
Leaf #:
00080
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Global Cinema, Early Cinema, and Canada
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
New York Public Library
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Editors: Merrick R. Nutting (1917-18), Raymond S. Peck (1918), Ray Lewis (1918-19 and 1920-54), Walter Greene (1919-20), Jay Smith (1954-57)

Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57) was initially a Montréal-based rival of the first film paper in Canada, Toronto-based Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18, edited by W.A. Bach 1915-17, J.W. Cambridge 1917-18, Raymond S. Peck 1918). The two periodicals were combined in 1918, keeping the Digest name, but moving production to Toronto with Peck as editor. Canadian Moving Picture Digest assumed The Bulletin’s volume numbering and always claimed 1915 as its year of origin. Ray Lewis (née Rae Levinsky) was a writer and playwright, who spent time in early Hollywood’s publicity departments. She briefly took the Digest helm in 1918, then long-term editor, later owner and publisher, from 1920 until her death in 1954. Under Lewis’s leadership, the trade paper claimed to serve as a voice for independent exhibitors and advocated for a Canadian cultural presence in cinema, particularly emphasizing British films as a way to keep a distance from Hollywood. Lewis's editorials were notable for their advocacy, wit, and critique of American dominance in the Canadian film market. While initially positioning herself as an outsider, she became integrated within the industry and a true insider. She even had an ongoing correspondence with Canadian Prime Minister R. B. Bennett, advocating for the industry as a whole and supporting British film imports. She was well-known at Toronto’s Dundas Square film row as well as in New York and Hollywood. Variety’s Sime Silverman called her “the Girl Friend in Canada,” and she delighted when U.S. writers not “in the know” presumed “Ray” was a man’s name. Lewis was later an inaugural member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, eventually the group’s first female president and Pioneer of the Year. After she died in 1954, her son Jay Smith took over editorial duties until Canadian Moving Picture Digest was bought by Nat Taylor’s Film Publications of Canada in 1957. Taylor incorporated the legacy journal into a joint masthead for Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70), which subsequently dated its roots back to the 1915 origins of the film press in Canada.

– Jessica Whitehead and Paul Moore, March 2024

Further Reading

  • Whitehead, Jessica, Louis Pelletier and Paul Moore, “‘The Girl Friend in Canada’: Ray Lewis and Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1915–1957).” In Daniel Biltereyst and Lies Van de Vijver, eds., Mapping Movie Magazines: Digitization, Periodicals and Cinema History, 127-52. London: Pagrave-Macmillan, 2021.

Date Added:
August 07, 2025
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witse ' TGRONTO, CANADA.” “Thy Name Is Woman” METRO | Through Regal Films REED NIBLO has struck the qual-_ | ity note with. “Thy Name is Woman’; for in the Metro production, ‘Barbara La Marr is given a dramatic costume part which reveals her grace of ‘stature as attractively as it does . ~her ability in emotional work; Ram‘on Navarro, whose name means.a good deal, thanks to Rex.Ingram, jus-_ tifies his reputation as a screen idol in a most romantic role; while. Wil|. | in many weeks was Pathe’s presenta . liam V. Mong, who is an.actor to be reckoned with always, grves a per formance that would have made the picture had the other stars failed. Beautiful photography and consis tently good lighting make. it easy to bear with the unnecessarily long foot age which characterizes this feature as it has many other good pictures this season. Supported by other pop~ ular screen celebrities including Rob ert Edeson, Wallace MacDonald and . Edith Storey, you have something very interesting to talk about, apart from the story altogether, when you announce ‘Thy Name is Woman.” Navarro is ideally cast in’ the role. of a young recruit in the Spanish army who has a chance to win his sargeant’s stripes, by gathering data for the military relative to the activities of a band of liquor. smugglers whose leader is Pedro, dweller in the wild mountain heights of the Pyrenees. whose beauty is wasted —save for Pedro who adores to deck her in exquisite ‘gifts of lace or rich broideries which he brings her—contraband of course, and therefore all.the more alluring. The young soldier, according to orders from headquarters, must win his way into the confidence of the young wife in order to spy upon the . smugglers. Youth and propinquity— he quite naturally falls in love with. the beautiful wife; and when his love is reciprocated they plan ‘to flee from the hovel in the mountains. whose love is greater than his desire for life, stabs the unfaithful one and then falls dead at her feet. The double casualty might prove too much for the fans had a romance ° not been nicely brewing ; but as it hap‘pens everything is“all right when the _Commandant’s. daughter wheedles papa and secures the young soldier’s . pardon,-he not having. carried out his Digest Review Pedro has a beautiful wife . Pedro,. By H. M. BALL. officer’s command. ‘The inevitable happy ending is therefore achieved in spite of the double-barreled tragedy well on in the last reel. | The only general fault to find is the tremendous detail of the production, but the splendid work of the three leading actors make it easy to watch, and Fred Niblo’s good taste and thor ough direction add value to the ap peal. | * ok OK x | News Reels | One of the finest news subjects seen tion of the Grand National, England’s _great steeplechase event over a course that is a course—extending somewhat over four miles! The superb horsemanship displayed in the jumping and racing of the horses, the dramatic effect of the spills, the thrill of casualties at the various obstacles, the finish—all were marvelously pho tographed, both in slow motion and regular speed. | It is reported that forty-five cameramen “shot” the event, and having seen the film I vote it one of the most satisfactory and thrilling results of any effort put forward to date on the part of the news. men who laugh at risk-in order to furnish the fans with the latest in current happenings. x * Ok OX “Love, Life and Laughter” WELSH-PEARSON -Through Regal Films Probably no other bit of fair femininity has done as much as the vivacious Betty Balfour “to give the lie” to that foolish impre$sion that’ the British are lacking in a sense of humor. more to kindle American interest in British screen production; and in the new Welsh-Pearson release, “Love, Life and Laughter,” which Regal Films have secured for Canadian distribution, we have one of the most exquisite’ blends of humor and pathos it. has been my good fortune to see in the silent drama.. “Tip Toes” is an inspired characterization! Only Betty Balfour could have injected so much life and laughter without overdoing the part; and certainly .the pretty star has every right toclaim love as her reward in the final fade-out. There are bits which rise to the pinnacle of genuine entertainment and as usual the s Current Attractions Certainly no one else has done -. Page Eleven least of the parts are taken by men and women whose abilities place these lesser parts on a stellar plane. ‘ “Love, Life and Laughter’ 1s the delightful story of a happy little or _ phan who has joined the chorus, and who, through sheer good humor and a willingness to work achieves stardom in the Music Halls of London. The object of her affection is a budding author but his ambitions are those of the dreamer and the idealist so his success does not come till failure and suffering have been his most frequent companions. The contrast of their ‘careers grips his heart and he be lieves little “Tip Toes” to be lost to him forever. But they have sworn to meet again at a certain time on a certain day and “Tip Toes” finds her hero in time to tell him that his romance of their own lives has been accepted by the publishers. Fame and fortune now smile upon the young idealist and love requited pales the glory of them both.: The poverty-stricken lodgings in which the Boy and the Girl first meet provide shelter for a group of remarkable characters—typical dwellers of the less beautiful side of “London Town.” The landlord of this amazing mansion is a mild old gentleman who sells in the streets, toys of his own manufacture. His philosophical outlook, cultivated in view of a domineering wife, is superbly displayed in many quaint and whimsical scenes with that estimable lady, and with “Tip Toes” whose joyous point of view buoys up the ancient balloonmaker, no. matter what his trials may be. Though few will recognize the per sonnel of the cast supporting Miss Balfour, their work will carve itself upon the minds of those who are seeking for the best in picture entertainment; and with produetions such as this the British screen will soon make their names “mean something” to Canadian audiences. ‘Therefore, we list them: “Tip Toes,” Betty Balfour; the Boy, an idealist, Harry Jonas; the toy maker, Frank Stamon; his wife, a martyr, Annie Esmond; her “female friend,” Nancy Price; Charlie, Eric Smith; Lily of the Valley, Sidney Fairbrother; the old musician, Harry Speerman; his daughter, Audrey, Ridgwell; the rich man, Gordon Hopkirk. A few more pictures like this one, and English pictures will have little to fear in American competition ! Before Buying Pictures Read The Digest Advertising Pages. Google