Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 22, 1942)

Page 2 ¢ \ = Y .. —WVol. 8, No. 30 July 22nd, 1942 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Xgditor Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian: Filmi Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada\ s ‘Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd, 5th Floor, 21 Dundas Square, ‘Canadian FILM. WEEKLY Toronto, Ont.,, Canada. Phone ADelaide 4310. Price 5 cents each or $200 per year. Frozen Runs Exhibitors are wondering how much truth there is in the street reports that the newest batch of film regulations from Ottawa will freeze runs under every possible condition. This has them worried and quite a number have already expressed their disagreement with such a plan. There are many rural situations in which such a scheme removes the possibility of relief from a depressing state of things. This ruling. added to the ones which bar the inauguration of contests and premiums, freezes despair too and ends any chance of cutting into Bingo. Especially in places with but one theatre. What point is there in it? Where one theatre has a village to itself, there is no competition for pictures, runs, zones, protections, priorities or any of the things which occupy exhibitors in highly-competitive situations. Why not recognize that and leave it alone, allowing the operator to work out his own destiny without opposition? He certainly requires much less of the director's time and judgment. An exhibitor in a town that has shrunk from a population standpoint because of the migration of men and women to war work centres and the armed forces should be allowed to take steps to improve his position, whether it means contracting more attractive pictures or using legal contests or premiums. What does it serve anyone to see’ him struggling against measures which, when drafted, didn’t take him into account? Another thing: Much to-do has been made about the great effect of motion pictures on morale and their help to relaxation. This type of picture is being made by the richer studios. They have the best talent in every direction and so the best pictures come from them. Are the people who: live in a one-theatre fown to be denied the benefit of a “Mrs. Miniver’” or an “Eagle Squadron” because the theatre operator, having contracted the product of a minor studio, can’t change—even at the public request? It's something to think about. Why Secrecy? Comes a new batch of grapevintage and the huzzbuzz, hue and hullabaloo starts all over again. The boys in the back room and those out front pool their will-o’-thewhispers and indulge in their own variation of the hot stove league. But with more intensity than usual, as is the case: where one’s living is involved. In the Canadian film field guessing the newest brainwaves of the Advisory Council and the Theatre and Film section of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board is an occupational peculiarity that is becoming chronic. This’ is understandable. Here is a vast industry which knows little of what is about to happen to it until an official order comes from Ottawa. True, there are delegates from many crusts of the business on the Advisory Council and we presume they report back to the people they represent. But there are organizations which contend that the Advisory Council is not wide enough in scope to be truly representative of themselves and the hundreds of unaffiliated theatre operators. The director and the Advisory Council have agreed on a minimum of publicity to their discussions and because of this the rest of the country doesn’t know what is occupying © July 22nd, 1942 [Hollywood's Huge{Will the Board ‘42-43 Schedule |Freeze All Runs? (Continued from Page 1) 1942-43 schedule, announced at its annual sales convention held in New York last month. Walter Wanger will contribute two, ‘“Arabian Nights,” not shooting, and a film hitherto untitled. Alfred Hitchcock is now working on “Shadow of a Doubt.’ Deanna Durbin will be starred in ‘‘Forever Yours,’’ directed by Jean Renoir, and “Three Smart Girls Join Up.” Honors for the largest number of films go to Republic Pictures. The studio announced 66 features at its New York sales convention in May. ‘Thumbs Up,” “New Icecapades Revue,” “Hit Parade of 1943,”" five Gene Autry specials (these may have to be changed now that Autry is in the air corps). MGM leads the big-five with its 50-52 schedule. This includes “A Yank at Eton,” starring Mickey Rooney; “For Me and My Gal,” a musical also _ starring Rooney and Judy Garland; the long overdue “Panama Hattie,” costarring Ann Sothern and Red Skelton; Ann Harding will make her welcome comeback in “Byes in the Night,” aided by Edward Arnold; an inevitable Andy Hardy picture, “Andy Hardy Steps Out.” Columbia Pictures are making a powerful bid with 48 features, the outstanding of which will be, according to present indications, “The American Way,” a Kaufman Hart Broadway hit of several seasons ago. them at the moment. That knowledge comes with the order to do this or that. Thus reaction for or against projected ideas hardly takes form before a final ruling has been announced. The Council and the director seem to think that this sort of thing serves them best. We see no point in it, though we have observed it, ignoring unofficial discussions only to find that other publications have not. Perhaps those secret discussions are so because they would provide information for the enemy. That isn’t likely. Unless itis so, why not allow the Council doings to be reported and stop all the panic the rumors cause? Please correct:us if we are being unpatriotic. — Ne eee (Continued from Page 1) ; ber 11th, which would have ‘& lated it to 1940-41 runs. The Advisory Council has been facing some such measure for almost two months without a decision and it is heard that it was actively opposed by certain delegates. The smaller exhibitors are none too pleased with the prospect of it. They point out that their mistakes cannot be corrected and that they cannot improve their positions in any way, no matter what the circumstances. There are parts of the country in which theatre exhibition is far from ideal, especially in places affected by the movement of population due to war work and army service. The inability to have recourse to more attractive product or premium inducements and contests leaves them licked for good and all. Also, the gossips have it, the exhibitor will have to buy the exact same amount of features as formerly. Since most exhibitors overbuy for the privilege o switching, this may cost incl considerable money over a number of years. But this problem may vanish in the face of a decrease in Hollywood production. Another sore point is the report that the exhibitor will have to take the same amount of specials as formerly, though the exchanges are not forced to restrict themselves to a previous number. The exchanges may designate more specials if they wish. If the contract holder won’t play more than the amount used during the previous season, the exchange can sell away from him, thus establishing added competition. Theatre operators are in a quandary and uneasy about the shape of things to come. ‘Ellen Drew is Hot Stuff In Salt Lake City they think Ellen Drew is the hottest thing in pictures. There’s a reason. She was on a local screen kissing Joel McCrea when it caught fire and the smoochers were enveloped in flames. The unromantic fire department said it was a short circuit. Complete Theatre Equipment and Supplies COLEMAN ELECTRIC CO. 258 VICTORIA ST:, Toronto, Ont.