Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 7, 1942)

January 7th, 1942. Crack Schedule For United Artists After of months indecision Samuel Goldwyn has chosen Gary GD <o0r: to play the role of Lou dS Gehrig in the forthcoming Goldwyn. picture based on the life of the famed baseball player. The casting of the Gehrig role has proved exciting to the public and complex for Mr. Goldwyn. Sportwriters and baseball fans have written scores of letters about their choices; Cosmopolitan Magazine, Movie and Radio Guide and Sporting News have run contests among their readers on ‘Who Shall Play Gehrig?”, and the general newspaper ‘columnists have had their say about it too. The overwhelming choice of all of these, and the result of a poll of The Baseball Writers Association, was Gary Cooper. * *« * From Alexander Korda comes the announcement of what will easily be the most important film production of his career and one of the most important in motion picture history. He announces the production of Tolstoy’s ‘War And Peace.” | , Filming of this novel of worldwide popularity and interest will start early in the summer of 1942, and is set for a production schedule that will cover six months. i. oo ts ae a RE * William Bendix, who has just completed ‘Brooklyn Orchid,” one of Hal Roach’s new stream-lined features, arrived in New York last week from Hollywood to spend the holidays with his family. New Advance In Television A development in photo transmission by radio waves which may rival in scope and importance the invention of the radio and telephone has been announced in London by John L. Baird, inventor of large screen television. Color pictures in three dimensions were shown a small audience. Transmitted from a nearby studio, all the objects shown had depth instead of the flat look common to previous efforts. The work is yet in early experimental stage and there are a number of screening angles to be solved, one of which is the fact that pictures must be looked at from directly in front to get the effect. The work was done under war hardships and it is thought that all that is needed for completion is the availability of peace-time facilities. Baird, 53 years old, is regarded as the father of television. (Poe MASCARO of the Capitol, Belleville, comes through with a January Month of Hits campaign. J He is plugging the idea with a minute-long trailer which is being shown all through the month of January. A special spotlighted calendar display fluttered in the lobby announcing every hit and a replica of it was put on a herald. The false front of the theatre has been covered with a large banner boosting the month of January and the theatre has been decorated with balloons and streamers to give the house a festive look. All newspapers carry ‘copy telling about it and special announcements are being made from the stage by Tommy. Good work, Tom. Your idea of setting the month aside is a good one. ts . tt oa : k & * VEN BURNS picked up the idea of the January Month of Hits for his Regent, Sudbury. Fortunately Vernon has a PA system in his house and he uses it. During intermission he flashes attractive lighting on the stage and then talks to the patrons. Here is a@ summary of one broadcast: “Ladies and gentlemen — Have you heard of Vitamin E? Do you know that in these nerve-trying times it is becoming more and more essential for you to have vitamins? Some of you are in a position to afford expensive tonics. But at a nominal cost which even the most modest pocketbook can afford we offer an unlimited supply of Vitamin E, which is, of course, the entertain | ment Vitamin. “Not only can you enjoy the very best entertainment but you can relax in comfortable seats and even enjoy smoking in our loges. —at the same time contributing to greater war effort by paying the defense tax on your admission ticket. “Be sure that you have Vitamin E regularly, as there can be no greater relaxation than when seeing the following pictures to be shown in this theatre during January, the Month of Hits — and every show is certified entertainment.” Here Vernon listed his big attractions and gave a short talk about each one. = * 2 = pét DUNNE of the Royal, North Bay, lent his PA system to the largest department store in town, played Christmas carols over it and every 15 minutes plugged attractions at this theatre. The sound reached out into the street. An easy idea and a good one, — | Pat. Canadian FILM WEEKLY | 3 1 a ah |p best way to make a suc ess of a theatre is to set a definite policy after careful consideration, then stick to it through fair weather and foul. Do not vary from it for momentary advantage. Work like hell and believe in your work. This was brought to my mind by an elderly and successful gentleman who told me about his experience in a small town, in which he was engaged in the dry goods business some years back. It seems that credit was extended to everyone by the local merchants and a tremendous business they all did—until they went out of business. His store sold for cash without exception and he had a hard struggle by sticking to the policy. But after a period of time his business expanded, growing larger than any other. That is a lesson in setting a policy, even though it be foreign to existing conditions, and sticking to it. Never expect the staff to do anything you wouldn’t do and constantly set an example by working the hardest. * at a nt ARNET HEATHERLY of the Centre, London, answered an urgent plea from the London Boy Scouts for more toys for poor children. He ran a morning cartoon show, with the stipulated admission one toy in good working crder. The results were tremendous. Besides civic thanks the London Fress Press gave him two good write-ups and a picture of the take heaped in front of the theatre. He also gave a Christmas matinee for the lonesome chaps in town who were given a dinner by the municipality. *x = = AX PHILLIPS of the Grand, Sudbury, in plugging “Meet the Wildcat,” had a large devil’s head with a hat and whiskers in his lobby for two weeks before the date. It had red gelatine eyes, with lights set behind that projected a green hue and the effect was startling. He also distributed large window cards throughout the district and made arrangements for future space, thus being able to mail them from then on and save time and cost. Just by talking to the folks. That saves him traipsing around over a 20-mile area. It all depends how you stand with the folks, I guess. Good work, Max. We like to see you make your work easy and at the same time do a good job. a * = —~ > Page 7 Columbia Busy EMM s xX =:,|On New Features By Lloyd M. Mills ; Edgar Buchanan yesterday was assigned to a feature role in “Mr. Twilight,” which co-stars Cary Grant, Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman. George Stevens is producing and directing this comedydrama, one of the company’s most important productions. Sidney Buchman is responsible for the screen play. Buchanan, MHollywood’s acting dentist, was award ‘ed a long term contract by Co lumbia following his screen debut as Judge Bogardus in “Arizona.” Since then he was featured in “Penny Serenade,” “Texas” and “You Belong To Me.’ * + a a * Launched into production this week, “The Man Who Returned To Life,” yesterday acquired Roger Clark for one of the major roles. This new mystery drama which Lew Landers is directing has John Howard, Lucille Fairbanks, Ruth Ford and Marcella Martin as the leads. ££ eS eR Ue Ian MacDonald, Pierre Watkin, Aguglia and young Dickie Moore have joined the imposing cast which Columbia is assembling for “Martin Eden.” This screen version of Jack London’s seafaring novel went into production last week, with Glenn Ford, Claire Trevor and Evelyn Keyes as the headliners and Stuart Edwin filling a feature role. = af = = at Four feature roles were filled yesterday for the elaborate production, ‘Trinidad,’ when Veda Ann Borg, Roger Clark, Frank Jenks and Frank Sully were added to the cast. Janet Blair, Pat O’Brien and Brian Donlevy have top spots. Cameras are scheduled to start rolling this week, with Director Gregory Ratoff at the helm. “Trinidad” has as its background the recently acquired American defense outpost. Runyon Produces First for RKO Henry Fonda has been signed by RKO Radio for the starring part in “Little Pinks.” This is the picture with which Damon Runyon, crack columnist and fiction writer, makes his bow as a producer. “Little Pinks” is an unpublished story of Runyon’s authorship, with a Broadway night club background. Lt. Com. Frank W. Wead has been signed by Producer Reeves Espy to write the screen play of “Bombardier,” a picture of the men who operate the secret bomb sights in the twin engine Army bombers.