Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 30, 1942)

Page 2 er. aR gel, Vol. 9, No. 1 Canadian FILM WEEKLY os=.30-3586'The Commandos jBiggest Money HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., Sth Floor, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Phone ADelaide 4310. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter Don’t Forget This! The Motion Picture Commitee of the Canadian Aid _to Russia Fund is in all-out action and the drive for your support is under way. There isn’t enough space in the big-* gest magazine in the world to tell you what you already know—what the Russians have done for us. It was suggested originally that theatre owners be assessed five cents per seat but this was dropped in favor of personal generosity, since the question of the theatre’s willingness to help doesn’t exist. All the money contributed goes right to the fund, all expenses for the theatre drive being borne by the Canadian Motion Picture War Services. Your cheques should be made payable to the “Canadian Aid to Russia Fund” and sent to your local chairman or to Herb Allen, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto. You will also be asked to play a Russian 8-minute short, “Children at War,” which is being distributed by Esquire. This is a fine attraction and the rentals for it will go directly to the fund. Associated Screen News is making the prints free. Arikino, New York, has donated the reel. Make your own contribution early so that you will be free to inspire others to do the same. No better form of protection for all that life means to you has ever been devised. ~ Canada Too? A most remarkable undertaking is Sol Lesser’s “Stage Door Canteen.” a United Artists release. The picture will mark the film debut of Katharine Cornell, the great stage star, and is loaded with almost as mony stars as there are in the heavens. The reason for this brilliant constellation is that the proceeds of the picture will go to the American Theatre Wing, which maintains canteens for USA servicemen in the large cities, and its affiliates. Lesser will get 81/2 per cent of the profits over and above production costs. The other 91/2 per cent will go to the canteens. “Stage Door Canteen” should do big business in Canada, as it will everywhere else. Will Canadian canteens get a share of the Canadian profits? We think they will, since the intention is to help canteens. The American Theatre wing, though it entertains Canadians visiting the USA, will probably be glad to see Canadian canteens get the benefit of Camadiam profits. It's something for Dave Coplan of UA in Canada to think about. Ask Monday Closing in USA Independent exhibitors, gathering in Philadelphia, passed resolutions recommending Monday closing of theatres on a national scale. The meeting was made up of Allied members and those who had joizied the war effort of the organization. The meeting suggested that the Monday closing plan would “conserve fuel, manpower and essential materials.” During the first World War American theatre men in’ many places closed on Mondays. The One Day Closing Pickford, Toronto, closed for a day to fix things up at the suggestion of the Inspection Branch of the Ontario Motion Picture Bureau. Philadelphia meeting described such action as “another patriotic contribution to the war affort by the motion picture industry. USA houses, of course, run for seven days of the week. Canada, running six playing days in every province but Quebec, would hardly be expected to fall in line with the suggestion. Draws Cheers (Continued from Page 1.) as a picturization of General McNaughton’s statement that the Canadian army is a dagger pointed at the heart of Berlin. Much of the film, particularly that part dealing with the adventures of Canadian troopers, was shot on Vancouver Island and it was fitting that the world premiere be held in that area, The universal bow of this great tribute to Canada’s khaki'd defenders of Democracy took place at the Capitol Theatre, Victoria, British Columbia and, from the growing adulation, the event will grow into nation-wide significance. With Famous Players donating the theatre, the local Gyro Club organized the sale of tickets and the $4,000 which resulted was presented by Lieutenant Governor W. G. Woodward towards providing for the comfort of the three armed services stationed at Vancouver Island, many members of which were shown in action by the picture. Press and audience went overboard for the film. It received a tremendous ovation from the 1,400 people who had crowded into the theatre, the capacity of which is 1860. Everyone of prominence in civil and military life was present at the gathering, led by Premier John Hart and the officers commanding each branch of the armed forces. There is a growing national consciousness in Canada, which was stimulated by the general war effort by all of its racial minorities. Since Canada, Britain and the rest of the empire have been joined in the fight against the Axis by other nations, Canadians have developed great pride in their sacrifices and accomplishments. This was manifested in the resentment against the Dieppe newsreels, which didn’t give Canada its due. Canadians now expect to have their war effort represented in its true measure. Hollywood has accepted that and each new war picture having some Canadian relationship shows more and more of the rea) Dominion. Impartial opinion is that the “Commandos Came at Dawn" not only gives our army its due but that it also presents an engrossing and uplifting example of the motion picture in wartime. Not since “Mrs. Miniver’ have trade reviews carried such marked and praiseful plaudits, a source of satisfaction to the Canadian motion picture industry. One said that “““The Commandos Strike at Dawn’ hurls a dramatic bombshell into the boxoffices of the nation.” That seems to be the tenor of all December 80th, 194 Year for H'wood — (Continued from Page 1.) eda lower net profit in 1942, others made marked financial gains in’ spite of the impost. Lower production costs, caused by restricted salaries and sets, have not yet entered the financial picture. Though quite a mumber of stars are in the services, their absence will have no bearing on the statements this year. These factors cannot be weighed until next year, and there is a chancé that before Hollywood manage to get over wartime hurdles new kinds of costs may originate, Technicians will have to discover ways of making smaller set® photograph like big ones and th increased time involved may nullify anything gained by lowered cost of materials. Last year Hollywood's total profits were something like $30,000,000. ‘There’s no doubt that” Empire and have just been un frozen. The return of foreign rentals, in some cases charged off in previous financial statements, and the maze of taxes will give the : annual reports an indefinite aspect. But one thing is sure—HolIywood has had a tremendous year. 4 Freedman New Head Of Indie Exhibs Ben Freedman of the Royal, Long Branch, was elected presi~ dent of the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Association at its annual elections last week. He Succeeded Barnet Laxer. Barney Goldhar of the Bluebell, Paramount and Kent, became vice-_ president; Harry Romberg, Metro, Toronto, is secretary; and Max Starkman, La Salle, Allenby and. Hudson, Toronto, is treasurer. eee) American trade press checkin " the picture. aoe The picture, it is reported, shoots Paul Muni way up again to the Anna Lee, a fine actress, shares the lead. Other star names are Lillian Gish and Sir Cedric Hardwicke. It was produced by Lester wi Cowan and directed by John Farrow, who returned to Hollywood after being invalided out of the Canadian navy. Because it accepts the task of showing Canada in action on one front, the eyes of Canadians are trained on the theatres, awaiting the showing of what 18 claimed to be an outstanding tribute to Can~. ada's soldiers, : { L