Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 22, 1942)

Page 6 T color for WB's ‘The Miracle Feeling that the war-torn world will welcome a film of deep religious feeling and significance, Warner Bros. has started preparations for the screening in Technicolor of “The Miracle,” the impressive stage spectacle originally produced by Max Reinhardt and presented by the late Morris Gest. Samson Raphaelson, well known playwright and screen writer, has been engaged to turn the original stage script of Karl Volmoeller into a screen play. Edmund Goulding, who recently completed ‘The Constant Nymph,” has been assigned to direct “The Miracle,” and the producer will be Henry Blanke. Tentative plans are to release the production next Easter. + = * Alan Hale and Whitford Kane, the latter a recent recruit to films after a long stage career, have been added to the cast of ‘The Adventures of Mark Twain.” The film biography of the great American author, with Frederic March and Alexis Smith in the principal roles, has gone into production under the direction of Irving Rapper. ae ca = Warner Bros. has paid the first installment of $250,000 for the screen rights to “This Is. The Army,” Irving Berlin’s all-soldier show which Uncle Sam is now presenting on the stage of the Broadway Theatre in New York City. In a fast double play, the quarter of a million dollars went right into the Army Emergency Relief Fund, the beneficiary of Sergeant Berlin’s show, which is a sequel to his “Yip Yip Yaphank” of the last war. Sergeant Berlin received a check for $250,000 from Major Albert Warner, representing the film company, and immediately turned it over to Major General Irving Philipson, representing the Army fund. That fund will also share in the film’s profits. * cao = Erskine Caldwell, one of the foremost contemporary American authors, has been signed to write the screen play for the film to be based on Ex-Ambassador Joseph E. Davies’ ‘Mission to Moscow.” Recently Caldwell returned from Russia, where he served as a war correspondent and gathered the material for his latest book, “All Out on the Road to Smolensk.” Of his many previous works, the best known as “‘God’s Little Acre,” “Kneel to the Rising Sun’ and “Tobacco Road.” In addition to writing the last-mentioned as a novel, he collaborated with Jack Kirkland on the immensely successful play that was made from it. oe. 8 loa, LD Canadian FILM WEEKLY CONTRIBUTED BY CANADIAN SHOWMEN FOR CANADIAN SHOWMEN Contributions to this column will be greatly appreclated from any member of the motion picture industry, from coast to coast, whether he has chain affiliations or is strictly independent. Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” c /o Film Weekly 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Ont. | PA just ain’t no justice in this world, moans Jack Alexander of the Brock theatre, Toronto. It seems there was a Beauty Contest in the Brock-Dundas vicinity —and through a fluke (we are sure) Jack was not asked to join the contest! Cheer up Jack, ole boy—Beauty is only skin deep! * x = RED THOMPSON, Rex, London, played host to a couple of huskies of the Australian air force. Fred introduced the lads from the stage and they got a great big hand from the audience. The flyers took a bow and were very thrilled with their reception. This is great advertising and the natives loved it. * * * HOvse manager Reg. Book, under the supervision of Les Vicary, Geneva Theatre, Orillia, put out smart teaser cards on “Tortilla Flat’’ which read as follows: ‘Ready for occupancy, Tortilla Flat, where every room is a holiday.” Another card read “To Let Tortilla Flat, where every room is a Paradise etc. etc.” For “My Gal Sal” he had a tieup with two music stores, which included admission to the first five redheaded girls each night. * * * ILL PAYNE of the Granada, St. Thomas, has a coffin setup in his lobby for a horror program. This was all made of cardboard. A head of Frankenstein was modelled by his chief projectionist, Cliff Mills. The model was placed in the draped coffin. Bill tells us that the attention and comment this attracted has been terrific— hundreds of people came over to view the remains. Bill says that all credits go to his able operators and his up-and-coming assistant manager, Robert Thomas, formerly of the Crown theatre, Toronto, and Century, Hamilton. * ed * ia more cooperation such as this could be shown between managers, assistant managers, opera-~ tors, etc., theatre conditions in Canada would be much improved. All employees of a theatre should work together for the welfare of theatre and for their own welfare, regardless of position. OR “South of Tahiti” Max Philips, Sudbury, promoted grass mats and with palm trees (made by the staff) colored cutout of Marie Montez in a sarong, and carried out a snappy campaign. Jungle fronts, coupled with the display, caused much comment and proved to be a real crowd stopper. Cutouts and teaser ads were used well in advance. On “Close Call for Ellery Queen” a merchant cooperated with a window display, featuring: books on this series. Copy and playdate were prominently displayed in the foreground. = = * TEVE McMANUS, Baview Theatre, Toronto, ran a tieup matinee with a local dry cleaning establishment, giving a bargain show to the kiddies. Besides the usual price, the kiddies also had the privilege of bringing a dozen coat hangers, plus five cents. Steve says he gathered in about 700 coathangers, which were redeemed by the dry cleaner. * * * Boz BROWN of the Elgin, Otta wa, ran spot announcements via radio every morning and evening during the run of a “Laugh Week” program. He also covered the shadow boxes out front with paper and special copy re the All Laugh Show, using 24-sheet boards and tiein copy along these lines: ‘““‘We're telling you twice because it has double the laughs.” Clear ‘Charlie's Aunt’ The long delay in releasing ‘Charlie’s Aunt,’ 20th Century-Fox comedy starring Jack Benny, has been overcome and it will get its first Canadian run at the Imperial, Toronto. Universal had the Canadian rights because of an English film with a similar title and has agreed to withdraw objections. Earl Rowe Holds Party The Hon. Earl Rowe, M.P., held a@ garden party at Newton Robinson today to aid the DufferinSimcoe war service organization drive, which was initiated by the well-known film attorney. Proceeds were turned over to several Bombed Victims funds. A large crowd enjoyed the event. July 22nd, 1942 Columbia Reissues ‘Lost Horizon Because of the importance of Shangri La in current news as the mysterious base from which American fiyers recently bombed Tokio, Columbia will reissue its epic picture, ‘Lost Horizon” under the title of ‘Lost Horizon of Shangri La.” The film, produced and directed by Frank Capra, and starring Ronald Colman, is the picture version of James Hilton’s famous novel, “Lost Horizon.” Both book and picture have their most important sequences laid in the mythical Lamasery of Shangri La, in the Himalayan Mountains. “Lost Horizon,” had its premiere in March, 1937, and has been shown throughout the world with outstanding acclaim and box office success. Jane Wyatt plays opposite Mr. Colman in the leading feminine role, and among other members of an exceptional cast are Thomas Mitchell, Sam Jaffe, H. B. Warner, Edward Everett Horton, John Howard, Isabel Jewell and Margo. * * * After considerable discussion as to the naming of the topflight musical which went into production as “The Gay Senorita,’’ Columbia has decided on “You Were Never Lovelier’’ as the final title of this important Fred Astaire-Rita Hayworth starrer. “You Were Never Lovelier’” was chosen by Columbia officials because it is the title of what, according to all indications, will probably be the hit song of the six specially written for the production’s great score by Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer. The feature, now well along in work, reunites the spectacular dance team of Columbia’s ‘You'll Never Get Rich” in a romantic story with a glamorous South American background. * * * Director Charles Vido? has assigned the last of two top feminine roles in Columbia’s ‘‘The Desperados” ((formerly “The Pioneers’) to Evelyn Keyes, studio starlet much in the recent limelight. Claire Trevor has previously been announced for the other feminine spot, with Randolph Scott and Glenn Ford in the male leads, and Edgar Buchanan featured. Columbia’s first Technicolor feature, “The Desperados” its regarded as one of the most important pictures on the company’s sche Congratulations On July 24th Syd Taube the candy machine’s man, and Mrs, Taube will celebrate their 30th anniversary. The score to date is three children and a grandchild. It’s a happy event for all who know the popular team. | | | | } | i ' | {