Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 29, 1942)

~ ~ e April 29th, 1942 Canadian FILM WEEKLY The National Film Board Page 5 Ht Roly Young, Screen Columnist of the Toronto Globe and Mail, Describes Its Operation In This Second of Several Articles About the NFB In addition to the complete shows sent out on rural circuits by our National Film Board, an ever-increasing library of 16 mm. films ig being built up from which “any responsible organization, institution or individual” may obtain films at a nominal service charge. This charge is really a nominal one, running from 25c to 50c a reel. The films may be purchased outright also, at prices with range from $12 for a silent film and $15 for a talkie in black and white, to $45 for reels in color. The colorwork being turned out by the Film Board is particularly attractive, with soft, subtle tones and a complete absence of those florid reds and greens that often predominate in films. I saw several, including a particularly interesting reel called “Canadian Studios Plan Inter-Aid That the war to Hollywood is becoming more and more of a reality is attested by the measures adopted at a special meeting of the board of directors of the Association of Motion Picture Producers. Comprehensive plans for interstudio assistance and inter-use of equipment in the event of actual war damage; definite methods for inter-studio co-operation in carrying out the industry’s contribution to the war effort, both in the matter of production and the services of film personalities for personal public effort; Survey of the transportation and delivery problem with a plan to overcome the problem to be evolved by pooling resources; Employment of qualified engineers to determine what equipment now in production use which can be used in part-time production of materials for the armed forces; Analysis of all methods to conserve essential war materials in all phases of production on an industry basis, which also involves the possibility of the pooling via a central bureau to ration and devise means for repeated use of the same materials. Disney and Goldwyn Walt Disney announces the start of a special short production to star Goofy which will be designed to accompany the showings of the Samuel Goldwyn Production, “Pride of the Yankees.’’ These Disney and Goldwyn films will be simultaneously released by RKORadio, Roly checks on the intentions of the NFB and the nature of its product in this article. Also revealed are its charges under certain conditions. Interest in the NFB is growing every day. The American periodicals pay considerable attention to its issues in the USA and the New York Post recently devoted two pages to stills from “This is Blitz.” Certain legislators have awakened to the influence of the NFB in Canada. R. H. McGregor, Conservative from York East, has been asking questions in the house about the salaries and personnel. The Board, it was revealed, employs 54 men between the ages of 18 and 45. Landscape,” in which the beauty of a Canadian travelogue is combined with some first rate education in art by the famous Canadian painter, A. Y. Jackson. Many of Mr. Jackson’s finest paintings are reproduced in full color, and the camera takes you with him on two sketching expeditions, one into Northern Ontario during the autumn, and an early spring trip to old Quebec. You have probably seen, as I have, many attractive reproductions of Mr. Jackson’s Quebec _ scenes. They’re particularly popular on Canadian Christmas cards. In the film I thought one of the scenes was filmed from one of these paintings until I noticed that figures far in the background were moving. Mr. Jackson gives part of the commentary himself, explaining his technique and theory of art, and the camera studies, moving back and forth between his canvas and the actual scene that he is painting, give a very clear interpretration of what the artist is trying to achieve and his method of obtaining his effects. The entire reel ig a thing of rare beauty. It is intended as the first of a series on Canadian artists, and plans are under way for sequels on Tom Thomson, David Milne, Emily Carr and others. Films such as these have a twofold value, first as a _ cultural record, and secondly, as a very sugar-coated method of increasing our appreciation of native art. The fact that it is highly entertaining and attractive to view is an incidental asset and tribute to the creators. There is still another value in these films, and that comes in the form of indirect publicity for Canada arising out of their showings in the United States. So far, in many cases, the United States’ demand for Canadian films has been greater than it has been possible to meet. More than 100 United States film libararies handle the films south of the border, and have many hundreds of Canadian films being shown all over the continent to our American cousins, Iam speaking now only of the 16 mm. films, and will later refer to the success of the board’s regular commercial films in the United States. In Canada, incidentally, the board has established regional repositories (it sounds like a place to buy horses) in every Province. In Western Ontario, for instance, the films may be obtained through the Deputy Minister of Education in the Department of Education, here in Toronto. The eastern end of the Province is handled directly from the Film Board in Ottawa. There are similar repositories from .coast to coast. The board’s library includes all the “Canada Carries On” series which become available six months after their commercial release. Thus, you can now obtain the Academy Award film, “Churchill's Island,’”’ and many others like“ Atlantic Patrol,” “Battle of Brains,” “Heroes of the Atlantic,” “Letter From Camp Borden,” etc., etc. These shorter films run approximately twenty minutes, but there are aiso longer pictures. “Not Peace but a Sword,” which this paper originally presented at the Canadian National Exhibition, is in the libraries. “London Can Take It,” the sensationally successful picture with the Quentin Reynold’s comentary, has been acquired by the board, as has the well-known British feature, “The Lion Has Wings,” with Merle Oberon and Ralph Richardson, Another Globe and Mail presentation was “Flight for Liberty,” which has proved so popular that the Film Board has 180 copies of it in circulation. Despite the popularity of its product, in which the board takes justifiable pride, it now and then runs up against prejudices which are not without their humorous implications. At the C.N.E. last year this paper presented a short musical film made by the Film Board. It contained music by the R.C.A.F. Band, and a night club performer singing the Australian Air Force song, “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder Will the Angels Play Their Harps For Me?” It was necessary to take the number out of the Film Board shows in rural districts because those audiences considered the song sacrilegious and resented it. Also rather comical is the fact while these Canadian films are so tremendously popular in United States, they are not shown in England. The British Government classifies them as “Alien”! Correction re NFB The National Film Board’s 194243 appropriation is $237,000. It was printed everywhere incorrectly as $737,000. Neagle, Wilcox Plan Canadian Benefits creen star Anna Neagle and Producer-director Herbert Wilcox left New York for Hollywood less than a week after their return from England, where “They Flew Alone” was filmed around the famous careers of the flying Mollisons. They will begin a round-up of talent at the film capital for the special shows to be staged as a benefit for the Air Cadet League of Canada. Players will be invited by Miss Neagle and Mr. Wilcox to take part in ten performances, throughout principal Canadian cities, of Noel Coward’s play “Tonight at 8:30.” All participating will volunteer their services for this benefit on behalf of the ACL, comprising lads who later enter the Royal Canadian Air Force. Chaplin's "Dictator' Stolen in Paraguay A band of five masked men stole the print of Charlie Chaplin's “The Great Dictator” from the Ascuncion theatre in which it was to have had its first Paraguay showing. It was the second try in four days to steal the film. The men forced a workman to open the storage room, The film, previously barred because of Italian and German protests, was placed on the okay list when Paraguay severed diplomatic relations with the Axis in January.