Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 7, 1943)

Vol. 8, No. 28 Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada, Published by. Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., 2 Dundas Square, Toronte, Ont., ‘ Canada. Phone ADelaide 4317. Price S cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter Beating the Weather If Universal’s analysis is correct, that boxoffice bane, the summer slump, has disappeared temporarily. That company is shooting its big guns right through the sweat season, thumbing its nose at business tradition. There is much to bear out Universal's attitude. Judging by the restrictions on travel and the coolness of most movie houses, winter business should be in order this summer in the cities. All the companies are anxious to start the new season early. It would ease the holdover problem and give the sub runs, held up by downtown congestion, a break. Each company has confidence in its slate for the coming season and upon examination the general schedule of the industry is a powerful one, pepped up by Technicolor productions. The public seems to maintain its interest uninterrupted by the weather. A continuation of that interest may clear up some of the usual boiilenecks. Toronto theatres are recruiting farm workers. This film unit records the recruiting at the Imperial, Toronto. Many film workers have joined the farm brigades. duly 7, 1943S HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Canadian FILM WEEKLY EE July 7%, 1948 Para Men Hold. PRC Prepares for | Canuck Confab (Continued from Pago 1) . short subjects, and Bob Gillham, director of advertising and publicity, discuss new Paramount product and sales campaigns. Lightstone presided at the sessions and went over company affairs touching on the employment and trade regulations and other topics and situations close to the industry. ‘There will be 18 AA attractions that will play ace theatres, extended time, and 12 A attractions, most of which will play A houses,” Lightstone stated. “Production costs for the thirty productions will be more than this company spent in making 52 features last season. The entire program will be made up of musical and escapist attractions,” he said. “We do not want any war in our shorts,” stated Oscar Morgan, discussing short subjects at an afternoon session. ‘No stories are built on the war. Because we have decided to go in for color, 75 per cent of our shorts will be made in color. We have reduced the number of our shorts from last year. We will be better off with 64 shorts, and give better quality. For the first time in a long period we feel confident in the quality of our shorts for next year.” Morgan revealed the _ shorts schedule will include six musical productions in color; eight cartoons featuring “Little Lulu” in color; eight cartoons _ starring Popeye in color; eight Noveltoons in color; six Madcap Models in color, produced by George Pal; six Popular Science in color; six “Speaking of Animals’ and ten Grantland Rice Sportlights, in black and white; and 52 issues of Paramount News. Neil Agnew spoke enthusiastically of the new year’s product, especially of Paramount’s picturization of Ernest Hemingway's best-seller, ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls," which will have its world premiere in New York, July, 14th. Agnew also discussed ‘‘Lady-in the Dark” in Technicolor; ‘Dixie’ in Technicolor; “The Story of Dr. Wassell” in Technicolor, and sixteen other feature productions. “Lady in the Dark” and “The Story of Dr. Wassell,” are carryovers from 1942-43 product, and will be delivered as such. That leaves 18 A productions to be delivered on the 1943-44 program. Negative costs on these pictures will run from $800,000 to over $2,000,000 per film. Bob Gillham outlined briefiy the advertising and publicity campaigns that will fit in with each picture. He also informed the convention that Paramount intends to use radio intensively in the coming year. Convention delegates took part Bumper Harvest (Continued from Hage 1) , regidor,” the company has decided to raise production . budgets and get the kind of “A” playing time that gave PRC greater grosses than any ever earned by their films. “The company,” stated Greenblatt, “has demonstrated that it can make and market product that will satisfy the demands of the important circuits for the kind of entertainment the public wants; and PRC has also gotten behind the exhibitor with every resource at its command in making that product known to picturegoers.” PRC intends to build up a roster of contract players, directors and other personnel, according to Leon Fromkess, vice-president in charge of production. ‘“The higher-budget policy which applies to our entire program,” he said, “warrants a greater emphasis not only on production and player value, but also on story importance and adaptation to the screen.” Among the big features planned are “Isle of Forgotten Sins,” a South Sea Islands adventure story starring John Carradine and Gale Sondergaard, with Sidney Toler, Frank Fenton, Rita Quigley and Rick Vallin; “Submarine Base,” starring John Litel and Ann Baxter; ‘Danger—Women at Work,” a comedy, starring Patsy Kelly and Mary Brian; “Street of Darkness,” a horror story, starring Francis Lederer, J. Carrol Naish, J. Edward Bromberg, Sigrid Gurie and Alexander Granach. Other films in the lineup include: “Tiger Fangs,” “The Girl From Monterey,” ‘Forgotten Children,” ‘Berlin Revolts,” ‘Woman of Horror,” ‘‘When the Lights Go On Again,” “The Cossacks Ride Again,” “Talent School,” “Oh, Say Can You Sing?” “Juke Box Girl,” “Waterfront,’’.and nine more. MGM to Film Movie History Hollywood's own story will be presented by Metro in a film to be titled “The First Fifty Years.” The picture will show the growth of the industry from the primitive days of the Edison nickelodeons to the enormous picture palaces and super productions of today. in many social functions around the city. Saturday night they were guests at the home of N. A. Taylor of Twentieth Century Theatres, who screened one of the latest Paramount pictures, “So Proudly We Hail,” with Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard and Veronica Lake, for them. The following evening, Gordon Lightstone played host to the boys at a cocktail and supper party.