Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 9, 1942)

Vol. 8, No. 37 > Address all ‘Yommunications—The Managing Editor, s Canatlian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Published , Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., 5th Floor, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ont,, Canada. Phone ADelaide 4310, Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. A Nay Vote Every time we get excited about what the motion picture industry is doing for the war effort we run across something, the substance of which is “Not Enough.” We think Hollywood is doing a wonderful job and so do any number of leaders. But not everyone thinks so. Some of the negative votes remind us of the Eddie Cantor story about the man who kept ordering sandwiches and complaining, “Not enough bread.” Until he was given a loaf of bread cut in half the long way as the ceiling and cellar of his snack. After which he chirped up, “What's the idea of still giving me two slices?” But maybe the complainants aren’t so far. wrong at that. In PM, the New York newspaper, Louis Levitas praises Frank Capra’s army films but introduces his article with this: “Compared with the ardently all-out film industries of Britain and Russia (or Germany, for that matter), Hollywood has gold-bricked shamelessly in our war effort. As a sort of nuisance tax for the privilege of remaining on its glamor-as-usual basis, the industry has been performing a bare minimum of wartime duties..These, however, are only part-time gestures. Hollywood’s guiding business policy on the whole still is to capitalize on the war as a topical, flagdraped frame for the same old irresponsible trivialities. The few lucky strikes like “Mrs. Miniver” and “Wake Island” do not alter the fact. But if the movie companies themselves have been slow to perceive their full-time duty as trustees of our most influential medium of information, the individual artists and technicians have been unstinting in their contribution.” What About the Public? Would the public be satisfied if Hollywood met Mr. Levitas’ ideas of what should constitute its output? The public has made plain its preference for war matter in newsreels and a good part of it demands war features. But most of all it wants entertainment and recreation. Many people want escape through films that are completely unrelated to the war effort. The relaxation thus obtained keeps them mentally fresh for their tasks. Music, it has recently been discovered, can boost. production if played during working hours. But what kind of music? Martial music is inspiring but not relaxing. Most of the music played in war plants is popular stuff about love. It’s evidence of the public taste. How can the people be kept coming to the hoetren if the screen material contains more war matter than the folks have an appetite for? As war consciousness grows, so will war themes be increased. Skating ahead of the puck won't help win the game. These things don’t concern the critics. How it’s possible to make hundreds of films with the same theme and keep them of interest to the public is something beyond the creative talents of film makers. The same applies to plays, radio dramas and so on. It has never been done and is perhaps an impossibility. Why should the critics worry? It isn’t their job. They can tell us what ought to be done—but they can’t help us. Canadian FILM WEEKLY sor 2 )\Film Men Help. Onell Ae ie ee ee HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Soldier Shows (Continued from Page 1) men very active on this committee: Henry L. Nathanson of Rezal Films and Jack Arthur of Famous Players. Harry Sedgewick, representing radio, was part of the Canadian film scene for years. Since September, 1939, when the committee came into being, 145 movies were part of the general entertainment offered. Some idea of the great work of this committee is shown by the fact that in the Jast two months it staged. 36 live shows befcre 40,000 soldiers. The entertainers taking part travelled nearly 3,000 miles to bring cheer to the various training centres. Since September, 1939, 737,450 men in uniform and their friends, at 40 camps, enjoyed 676 stage shows, which involved 42,422 miles of travel. And the work is still going strong. All this activity took place in Military District No. 2 and Air Training Command No. 1, RCAF. At eight centres in the Toronto district, “since war began, 295 | stage shows and 145 movies have been given to a total attendance lof 364,000, involving travel of 1,236 miles. In the same period at six centres in Camp Borden, 250 stage shows have been given before an attendance totalling 265,500 and involving travel by entertainers of 26,550 miles. In 26 other centres or halls, in M.D. No. 2 and Air Training Command No. i, RCAF, 131 stage shows have been presented in the same period before an attendance totalling -107,800. Mileage travelled by entertainers was 14,556. Although this work was carried on by the Citizens’ Committee. supported by private and personal donations up to April of this year, the expenses in connection with this work are now being paid from the revenue received by the committee through the collection of salvage. This splendid work has only been possible through the untiring sacrifices of members of the entertainment sub-committee of which Captain Norman Wilkes is chairman. His very active supporting members are Jack Arthur, Major K. Barr, Fred Maines, Major H. Morwick, Ralph McKeown, Henry lL. Nathanson, Harry Sedgewick and J. R. Johnston, executive secretary. The entertainment sub-committee is only one of 20 sub-divisions of the Citizens’ Committee for Troops in Training, which at all times are concerned with private sports equipment, canteen entertainment, hostel accommodation, 4 September|-9th, 1942 iNo Period Shift |For Film Rentals (Continued from Page 1) than those in effect during the general basic period of September 15th to October 11th, 1941. Canadian exhibitors got the impression that the move would cost them higher rentals. This idea was furthered in the controversial booklet just issued by the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Association under the signature of Barnett BE. Laxer, its president. It is repeated in several places and an _ exhibitor using those pages as information would take it for granted that his rentals would be higher. According to Mr. McMullen, the 1941-42 contracts have to do oniy with distribution, such as_ the amount of product purchased and the freezing of runs, etc., all other impressions notwithstanding. In the’ meantime the draft of the new regulations is still at Ottawa awaiting official approval or disapproval. Just what course Ottawa will take is hard to foresee, the Indies predicting that they won’t be okayed and the distributors saying nothing. Mainly in dispute are those clauses dealing with the moving of the basic period forward one season; the lumping of the top category pictures with special features and the forced buying clause. Court Affirms 12.05's Ban for Hamilton A motion to quash a by-law of the Hamilton, Ont., Police Commission, prohibiting the holding of midnight shows on Sundays, except on Sundays preceding a public holiday, was dismissed in Osgoode Hall, Toronto, on: Sept. 2nd, by Mr. Justice Urquhart. H. L. Freshman of Hamilton appeared for the motion in behalf of the Estate of Leslie Gregory, while A. J. Polson, Hamilton city. solicitor, opposed. Mr. Freshman contended that the commission did not have the authority to pass such a by-law as it dealt with public morals and Sunday observance, which were not within the powers of the municipality. service, magazines and books for our men in uniform, in addition to giving advice to dependants of those in uniform. The executive chairman of the Citizens’ Committee since its inception almost three years ago is J. S. D. Tory.