Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 25, 1942)

Page 6 Mag Says Movies | Deserve Break Pic, popular illustrated magazine, makes some _ interesting points about the place of the motion picture industry in its issue of November 24th. An editorial states that movies should get special consideration from the government. Here is part of the editorial: “Hollywood continues to tome through, in spite of normal wartime material shortages; resourcefulness handles them, so far. Man power is a different, increasingly important worry. The names of those men stars who are going to be missing from the screen have been pretty well publicized; they include screen favorites and technicians —— directors, cameramen, sound men, writers, etc. “Just as we are finding out that the drafting of farm manpower has created a grave problem, manpower is the movie-maker’s problem—and both food and entertainment have always rated as prime war-time ‘musts’. “Maybe that problem rates par with other war-time industry — it doesn’t involve large numbers — mainly hard-to-replace_ training! and experience. “We've got to have entertainment—not just pictures—to keep on with that ‘morale’ job, and to continue the no mean millions of revenue flowing to the Treasury from the amusement taxes and industry profits. ... “All of which is by way of saying the movie industry is important these days—deserving of special consideration—more than the official kind words they are receiving. Maybe some of its young men will have to be told that they also serve who bring} good cheer, and the time may come when overalls or make-up might be just as distinguished a badge of service as is the uniform.” Companies Kick Back Some Unfrozen Coin It is likely that $250,000 of the coin recently thawed out by the British Exchequer and returned to the studios will be presented to the British War Relief. Will Hays and Banker Winthrop Aldrich are fixing it up. The latter heads British War Relief in the USA Levey's New Offices Jules Levey, ex-Torontonian, president of Mayfair Pictures, Inc., has opened new offices in the RKO Building, New York City. He has appointed Archie Mayers as his assistant. Canadian FILM WEEKLY CANADIAN SHOWMEN FOR CANADIAN SHOWMEN @, it 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 or is strictly independent. Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” c/o Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Ont. ERNEST HATFIELD, Capitol Theatre, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, broke up his ads on “Reap the Wild Wind” into a number of inch boxes throughout the local paper. Each had a head photo and some catchy copy. These ran for several days in advance, appearing on every page. A goodsized reader helped provide more information. This attention-getting idea worked out very weii. Pad NTANAGER STEWART GILLESPIE, Assistant Manager Ernie Reid and Eldon Climer of the staff of the Elgin, Ottawa, worked out a strong campaign for “The Moon and Sixpence.’ They arranged a display of paintings by young Ottawa artists in the lobby and invited the patrons to vote for their favorites, os Bg (leas HERBERT, Centre, London, works a pleasing idea. When a patron who is wearing glasses enters the theatre during the winter his glasses steam up and he can’t see. The doorman offers him a sheet of Kleenex with the compliments of the theatres. A tieup with an optical firm usually yields the little pink wiper but because of the shortage Kleenex must be relied on now. A contain ler attached to the ticket box holds the Kleenex. as | Pee of the letters of thanks being received by man agers for their help during the vt * * awarding | Victory Loan are those received prizes to them. A slide called at-| by Bill Payne, Granada, St. Thom tention to the display. as, and Harland Rankin, Centre, The picture, about the life of | Chatham. an artist, lent itself to certain types of exploitation and the boys took good advantage. They made| assistant tieups and window displays, working with local bookstores and the Public Library. They even hooked up with the National Art Gallery. These things were done beside the usual heralds, etc. = * = AROLD KING of the Cinema, Toronto, is now into his second series of successful auctions for the British War Victims’ Fund. Various merchants donate the articles, which Harold auctions from the stage. Much newspaper space has resulted from the idea and interest in his neighborhood is spreading rapidly. * * PROB BROWN, Vanity, Windsor, has been quite busy talking for “Talk of the Town.” He found a lady who was able and willing to whisper and she started the biggest whispering campaign on record. She went through all the large department stores, asking what T.0.T.T. meant. The word spread around like a whirlwind and finally hit all switchboard girls, who gave their full cooperation in spreading the good word. Music and newsstand tieups were the order of the day and there were a lot of laughs. us | —<—<— Et ———— a Bill’s letter, from H. S. Easton, organizer in Elgin County, reads: “On behalf of the Naticnal War Finance Committee, I would like to extend to you our very warm thanks and appreciation of your share in the Third Victory Loan Canvass, not only in the City of St. Thomas but in the County of Elgin. Our appreciation also goes to two of your very fine employees, Mr. Robertson and Mr. Mills, who through you kindly consented to go with me nightly to operate the moving picture projection unit throughout’ the County. In my humble opinion the Moving Picture Industry is very essential to the war effort and there is no doubt that the fine films being shown throughout the country in the various theatres are an immense help in moulding people’s opinion favorable to the war effort.” = ARLAND'S letter, from J. S. Brown, assistant organizer for Kent County, read in part: “I should like to express our gratitude for the fine cooperation received during the Loan from your theatre, staff and yourself. Your contribution to the success of the loan has heen an important one.” My oa | November 25th, 1942 {Esquire Offers Some Good Ones Esquire’s list of English and Russian productions is growing with the addition of new and fine features. On the current list is a picture which has won great praise in England and the United States, “One of Ourcraft is Missing.’ It is the story of British flyers baling out over Holland after their plane has been damaged while raiding Stuttgart and follows the same pattern that made ‘49th Parallel” an outstanding success. Its American showing, preand public, caused much comment from trade and newspaper reviewers. It’s revelations of the Dutch Underground are heartening. With its aid they defeat Nazi attempts to capture them and return to the skies, this time bound for Berlin. In England and the United States “One of Our Aircraft is Missing” drew lineups and there is no doubt that it will get the same welcome in Canada. The powerful pull of Russian pictures has led to the importation of the cream of the Soviet crop. “This is the Enemy” and ‘Moscow’ Strikes Back” won strong patronage and much editorial space. Both pictures were endorsed officially by Victory Loan committees throughout the country and are still keeping wickets busy in the smaller runs. Now Esquire offers another thrilling Soviet film, ‘In the Rear of the Enemy,” one of the most powerful films to come out of Russia. It is the story of the war on skis and is made clear by simple English dialogue. Very few English shorts are distributed in Canada and when one is brought over, it must have special appeal. That’s exactly the case with “Yellow Caeser,’ a 20minute funny sketch of the world’s arch-failure, Mussolini. The scene is Libya. Free French Leader Praises "Commando' Al Perley, manager of the Midtown Theatre, Toronto, received a congratulatory tlegram on playing Esquire’s “The First Commando” from Lieut.-Col. Pierrene, delegate of the Fighting French National Committee in Canada. It read: “My personal congratulations for playing The First Commando at a time so well chosen. This entertaining and exciting picture is of the greatest interest to all those who try to imagine how Europe can be liberated from Nazi domination.” ° Wises eSB ie wT ies