Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 3, 1943)

ec ig THE PICK OF THE PICTURES REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS | March 8, 1948 COAST-TO-COAST COVERAGE VoL 8, No. 10 *Hitler’s Children’ Top Drama PACKS REAL POWER FOR SCREEN AND BOXOFFICE “HITLER’S CHILDREN” RKO Fire Handling Wins Press Praise (Continued from Page 1) ordering an okay of all halls and the issuance of a safety which, as the Ottawa pointed out, proved its value over and over again. Famous Players and other circuits, as well as the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, have issued bulletins of instructions on how to deal with or prevent fires. The story of the handling of the fire in Ottawa, as it affected the ~~ | | trailer, | Journal | theatre, was told by the Journal in | this way; after it revealed that Constable John Vaughan had warned Mr. Stevens, manager, of the fire: ‘The latter used a public address system to tell the capacity audience that there was a fire up the street, and not to be alarmed if they smelled smoke in the thea tre. He asked any persons who} wished to leave to do so quietly. | A. few minutes later, when the | fire had reached a stage where the | glare lit the street, he posted his | four ushers at the emergency exits and had the doorman, James Stack, open Then he told the though there was no audience that ed advisable for them to leave the theatre quietly. “«T was really proud of the way my boys handled the situation,’ said Mr. Stevens afterward. ‘Each usher stood at the door, caution ing the people to take their time | and telling them they were not irydanger. There was absolutely no rusti or panic. They just stood up ,and put on their coats and hats and went out as though it was | the end of the picture.’” ‘Two women were the only peo ple in the entire audience who attempted to hurry, They were stopped promptly by Constable Vaughan, who had remained in the thea the front entrances. ' immediate | danger from the fire, it was deem| tre to assist Mr. Stevens in handl| ing the crowd. “‘'Only four people wanted their money back, which was something unusual,’ Mr. Stevens Within a few minutes the theatre was empty, except for the staff, Smoke was seeping in from the fire next door but the heavy fire wall prevented serious damage and not even the tons of water poured on the blaze came through into the theatre,” smiled. | (Running Time: Edward A. Golden and RKO deserve more than the showmen’s appreciation for creating, in “Hitler’s Children,” a film of unusual boxoffice power. They are entitled to the thanks of all who see things our way for their courage in tackling untried material of a type essential to any future account of the current struggle. For it is from Youth that comes each new physical contribution to the struggle. It is the Youth of future generations which will benefit from the sacrifices of a free world. Today our Youth is led to public school and marches out of it to the training school. Our young men and women face the coming ordeal bravely and eagerly, with considerable understanding of why they must. But a picture such as “Hitler’s Children” is a searing document that will drive away any youthful uncertainties. What gives it such monumental meaning and such raw power? Possibly its essential honesty and the absence of cinematic shilly-shallying. Perhaps much of its strength derives from the fact that it doesn’t glorify the life of youth here, leaving it up to the young people to recognize its value and defend it. Instead it shows what our enemies consider a suitable substitute. The conclusions are thus left up to Youth. It is a compliment of the finest kind to those about to reach the age of self-expression in a complicated and dan gerous world. It is a compliment that can win but one answer. Not that Youth has held back in even the slightest way. But if there was ever a document that can make conviction out of opinion, belief 83 Minutes) out of uncertainty, it is “Hitler’s Children.” “Flitler’s Children” is from the book of the same Gregor Zeimer, whose revelations shocked readers on a large scale and deserved to be passed on to motion picture patrons. It stars Bonita Granville, Tim Holt, Kent Smith, Otto Kruger and H, B. Warner. It is cast to perfection, each player giving a fine performance, and boxoffice results of its showing to date prove the wisdom of its makers in not befogging the gold with an excegs of personal glamor. The film tells a simple story of two people ensnared in modern German life. Bonita Granville is the American girl, a defender of Democracy who, as a result of having been born in Germany, is subject legally to Nazi domination. A teacher in an American school, she meets Youth Leader Tim Holt when his troop attacks the American children. Holt, who was born in America, is sold on Nazi until its treatment of Granville, with whom he has fallen in love, name by caused him to see through it. In the end he tricks the Gestapo into letting him have a national hookup, denounces Nazidom and dies together with the girl. Kent Sm aS an / professor, is superb. Otto Kruger, as a Gestapo chief, and H. B. Warner, as an rcowed clergyman, turn in excellent performances. “Hitler's Children” takes hold of the imagination of the audience early and never lets up. Nor does it hold anything back. It’s certainly one of the most osive pieces of celluloid in a while. AN IMPORTANT QUESTION Have You Returned Your ‘10 Best’ Ballots? ‘Thanks Industry For Russian Aid (Continued from Page 1) | Services Committee. } The Canadian Aid to Russia remendous support, |} exceeding its original quota by }more than double, and much of the fine work of | this due to was theatre men from coast to coast They got behind the Motion Pic ture Committee’s drive, chairman | ned by Herb Allen, in great style. In a report issued to the press } Mr. McLean wrote: “Members of the National Com | mittee of tn | | desire to ex press their thanks for the suport received from Newspapers, Radio Stations, and the | Motion Picture Industry in Canada. | This been chief | f cess of the Fund. leading Ne support has the ctor in the suc early pa per National ions have very in Canada and both Private R: Sta space and time unstintingly without fee to of Motion Theatres in donating films | Theatres for the | Fund.” | To Mr. Fitzgibbons Mr. McLean wrote, in part: “An interim report of the Canadian Aid to Russia Fund has been given to the press today, and be| cause of your yport 1 felt I wo you a | copy. | “When I time the Fur | seemed no assurance which the tussia has met. “Your response for publicity v ling experience, an remember it with | ers ; and have generous like to senda the pheno men iccess Soc te request ncouragI shall always gratitude has Canvasser, was the publicity : the News , ire Indus course, pot ent which we papers, the Motion Pic received fre try and the R: “Again, on behalf of the tional Executive sincerest thanks." 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