Canadian Film Weekly (Jun 2, 1943)

‘Mission’ Fight In Canada Too (Continued from Page 1) was sponsored by. members of the parliamentary press gallery, who said that they were taking no part in the controversy but were glad of the chance to have legislators and newspapermen see the film. Because of protests reaching the External Affairs Department two senior officials looked at the film at a private showing prior to the one sponsored by the Press Gallery. However, the censoring of films is a provincial responsibility and it is unlikely that Ottawa will interfere now. “Mission to Moscow” is regarded as the outstanding political film in motion picture history. Although the studio has confined itself to objective reporting, making concessions only to technical problems, many well-known Americans have declared themselves for and against the film. Objections, however, have not yet led to restrictions. Aside from the neutral observers who have registered disapproval, the most noise is being made by those who constitute a permanent anti-Soviet bloc. These object to everything about the Russians but their aid to the Allied cause. The fact that a number of anti-Russian films issued by Hollywood in recent years have drawn only approval from them removes the worth of their opinfons. They are unwilling to give the Soviets a break at a time when most people consider they deserve it. Defenders of the film claim that, examined as an interpretation of Soviet life and aims, it is remarkably accurate. ‘The telescoping of certain events recorded by the film, which were necessarily brief, was the focal point of the main objections. The controversy has attracted tremendous attention to the film and it’s hanging up records. PO D. McLean Dead Pilot Officer Donald McLean, son of A. G. McLean, secretary of the National Film Board, was killed in action during an air battle over England recently. Bernstein-Kates Wed Sgt. Leonard Bernstein, RCAF, formerly of Columbia, married Lillian Kates, former Avenue Theatre cashier, last Sunday. The couple will reside in Ottawa. Columbia to Make Life of Al Jolson Sydney Skolsky, famed screen columnist, may produce the life of Al Jolson for Columbia. Jolson, it’s said, will play the latter part pictures were distributed under the same auspices. Esquire Films handles English and Russian product. * = od Ashe scope of his interests will probably never be known publicly. His holdings were vast and there was a time when his name was brought in one way or another whenever there was a big shakeup in the industry. He was said to have been interested in An informal photograph taken in other years. many business enterprises outside the amusement world. The reasons for his resignation from Famous Players were hazy to the average person. He explained his 1929 resignation to the newspapers at the time as a protest against a deal that would give control of the company to American interests. His reason in 1941 as revealed by the press was much the same. It was apparent that he had theatre interests separate from those he ruled over as the head of Famous Players. When he withdrew in 1929, his resignation was followed by 2@ lawsuit instituted by Famous Players to cause the return of a Montreal property held by him. In 1942 Famous Players followed up his resignation with legal action along the same lines, asking the return of certain theatre properties allegedly acquired by Nathanson personally while acting as an officer of the company. The action had not been settled up to the time of his death. Some of his reported connections, past and present, are as follows: President of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. President and managing director of Regal Films, Ltd. Vice-president of British Columbia Paramount Theatres, Ltd. Managing director of Canadian Paramount Corporation and Famous-Lasky Film Service, Ltd. Canadian FILM WEEKLY | NW. L. Nathanson (Continued from Page 6) {24 spine-chillers for their new Page 7 Director of Dominion Stores, Ltd. Director of Canadian International Investment Co. Vice-president of Imperial Trusts Co. of Canada, Ltd. Member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Vice-president of United Amusement Corporation, Ltd. Member of the Toronto Board of Trade. Member of the Ontario Jockey Club. Member of the Eglinton Hunt Club. Member of the Palestine Lodge of the Masonic Order. Chairman of the Motion Picture War Services. OF CANADA LTD. 277 Victoria St. Toronto PIONEER THE 39 STEPS Madeleine Carrol Robert Donat = = s . DD hateitia (a coos Ee oad CLC THLUNDER OVER THE CITY of the owners of the St. Pat’s Hockey Club, generally considered the forerunner of the present ToEdward G. Robinson ronto Maple Leafs. Charlie Quer rie, the veteran Toronto theatre © Manager, was connected with the team. WNathanson’s race horses MICKEY were trained by John Hazza and his show horses by Latham Burns. THE GREAT He was generous toward public Mickey Rooney charities. A favorite cause was the Toronto Daily Star Fresh Air Fund, which provides underprivi* leged youngsters with a holiday in the country. In 1940 he donated $7,500 to the Royal Canadian Air | ESCAPED FROM THE GESTAPO Force to establish a sports centre at Trenton, Ontario. His private generosity was a legend in itself. He never refused anyone, The motion picture theatres that dot the Dominion today are a monument to N. L. Nathanson. Dean Jagger, Mary Brian, His fame is secure as a pioneer John Carradine and the proof of his energy and enterprise is to be seen on every ® en STRANGER FROM Though we may not see his like again in Canada, since the situation which called forth his great PECOS talents is no more, he will not be Johnny Mack Brown forgotten. e SPY TRAIN Richard Travis Catherine Craig ‘Corvette’ Renamed Universal's anxiously awaited “Corvettes in Action,” a story of the Royal Canadian Navy, will be sold as “Corvette K225.” bg Studios Line Up SARONG GIRL 24 Horror Films ie eas More werewolves, ghouls, zome bies and mad doctors are scheduled to romp across the screen than ever before. Studios, in answer to the exhibitor demand that musical films now in production be augmented with sure-fire horror pictures, are planning to turn out Distributed in Canada through MONOGRAM PICTURES Toronto, Montreal, St. John Director of British Lion Film | lists. RKO, which heads the list, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver | Corporation, Ltd. | is preparing six such films. of his life personally.