Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Mar 6, 1948)

March 6th, 1948 NFB Experiments Uses More Color Future releases in the National Film Board’s theatrical series, the new ‘‘Canada Carries On”, may be in color. Extensive color tests were made recently at the National Film Board production centre in Ottawa. A. W. Cook of Ansco brought the first batch of color stock to Ottawa where an experimental film was made in one day. The film, entitled “Chromatic Fantasy’” was produced by Sidney Newman, head of the “Canada Carries On” unit, while Grant McLean, who shot “The People Between”, was cameraman. Optical and title departments of NFB were carrying out their own specific tests simultaneously with the filming of the picture. If color is feasible the CCO unit will go into full color production next summer. More than 14 times the amount used in making a film in black and white was required for color shooting. A rose, used as a prop, wilted under the intense heat. ‘l’o test color stock under all conditions, “Chromatic Fantasy”, which will never reach the theatres because it was planned as a technical rather than dramatic experiment, was shot in both exteriors and interiors. The CCO unit has released its first film in color called “Red Runs the Fraser”, the story of the Salmon run on the Fraser River in British Columbia. It was produced in cinecolor from a kodachrome original. New Committee Appointed By Picture Pioneer Board At the first executive meeting, for the 1948 season, of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, presided over by the newly-elected president, Hon. J. Earl Lawson, the following committees were appointed for the coming year. Membership committee is made up of Ben Cronk, Leo Devaney, Sam Sternberg, Clare Appel. Entertainment Committee includes Len Bishop, Joe Garbarino, Walter Kennedy, Morris Doyle and Oscar Hanson. The Publicity Committee consists of Clare Appel, Archie Laurie, Ben Cronk and Walter Kennedy. Bill Reeves and Bill O’Neill make up the Sick Committee. The Benevolent Fund Trustees remain as formerly, Charles Mavety, Ray Lewis, Oscar Hanson and George Beeston. Solicitor is David Ongley and J. J. Fitzgibbons continues as Public Relations Officer. Plans were discussed for a series of events to be promoted during the year to accelerate the growth and spirit of the organization, and especially to increase the Benevolent Fund. The Pioneers, who have been referred to as “the senate” of the Moving Picture Industry, will shortly announce dates for a series of smokers and social. nights, and the gala event of the year will be climaxed by a dress ball in the fall, which may be a costume affair. CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Royal Wedding Film Distributed by IODE The Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, for the second time within a few months, has purchased basic prints of a film of the Royal Family. The film, the excellent one-reel Gaumont-British version of “The Royal Wedding” will be placed on the National Film Board’s rural circuits to be shown across Canada in the outlying districts with the regular films of educational and general interest. Several months ago the film “The Royal Tour in South Africa” was purchased by the Order for similar use. The prints of both these films, when they have been returned from the rural circuits, will be donated to Community Film Libraries in the various Provinces and will be available for rental at a very nominal rate by groups for entertainment purposes and also to create a greater interest in the Commonwealth and Empire. ODEON CHANGES MANAGERS Changes in the managership of several Winnipeg movie houses have been announced by Harry Hurwitz, superintendent of Odeon theatres. Thomas Pacey, manager of the Garrick Theatre becomes manager of the Odeon Theatre. The new manager of the Garrick Theatre is Dave Rdsemond, formerly manager of the Rialto Theatre. Keith Saylor, formerly manager of the Oak Theatre, Brandon, is the new manager of the Rialto Theatre. These changes are all in the way of promotions for well deserved services, Mr. Hurwitz never over-looks an opportunity to advance members of his staffs who show capacity in promoting the interests of the theatre to which he is attached. Page 7 CANADA TO HAVE OWN OSCARS For the first time, Canada is to have a set of annual movie awards, on the lines of America’s Oscars and Britain’s Silver Star awards. The awards will be made as a result of a nationwide poll of Canada’s more than 1300 movie exhibitors. New Liberty magazine sent out to the exhibitors a questionnaire in which they were asked to list what they felt were the outstanding achievements in fourteen categories, including Best: Film of 1947, Biggest Money-Maker, Best Male Performance, Best Female Performance, Best Short Subject. Announcement of the winners of the awards will be made around the middle of March. Initial returns show that among the favored films and stars are: “The Jolson Story’, “The Yearling”, Tie) Hee andl", “Great. (Expect ations”, “Best Years of Our Lives’, “Welcome Stranger’; Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, Deborah Kerr, Larry Paks, Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster. LEAVES SON IN THEATRE GOES TO DRINKING PARTY A 41-year-old father, who left his young son in a local theatre while he went out on a drinking party, was taught a lesson in parental behavior. When he came staggering back to the ‘theatre to pick up the juvenile, he was picked up himself, by police, and now faces a drunk charge. Theatremen said this is getting to be a habit with some parents, and they are tired of being nursemaids to the kiddies, and hope this will prove an example to some of the pub crawlers for future reference. KING SCOUTS GUESTS AT THEATRE Tying in with “Boy Scout Week”, Russ McKibben, manager of the Victoria Theatre, Toronto, invited top-ranking boy scouts to see “The Tender Years”, a heart-warming story of kindness to animals. Scout headquarters co-operated by notifying all troops in the Toronto area of the desirability of them seeing the feature.