Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 14, 1956)

PAGE SIX Ou the Beam (Continued from Page 1) formation and argument on behalf of British films contained in the New York Times advertisement. The balance of the copy goes on to read as follows: Every year, thousands of Americans see British movies. And like movie-goers all over the world, they enjoy them. But many millions of other Americans never get the chance. Why? Because British films are almost always shown in small “art theatres” in a few big cities where they are seen by limited audiences. It is said that this is partly because of a belief by major American exhibitors that British movies — such as those produced by the Rank Organization of England — are not made for the international market. Yet every country in the free world welcomes their broad themes, their human appeal, their vivid action. They have created attendance and box-office records from Canada to Australia, from Holland to Hong Kong. Then there’s the question of accent, It is said that the British accent is a barrier American movie-goers won't take. Yet every big U.S. film producer uses Briitsh stars or those who got their start in Britain . . . stars who are among the most popular favorites of American audiences. Examples? Richard Burton, James Mason, Charles Laughton, Stewart Granger, Edmund Purdom, Jean Simmons, Peter Ustinov, Deborah Kerr, Laurence Olivier, Rex Harrison, Vivien Leigh . . . the list goes on and on. Accent a barrier? Hardly. British pictures are said to lack action. But films like “Simba,” “The Purple Plain” and “The Cruel Sea” have gripped and held audiences in the U.S. as well as in most other parts of the world. Here in the U.S., experienced film critics time and time again cheer British movies. And year after year British movies win high awards from such authorities as the U.S. National Board of Review, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and from juries at the European film festivals. We of the Rank Organization believe that you, the American public, should have the opportunity of seeing the best in British movies at your local theatre, wherever it may be. We are confident that you, the American moyie-goer, will be happy to see films that are different, that have a distinctive charm of their own... that are exciting and rewarding. We do not seek special favors. We are seeking only the opportunity to entertain you and to let you be the judge of whether or not we succeed, In so many other countries our movies provide pleasure and enjoyment for the public. We are sure we can do the same here in the U.S. You, the movie-gver, must decide if we are to have that chance . by telling your local exhibitor that you want to see the best in British movies at your own local cinema. The balance of the ad is made up by a quarter-page box listing some of the International awards won by British films in the past few years, and cuts of six new British stars, John Gregson, Belinda Lee, Virginia McKenna, Anthony Steel, Peter Finch and Julia Arnall, under the heading, “Will You See These British Movie Stars?”. While I do not have at hand, advertising rates for the N.Y. Times, I imagine the cost of this advertisement would run somewhere in the neighborhood of $5, 000. Not chickenfeed by any means, nor do I imagine that this will be the only advertisement the Rank Organization will run, nor will their campaign be confined to the New York Times. Obviously John Davis is determined to make good his vow to get full-scale distribution and exhibition of British pictures in the U.S. A couple of years ago, he was talking of establishing his own Odeon circuit of approximately 100 or more theatres in the U.S., but plans for this invasion apparently fell by the wayside when the necessary currency exports were denied by the British government. At the present time, a number of Rank films are being distributed by Universal, and by Republic, in the U.S., with a few being handled by Independents. The Rank Organization, as such, does not have its own distribution set-up in the U.S. Perhaps this new campaign is designed to help the present distributors of the Rank films, or perhaps it is the first step in a plan to setup a JARO distribution organization in the U.S. Time will tell. MYERS (Continued from Page 1) nadian divisions and branches were also told of the powerful line-up of pictures slated for release the first half of the year, in addition to. an outline of policies for the year 1956. The group beside Mr. Myers, included Cecil Black, assistant to Mr. Myers, also, Robert A. Cringan, Calgary, Alta.; G. L. Chernoff, Montreal, Que.; Dawson Exley, St. John, N.B.; V. J. Beattie, Toronto, Ont. and Gordon Lightstone, Jr., Vancouver. Vancouver. Participating closely with Lichtman in the sessions were W. C. Gerhing, Executive assistant general sales manager, and Arthur Silverstone, Assistant general sales manager, Alex Harrison, Western sales manager and Glenn Morris, Eastern sales manager. President Spyros P. Skouras also joined in many of the sessions, FOTO-NITE (Continued from Page 1) The TV newscaster compared the big Toronto Foto-Nite pay-off to the $64,000.06 TV programme. The $4,000.00 Ottawa Foto-Nite pay-off was also covered by TV news cameras and shown over the CBC-TV news and also CBOFT Montreal. ~pIeCeCT WELTNER (Continued from Page 1) Manager of Magna Theatres “Oklahoma.” Mr. Weltner’s wire stated, “I join with Barney Balaban in his expression of a deep sense of personal and professional regret at Ted’s resignation. Mr. Balaban has stressed the many important contributions to Paramount’s success and welfare made by Ted during his association with the company. “Both Mr. Balaban and I express our very best wishes for Ted’s further and continued success.” Completing the top echelon organization of Paramount’s domestic sale’ force which was revealed in his wire, Mr. Weltner, in charge of world wide sales for the company, also announced the appoint ment of Charles Boasberg to the newly created post of supervisor of sales for Cecil B. DeMille’s production of The Ten Commandments and the Ponti-DeLaurentiis production of War and Peace. In his new capacity as supervisor of sales and distribution on The Ten Commandments and War and Peace, Boasberg will work directly with Weltner. AMUSE. TAX (Continued from Page 1) to them the methods to employ to interest the merchants of their communities in supporting a reduction in the provincial amusement tax. Material from Mike Simon’s MGM Workshop will be used and it is hoped that exhibitors and boards of trades will get together. In addition to the trip by Mr. Brookler, the Association have printed a circular headed by “How important is the movie theatre to your community,” and appealing for support in the form of resolutions for thie removal of the tax. The circular has been mailed to Retail Merchant’s Associations, Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade secretaries, members of the Legislative Assembly, Bank Managers and Editors of all Weekly Newspapers, LEVEY (Continued from Page 1) Making of “The Tontine” will mar. Levey’s return to the ranks of film producers, after a number of years devoted to the import of foreign pictures. Levey intends to ucvote himself exclusively to producing from now on, and is in the process of acquiring a group of top-flight story properties for filming, of which “The Tontine’.’ is the first. Pictures that Levey JANUARY 14, 1956 KNIGHT (Continued from Page 1) of a Rank star, and the resulting publicity on radio, TV and in the newspapers during his three day stop-over have gone a long way to proving the advantage of this type of activity, both for the star himself, as well as for his producing company. The appearance on CBC-TV shows would enable the Rank Organization to overcome the major problem confronting them in sending their stars over here, as an appearance on any show would easily cover the transporation and expenses of the individual and thereby solve the knotty dollar question. A follow-up on this is being pursued by Jiro Hardiman and Chas. Mason. During the hectic trip here, Knight found time for an interview with The Digest and stated, “my trip here is fantastic; I didn’t expect half of the reception I received and I’m sure the results will be effective for me personally, will help my films at the boxoffice and help to earn dollars for England.” Continuing; Mr. Knight pointed out, that PA of Rank stars would go a long way to build support for British films. Mr. Knight, impressed by the activity engendered for him by JARO publicist Charles Mason, has written a letter to John Davis outlining his experiences over here and stated that he will personally discuss further PA trips here with Mr. Davis and other Rank officials. The major hold-up in such a program, he said, was the lack of dollars, but an arrangement such as has been discussed with the CBC could overcome this and pave the way for PA’s tied specifically to the premieres of JARO product. “The joint efforts of the Rank people over in England and here will, I hope, enable other Rank stars to visit here”, he stated. The Canadian release of his next film, “Lost”, is scheduled for sometime in June and Mr. Knight reported that he would suggest on his return that he be sent back here for its premiere. Mighlights of Mr. Knight’s activity while in Toronto were an interview with Phil Stone for CHUM; a press reception; personal appearances at the Humber and Danforth theatres; interviews on CKFH; a CBC radio broadcast; a session at CKEY and an appearance on CBCTV’s. “Tabloid.” In Montreal, Knight held a press conference, went to the Avenue theatre and had interviews on radio stations CJAD, CKBL and CKAC.