Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Nov 27, 1954)

Page scan 0004 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Nov 27, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Nov 27, 1954)
Leaf #:
0004
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
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:
June 13, 2024
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NOVEMBER 27, 1954 DCA-ALLIANCE (Continued from Page 1) under the DCA-Alliance banner will be **Long John Silver,” in CinemaScope and _ Technicolor, produced by Joseph Kaufman, and starring Robert Newton in the title role. “Long John Silver” is a sequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal “Treasure Island”, and introduces a. brilliant young newcomer, Kit Taylor, in the ‘Jim Hawkins’ role made famous by Jackie Cooper in the earlier film. “Long John Silver” will be put into release immediately after the first of the year. Next on the list of DCA releases will be “Hunters of the Deep,” the prize-winning feature-length documentary of underwater life, which was voted the outstanding documentary of the year when it was selected for presentation at the Edinburgh Film Festival last summer. Filmed in color, the new pro CHARLES S. BOASBERG duction was photographed largely off the California coast, in Florida waters and in Mazatlan on the west coast of Mexico. It is an Allan Dowling presentation, produced by Tom Gries, with an original musical score composed and conducted by the world-famous George Antheil. Dan O’Herlihy is the narrator. Also to be released with ‘Hunters of the Deep” is a 26-minute subject in color entitled “Rembrandt — a Self Portrait,” which is reported to be outstand ing. Currently in production in England for DCA _ release in America is the screen version of the sensational stage success, “I Am a Camera,” co-starring Shelley Winters, Julie Harris and Laurence Harvey. Picture is being made by Moulin Productions, with Henry Cornelius as director. Also under way is a full-length cartoon feature in color based on the Broadway hit, “Finian’s Rainbow.” Barry Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Ella Logan have al ready been signed for the three principal voices, Picture is budgeted at $900,000. Other major productions that will be released under the DCAAlliance trademark will include “The Way We Are,” starring Joan Crawford, to be produced by Robert Aldrich, whose most recent major production was “Apache” for UA release. The thrilling bestseller, “The Viking,” will be produced in CinemaScope and color by Milo Frank, while the Boulting Bros. are scheduled to produce “The Survivors.” Another outstanding property on which produc JAY L. SMITH tion will start after the first of the year is “Lelia,” starring Olivia de Havilland. A Bella and Sam Spewack story is also on the schedule. Altogether Fred Schwartz, DCA president, has revealed that his company will have 10-12 major pictures for release within the next two years, with budgets set between $800,000 and $1,000,000 per picture. Irving Wormser, for over 20 years with Columbia Pictures, was recently appointed general sales manager of Distributors Corporation of America, and will work closely with Mr. Smith on the distribution of the company’s product in Canada. Mr. Smith announced that his (Continued on Page 7 APPEL REPORT TO M.P.C. (Continued from Page 1) is within the office of Public Relations to report it. “I recommend — Mr. Chairman —that delegates give their attention to the movie section of the Telegram which will be distributed here today. Those who know the treatment that has been accorded our industry by newspapers in this city for the past 25 years will note a far step forward in our industry—newspaper co-operation, and it is an example that might well be used to encourage similar cooperation where needed elsewhere. “The section you see today will be considerably expanded. Two well-known writers are to be added to the amusements page staff and their columns will appear daily. “The Telegram’s new policy has cleared a lot of ads off the amusement pages of the Star—ads that never should have appeared there. “Starting December Ist the Distributors Association will act as host at monthly Juncheons which will be attended by representatives of our industry and personnel of the Telegram. Our objective will be to produce a daily amusement section that will appeal to reader interest and consequently sell more theatre tickets. “Your Committee reports another new development that is cer tain to broaden public interest in — motion pictures. a “Distributors are now screening ia pre-release pictures for a group of — women who are representative of many prominent organizations, chapters of which are located in every city in Canada. They print a report called, ‘Canadian Estimate of Entertainment Films’ which is sent to all chapters in Canada of many large organizations. “Mr. Chairman—in these times when it is evident that there is a reduced public interest in motion pictures, I submit that we have in this new development a stimulant that can start a great number of people talking about movies—and what is more important—buying tickets to see them. “I assure you that your committee will study means of using these reports to gain beneficial results. I recommend that exhibitors should enquire of their local women's organizations to make certain they are receiving these reports and to give assistance in obtaining readership of their contents as widely as is possible.” Mr. Appel concluded his remarks with a reference to the trailer that will be shown across Canada in aid of the March of Dimes campaign in January. 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