Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 10, 1943)

ON a THE PICK OF THE PICTURES Vp BF 2 1 4 AW “ VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE InouUSTRY REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS March 10, 1948 "Keeper ro | } Sec Tahtenc Of Regulations The agitation caused in the industry by the fight in Quebec and Manitoba over juvenile admissions, and the attention being given fire regulations by government officials and exhibitor organizations has caused showmen to check the laws that apply in every case. Exhibitors are on the watch to see that careless employees don’t overlook any rules and leave the road open for trouble. Children big for their ages must not be allowed to buy their own tickets for evening performances. The ticket must be bought by an adult, who must buy one for himself and take the youngster to his seat in the theatre. The Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, in its latest bulletin, calls attention to Section 9 of the Cinematograph Act, which states that no one under 16 years may attend any but Saturday matinee, school, public and legal holiday performances, these between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., without being accompanied by an adult. For these a matron must be on duty at all times. Standing room also requires close watching. A number of theatres were fined recently for infractions of the regulations. The Ontario Motion Picture Bureau is still concerning itself with smoking restrictions. Ontario exhibitors should make sure to get the provincial safety trailer, which proved its worth in Ottawa last week. NFB Report Asked For in Parliament A report on the National Film Board has been asked for in the House of Commons by Mr. Hazen. Questions asked in the report are: 1. What was the total expenditure of the National Film Board during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1942? 2. What was the total expenditure of the National Film Board during the present fiscal year to date? 8. What films have been produced by the National Film Board since March 31, 1942? 4, What was the total cost of | each film? COAST-TO-COAST COVERAGE IN UNUSUAL DRAMA “KEEPER OF THE FLAME” REGAL — MGM (Running Time: Hollywood's war against Fascism, particularly since the producers took the handcuffs off the writers, has often been marked by more violence than intelligence. In the poorer cases it has taken the form of merely changing the auspices of the dastards, leaving the types and tricks the same as always. That is, the villain who used to steal valuable ofl properties for his own gain now steals them for the Axis pipeline. Series sleuths have changed over to chasing Nazi spies who, for all their terrifying connections, still seem like the common and familiar type of bad guy. Bigger and better productions, with a few exceptions, have woes followed a known pattern. The best anti-Nazi film fare so far have heen war films — purely physical and mainly patriotic. They are good because they exalt—but they don’t teach. Perhaps now that audiences are used to the excitement, they may find a somewhat deeper kind of Fascist-fighting film more acceptable than before. “Keeper of the Flame” is certainly a different kind of antiNazi film because the Americans find the searching spotlight turned on themselves. Using the American love of hero worship as its background, it subjects one of its supposed national leaders to a revealing examination with sensational results. What with so many well-known figures in the USA whose expressed opinions approximate those of Dr. Goebbels, “Keeper of the Flame” ought to make at least a few itch and leave their supporters with some new ideas. As a drama it relies much more on the acting of Spencer Tracey and Katharine Hepburn, together with some extremely photogenic scenery, than it does KATHARINE HEPBURN Who offers one of her finest roles 100 Minutes) on story. It is the tale of a national hero of the last war, whom one doesn’t see on the screen, whose famed feeling for humanity gave way before a personal plan for power. Sometime between his beginning as a public hero and his death as a national figure his values became poisoned. In the end he Is revealed for what he planned to become—a Fascist dictator of the USA. Katharine Hepburn is his widow who tries to hide the truth only to keep a fine legend intact. Spencer Tracey is the writer who wants to do a biography of the conspirator as a a great man. His "| search provides a much mystery. Hepburn gives up her life so that Tracey may live and warn the people, after she has told him the truth and turned over documents involving others. “Keeper of the Flame” moves at a slow pace but the acting makes up for much of the Jack of movement, It has other qualities, however, such as sympathy and intensity. These keep the interest directed towards the screen at all times. A fine cast means much to the picture. Little Isles Of Freedom WARNER BROS. (Running Time: 2@ Mins.) Here is a truly splendid short, filled with quiet but deep emotion that puts a catch in the throat. It tells of the struggles of the people of France's American islands, St. Pierre and Miquelon, neighbors of Canada, to join the Free French and of their deliverance. The islanders act it and Charles Boyer voices the script by Dorothy ‘Thompson, a oe SS SS ls sels sls Vol. 8, NO. 11 of Flame’ Excellent HEPBURN-TRACEY STAR West Ready For Red Cross Drive Western film men have shown } their usual enthusiasm for public | service and devotion to the war | effort and are already at work on | the National Red Cross campaign. | Working with the Mantoba Division of the Red Cross, the Western committee, which is a lively part of the Dominion structure of | the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee, is very active in Winnipeg and the province. Members of the National Com| mittee of the Motion Picture War Services are R. Hurwitz and J. H. Huber, who are leading the film men in this humanitarian undertaking. Those serving with them are B. Plottel, H. Bishop, M. Heppner, B. K. Beach, S. Rosenblat, I. H. Allen and T. Pacey. The girls at the Winnipeg Cinema Centre have formed a War Services Club and have already | received pledges for $150 for the Red Cross. | News weeklies carry clips on the campaign and a Red Cross trailer is being distributed by exchanges from the six territorial distributing centres. | Col. John A. Cooper is chairman of the Motion Picture Services’ part of the campaign. British Info Office Opened in Hollywood The British government has opened a library of information to provide technical details for British sequences, thus relieving the British Consulate of that task. Marjorie Russell has been sent from London to take charge under the general supervision of George Archibald, director of the Films Division, British Information Service. Inaccuracies im recent scenes have caused mild protests from British authorities, Crescent, Toronto, To James Merlina James Merlina, who takes turns at operating the Uptown, Orangeville, has leased the Crescent, Toronto; from Mrs. Rappaport. He’ll book through EBA,