Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 16, 1942)

SR September 16th, 1942 USA May Ban Double Bills (Continued from Page 1) gram and the nixing of dual bills will provide it. American exhibitors have, in many instances, ignored some of the war shorts because their competitors have done the same thing. A ruling will soon be forthcoming that will level the problem and make things fair for all. The American adjustments will have their effect in Canada, since the National Film Board has an arrangement whereby the war shorts of both countries will be exchanged. The question of the _ wellbalanced bill has bothered Canadian exhibitors for a long time, much less now than during the early part of the war. Public interest in war material of every kind has grown far beyond what it was two years ago, now that there is deeper realization of what the war means. Exhibitors have always cooperated with Ottawa in getting the most out of the screen for the stimulation of the war effort. Theatres use one war clip each week, besides much other footage. A recent report from Col. John A. Cooper of the Motion Picture Distributors’ Association showed that last year 26 clips, totalling 3,170 feet, were added to the newsreels. More than 10 government-sponsored trailers, among them Disney shorts, were added. For the last Victory Loan campaign 300 hundred prints were made available to theatres, 103 of these being used in Toronto. These figures, in some instances, are not complete. Then there are the NFB and USA war shorts. Most footage of this nature is produced by Associated Screen News and Film Laboratories of Canada. It appears now that the American attempt to solve the same problem may result in the end of the double bill, here as elsewhere. Pix About Dicks In Big Boom Whodunits are moving into prime importance in the motion picture world as the chief part of escapist entertainment. It is estimated that there are almost 50,000,000 mystery and murder fans on the continent. The direct result of this expanded interest was the increase of this type of feature from 48 in 1940 to 141 in 1941. And the new production has more of them slated than ever. Once the standby of the smaller studios, the major outfits have gone after the gore lore in big style. Canadian FILM WEEKLY OnThe Square with Hye Bossin ‘ : — | — I Wonder The USA government, through the Office of the Co-ordinator of Government Films, has produced a picture called “The World at War,” which gives an historical record of the present conflict. This film, which runs for an hour, goes back to Japan’s march into Shanghai in 1931 and reaches up to the present. Produced by Sam Spewack, it is being distributed by the major exchanges under the Auspices of filmdom’s War Activities Committee. Will Canada get the footage it deserves in that part of the film which deals with the actual war? It may be that, because they’re so close to us, they’ve looked past us. Canada, as a country whose entry into the war was practically synchronized with that of Britain, and as the first arsenal of Democracy, cannot be ignored in any history of this struggle. The glorious attack on Dieppe, the results of which reached into many Canadian hearts and homes, is another Canadian highlight in current history. Of this Quentin Reynolds, known to movie audiences everywhere for his inspiring narration to ‘London Can Take It” and “Christmas Under Fire,” and who introduces ‘Eagle Squadron,” had something interesting to say in his eye-witness report of the Dieppe adventure. Wrote Reynolds, there for the United Press: “In the main it was a Canadian party. About four-fifths of the landing force was recruited from Canadian regiments. The Canadians fight like Russians. No higher compliment can be given a fighting force.” “The World at War’ will probably get Canadian distribution and Canada’s part in it should be worth watching. x = v Takeups Sam Glazer and other film fishermen are raving about Frank Tomlin’s place, Ava Lodge, Lee’s Landing, where the finny opposition challenges you as you check in. Frank is familiar On The Square as chief of the Canadian National Telegraph offices in the Film Exchange Building. ... Al Iscove, former branch manager of UA in Calgary and now attached to the Toronto office, went on a corned beef binge when he got back here. Loves the stuff and hasn’t had enough of it since he left Toronto . . . Lorne Green, CBC newscaster and NFB narrator, is just getting over illness. He missed the assignment to talk up the Dieppe shots... Here’s a new one. PRC in the USA is offering two jungle pictures in one package, “Jungle Review” and “Swamp Woman’—both starring Ann Corio, the stripper. x = * * Harland’s Typographical Nuptials To those of you who read the Windsor Daily Star and are about to send a congratulatory note to Harland Rankin, manager of the Centre Theatre, Chatham, on the occasion of his forthcoming marriage—don’t. He’s already married. Has been for years. To those of you who know Harland personally and are about to mail him a sizzling condemnation for bigamy—don’t. Aforementioned newspaper printed a picture of Harland, looking slightly unhappy, beside a fetching frail pushing a pen feverishly on what is supposed to be a marriage licence. All this underneath the line, “Getting a marriage license in Sarnia.” Harland is a victim of a three-column typographical error. He was minding his own business, which was signing entrants for his Kent County beauty contest, a stunt that got wide interest and a terrific runoff at the Centre. Part of his business was spreading the news around but the newspaper ran the wrong copy with the picture. The story and picture of Harland’s alleged matrimonial misadventure didn’t fool anybody. As much of a homebody as a manager can be, Nancy and the missus didn’t believe it for a single minute. Everything happens to the poor theatre manager. (P.S. That'll teach you to be more tolerant of the typo bulls that crop up here occasionally.) Page 3 (Goetz Subs For Zanuck at Fox William Goetz, vice-president in charge of studio operations for 20th Century-Fox, will assume the production duties previously carried by Colonel Darryl F. Zanuck, now on active military duty with the U. S. Army Signal Corps, Spyros Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, has announced. Colonel Zanuck’s position as vice-president in charge of production will not be filled during his leave of absence. In the last year Colonel Zanuck, frequently absent from the Fox studios on army assignments, had delegated much of the studio production to the general supervision of William Goetz. Colonel Zanuck tendered his resignation as vicepresident and member of _ the board last week and _ received leave of absence to devote full time to army duties. William Goetz became associated with Fox in 1930 as associate producer and assistant to Sol M. Wurtzel. In 1933 he was appointed to a vice-presidency. He became assistant to Darryl F. Zanuck in 1937. Previously he had been connected with MGM and Paramount in a production capacity and was assistant producer for Corinne Griffith for three years. ITA Disclaims Laxer Booklet The booklet issued by the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors of Ontario under the signature of President Barnett E. Laxer, which attacked the state of the industry in behalf of the Independent exhibitors, was officially repudiated by the Independent Theatres Association at a recent meeting of its board of directors. The resolution, a copy of which was forwarded to Mr. MeMullen and Mr. Stewart, said that the booklet did not express the opinion of all the Independents in Canada. The ITA repeated its declaration to Mr. McMullen and Mr. Stewart that the Independent representation on the National Advisory Council was not truly representative. Three members of the Laxer organization are members and none from the ITA. Massey to Army? Unconfirmed news from Hollywood is that Raymond Massey, famed Canadian star, will return to Canada soon to join the services, a ee