Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 5, 1942)

Page 6 First Commando Is Fine Film In the summer of 1940 when the Nazis were nearing Paris and the fall of France was imminent, a worker in a British factory by the name of Melbourne Johns found himself in France with some highly important war machinery. A week or so later, after an incredible series of adventures, he was back in England with the machinery. For weeks, he said little or nothing about his experiences and the way in which he had nearly lost his life over and over again in getting the equipment safely home. He just carried on with his work at the factory as if nothing had happened. He regarded the French business simply as a job that had to be completed. would never have done for the machinery to have fallen into enemy hands. An astute London Newspaper woman, Lady Patricia Ward, hit on the story. Michael Balcon, famous production head of Baling Studios rea. her report of that foreman’s story. He saw in it the makings of a great film. About a year ago, “The First Commando” went into production with a story based on that epic and written especially for the screen by J. B. Priestly. A big cast was engaged, with Clifford Evans as the worker, Tommy Trinder as a Cockney soldier in France and Constance Cummings as an American secretary in a French factory. Documentary expert Cavalcanti became associate producer, with Charles Frend as director. Russia Makes Film Of Polish Fight While the Nazis hammer heavily at them, the Russians have not lost sight of the meeds of her former neighbors for inspiration and instruction. A film based on Poland’s underground fight was made recently at Almaata, Soviet Russia, the temporary capitol of that country’s film world. On July 14th Mr. Wolski, chief of the Polish delegation to China, saw the film, the scenario for which was written by the Russian authors, Petker and Rublow and produced by Mosfilm. The film honors the heroic fight of the Poles and Jews, men and women, who are keeping up the fight against the Nazi occupation of their homeland under the firing squads of the invaders. The accompanying music includes the Polish national anthem. The feminine lead is played by Vera Orlova, a star well known here, and the male role is presented by Wladimer Szyszkin. Both are ably supported by the PolishJewish patriot Moses Goldblat. ae or is strictly independent. ELCOME to this column show man Dave Saifer of the Rialto Theatre in Winnipeg. On “Girl From Leningrad,’’ Dave, a few days in advance, screened the film for Civic Heads, Red Cross, Aid to Russia organizations, Hospital officials and newspaper editors, foreign and dailies. All Aid to Russia groups were issued postcards plugging the film, each head looking after distribution to his group. The entire North end of Winnipeg, populated mostly by foreign people, was circularized with a herald. He obtained official stills from the war front, which were set tup on one-sheet cards for window displays. Dave put out 100 window hangers, a screened job, throughout the busy North End district. Space was taken for advertising in the foreign papers as well as the dailies, and since all the editors had attended the screening, numerous excellent reviews were obtained. The Canadian News Co. Ltd. let Dave banner their trucks in Winnipeg for the playdates and a local Photo Studio tied up with Dave and bore the cost of a herald given out at the theatre for two weeks in advance. * oo = (8 ee again we hear from Reg Book in the Geneva Theatre in Orilla. On ‘‘My Gal Sal,” he decorated the marquee with cutouts of Hayworth. He had sheet music window cards and two complete music store window displays. Well advertised was a stunt that the first five readheaded girls would be admitted free each night. The interest created was very favorable and many attended every night. * * * HARLIE SMITH, the best looking manager in the North Country, hanging out at present at the Royal Theatre in North Bay, on “Swiss Miss,’ had special advance cutouts. He tied up with the music stores in the town for window displays, and a special downtown window display entitled “Drops From The Laurel And Hardy Picture ‘Swiss Miss,’” with the window full of cheese, mouse traps, broken dishes, mops, old water pails, old shoes, small brandy jug, etc. The interest created was very helpful. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Contributions to this column will be greatly appreciated from any member of the motion picture industry, from coast to coast, whether he has chain affiliations Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” c/o Film Weekly 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Out. Devsras PATTERSON, the would-to-be fisherman from the Regant Theatre in Creighton Mines, drops a line on recent activities, besides fishing, on “Amongst The Living” and “The Wolf Man,” Doug hung up the fishing pole and had an advance display in front of the theatre on the horror bill, this was placed outside for one week prior. On the marquee he had a three-sheet display with flashing green with ten watt bulbs for eyes. Also other horror window cards and ads in the paper on the “dare to attend” idea. Douglas sets aside so much time every week which he calls his “get acquainted” period and _ several days a week spends about three hours a day going around the town and district just knocking on doors, saying hello, introducing himself, asking a few questions, encourages them to attend his theatre, and if they can tell him without looking what is playing at his theatre that day, he give free duckets, so that today everyone welcomes this congenial gentleman to their household. Sometimes he is served a spot of “tea’’—northern tea. This is great stuff and we take our hat off to any man who is willing to go to work the hard way and bring friends and business to his theatre. In closing we say “Good Knocking” and good fishing. * * * RORY MASCARO of the Capi tol, Belleville on “The Fleet’s In,” sold the music stores for window displays and for recordings of the hit tunes. He played the music well in advance, on intermissions and before and after performances, with special lobby and front displays. * on a RANK REID of the Park Theatre in Chatham keeps the town Park-ized by always having something out every program, and now and then comes out with a big campaign on the specials. On “49th Parallel” he put out 50 window cards in the district, also 1,500 heralds, with a submarine cutout topping the marquee to create interest, carrying blazing copy “Canada Invaded by Nazis.” This keeps a constant interest in his lovely little theatre and the excellent entertainment value constantly offered. ‘ August 5th, 1942 N the double bill, “Gentleman after Dark” and “Yokel Boy,” Bob Brown at the Vanity, Windsor and his assistant, Ernie: Reid, carried out the following campaign: standee in lobby for two weeks in advance, two radio plugs promoted on a women’s program, a classified ad in personal column, to “what would you do?” etc. Street bally of small boy running around town with sign reading “Big Contest,” “special prices to anyone finding Yokel Boy from the picture ‘Yokel Boy’ now at the Vanity,” hence no prizes since Eddie Foy did not come to town, but it created a lot of interest. ae Co * TEWART GILLESPIE of the Marks, Ottawa, dropped a line to tell us about his campaign on “Mr. V’”. He used a mysterious Mr. V on the street, with cut-up photos of the mysterious man running in the local daily. Anyone catching the man was presented with passes and war stamps. The interest was carried right up to playdate, spaces in local windows were promoted and the cost of the campaign was small. His theatre being renovated, Stewart got busy using the outside scaffolding for display purposes. More on Stewart’s campaign will be in next week, since to date he could not neclude all the work. Notes from Ass'd Screen News Three National Film Board productions were recorded at Associated Screen Studios recenly, each with Lorne Green’s voice used ‘Inside Fighting of Action” and where the in narration. China” “Women titles. “Voice in Action” % * ae Harry Spiess of Castle Films Inc., New York, spent a day in Montreal recently, at Associated Screen Studios head office. * a ae A few months ago Miss Hilda Tees of Associated Screen Studio’s production department staff became Mrs. Ralph Hamilton. In July she left with the best wishes of the ASN staff to assume her fulltime job as Mrs. Hamilton. During the same month Signaller David Livingstone Ford returned from a spell of sea duty with the Canadian Navy to give his name to Marjorie Searight of the sales department staff, the ceremony taking place in St. Mathew’s Church, Hampstead. * a ik Recent visitor to Montreal and Associated Screen Studios was George E. Giroux, of Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, Hol ,lywood., .