Canadian Film Weekly (Jun 17, 1942)

Vol. 8, No. 25 Address all communications to—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Published by Film Publicationa of Canada, Ltd, 5th Floor, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Phone ADelaide 4310. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Here is a Picture! Judging from the reams of praise devoted to the American showings of “Mrs. Miniver,”” MGM has turned out the great story of the war so far. Seeing it screened was a profound experience, This film of a middle-class English family in wartime is an example of the cinematic science as it should be. Technically constructed in an almost-perfect way, its pace increases imperceptibly from the first until, at the end, you are sharing the rush of events and action with the characters without being aware of the change. Its mechanics are so well-hidden and it moves so effortlessly that there is mo consciousness on the part of the auditor of being transported. Instead of sharing the lives of the leading characters, you become one of them. That is something too rarely accomplished by a motion picture. There isn’t a thing they do in the course of the things which beset them that you wouldn't. There is no attempt to win laughter by exaggeraticn, thrills by theatrics or sympathy by thick sentiment. The characters are not placed in an outlandish situation. In that way it’s the story of everybody and anybody who lives under Democracy. Because of these things it’s as downright human a film as the screen has ever seen. Who could ask more of a moving picture? Battlecry of Democracy Greer Garson, as Mrs. Miniver, gives a performance that will be long remembered and Walter Pidgeon, the Canadian actor from St. John, provides a rare characterization. But the words of Herbert Wilcoxon, as the clergyman addressing his flock in the bomb-wrecked church, are at once a credo and battlecry of Democracy: “We, in this quiet corner of England, have suffered the loss of friends very dear to us. Some—close to this church. George West, choir boy. James Ballard, station master and bell ringer, and the proud winner, only an hour before his death, of the Beldon Cup for his beautiful Miniver Rose. And our hearts go out in sympathy to the families who share the cruel loss of a young girl who was married at this altar only two weeks ago. The homes of many of us have been destroyed and the lives of young and old have been taken. There is scarcely a household that hasn’t been struck to the heart. And why? Surely you must have asked yourselves this question. Why, in all conscience, should these be the ones to suffer? Children, old people, a young girl at the height of her loveliness. Why these? Are these our soldiers? Are these our fighters? Why should they be sacrificed? I shall tell you why. Because this is not only a war of soldiers in uniform, it is a war of the people—of all the people— and it must be fought, not only on the battlefield, but in the cities and in the villages, in the factories and on the farms, in the home and in the heart of every man, woman and child who loves freedom! Well, we have buried our dead but we shall not forget them. Instead, they will inspire us with an unbreakable determination to free ourselves and those who come after us from the tyranny and terror that threatens to strike us down! Fight it, then! Fight it with all that is in us! And may God defend the right.” Canadian FILM WEEKLY June 17th, 1942 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor (Continued from Page 1) highly regarded in the business and financial world. Canadian motion picture people, while providing what is probably the best all-out effort of any industry, have feared to protest too strongly against what they considered excessive measures. The main reason, of course, is the fear that demagogues would claim that the war was not the first thing in their minds. Mr. Jeffers, as an expert and impartial observer, said what many motion picture executives and patrons have been thinking when he pointed out that Canada was curbing the industry with taxes and price pegs: “In Canada the encouragement is lacking which is given in the United States with increased admission prices and by less taxation. Here there is a Federal tax on motion pictures of 20 per cent, as against a similar tax in the United States of 10 per cent. In addition, with the single exception of the Province of Ontario, the Provincial governments impose taxes ranging from five to 17 per cent, which are added to the Dominion tax.” “Admission prices in Canada,” he points out to the general public, “have been frozen, which means that, regardless of higher operating costs, theatres are not permitted to increase their admission prices over those charged during the basic period of Sept. 15 to Oct. 11. This is not the case in the United States.” Mr. Jeffers suggests that people can easily get the wrong idea of movie earnings because boxOffice receipts in cities have exceeded the prewar level tunless they take into account the migration of workers from rural areas. “Canadian theatres find generally,” he writes further, “that in many communities, the point has been reached where the total cost of entertainment, including taxes, cannot be increased without a serious falling off in attendance. This would mean a loss of revenue both for the Government and the industry, and the industry cannot therefore do as good a job as greater resources would permit.” Film men feel somewhat vindicated as a result of Mr. Jeffers observations.They have looked at the American film scene, in which the industry gets every consideration, and noted that England gives first priorities for the rebuilding of wrecked theatres. Ottawa, so far, just keeps asking for things. (The complete article by Mr. Jeffers can be found on page 5.) June 17th, 1942 ‘Loew s, London, Canada Hits ‘a Films Hardest: Sale Disputed (Continued from Page 1) pany’s assets. The board of directors of the company, at a meeting held on May 20th, had appointed the Midland Securities Limited as exclusive agent for continuing negotiations for such sale at a suggested price of $250,000, less five per cent commission, subject to the approval of the shareholders. At past shareholders’ meetings dissatisfaction arose at the low net profits and instruction to the board to canvass the situation led to the offer of sale. A meeting of the shareholders was to have been held in Toronto on June 12th. It was intended that the sale be the chief subject of the meeting but the injunction would prevent any discussion or action of this nature. If the sale resulted, preferred shareholders would receive seven dollars per share and common shares would bring nothing. The preferred shareholders are entitled to ten dollars per share before holders of common stock are reimbursed in any way. The matter of legal fees, etc. makes it apparent that the latter would get no benefits. Josephine Johnson and others do not consider the sale advantageous and were successful in obtaining the injunction through their legal representative, R. L. Kellock, K.C. R. G. Ivey, K.C. acted for the defendants. The matter goes to trial. Silent Star Dead Orma Hawley, former motion picture ac. sess, who played 300 roles in the silent days, died in Rome, New Yorh ast week. HEATING AND VENTILATING CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS AHA / a