Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 14, 1943)

eleasing limited g FROM MOSCOW Lola Lane She had a date with destiny LADY FROM CHUNGKING Anna May Wong China’s first lady of the screen BOSS OF BIG TOWN John Litel, Florence Rice, H. B. Warner Of vital interest to every Canadian. Food racketeering makes tense and timely drama THE YANKS ARE COMING Mary Healy, Jackie Heller, Maxie Rosenbloom, Parkyakarkus, Henry King’s orchestra THE PAY OFF with Lee Tracy You Must See CORREGIDOR Producers Releasing Corporation LIMITED Executive Offices: © 277 Victoria St., Toronto, 2, Ont. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Financial Post Cheeks Show Biz The Financial Post of Toronto recently made a survey of the present state of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry, in which it pointed out that while attendance had increased by 10 per cent and receipts by 13 per cent, there was a marked cut in profits because of increased taxes. The Post devoted considerable space to the war effort of the Industry in Canada. Below are some of its observations: (Cas tneee is going to the movies in a big way these days. Rain or shine, new taxes or not, more and more people are lining up at the ticket wickets of the picture houses—10 per cent more in 1942 than in 1941, and more so far in 1948 than in the same part of 1942, Theatre men attribute the gain to varying causes—higher salaries among certain groups, soldiers on furlough, civilians seeking temporary relief from the stress of the times. While gross receipts are up, they say, net profits are lower in many cases, due to high taxes and increased costs. % * * ATRE managers are still seeking a touchstone in types of film which draw best, still haven’t found it, Public tastes, however, undergo a notable change in wartime. “They prefer heavy drama or very slapstick comedy,” one member of the trade states. ‘In wartime there doesn’t seem to be any halfway mark.” Realistic drama on war subjects is popular, as is “escapist” entertainment. Drawing-room comedy is on the wane. At present big, lavish musicals are showing a strong upswing, especially those starring “name” bands. Unexpectedly, downtown theatres in Canadian cities haven’t shown lower grosses as a result of gas rationing. People still appear to wish to see pictures when they are new, sometimes staying in town when they have finished work where they would have gone home previously and driven back later. Suburban theatres find fewer patrons attending from other districts. Apart from downtown attendance, citizens in search of entertainment are roaming less. In increasing numbers they are patronizing those movie houses nearest their homes. % % * re big problems in mainte nance and operation of theatre houses: shortage of labor and no new equipment. While the turnover in ushers has always been large, they are becoming harder and harder to get. Usherettes have taken over in many cases. Theatre chains also report that they are hard put to find managers. Many have broken a precedent and begun employing women “manageresses.”’ Most have proved highly capable. In general there has been approximately 30 per cent loss in employees to the services and war industry. The shortage of equipment is more severe, although as yet no theatres have found it necessary to close down. There is reported to be a fair-sized backlog of second-hand projectors, etc., in Canada, but no new machines are being made and parts are turned out in greatly diminished amounts. Even the Government is stated to be short on 16-millimetre portable equipment for use in educational and recreational film showings for the forces. While theatre prices have remained constant (they were frozen at the same time as most other Canadian price scales) amusement taxes of 20 per cent have been levied by the Federal Government on all tickets. Higher admission costs have not noticeably affected attendance. Besides the Dominion levy, all provinces except Ontario have imposed taxes amounting to between 5 per cent and 17 per cent of the original admission price. * % = {pee cut in profits can be seen in the financial statement for 1942 of the largest chain theatre corporation operating in Canada, Famous Players. In 1942 operating profit was $3.8 millions as against $3 millions in 1941, but net profit was down to $1.1 million from $1.2 million in the earlier period. Taxes in 1941 were $900,000; in 1942 the figure was $1.7 million. we ye Post wes possibilities in the field of new improvements in movie techniques and styles of presentation are vague but it seems definite that there will be changes. More and more technicolor pictures are deemed a certainty (at present there is a wartime shortage of some of the materials necessary in their production), Television may after the war be made available in some form of motion picture theatres, Great July 14, 1948 Canada Preem For Corvette “Corvette K-225,” Universal's new film of Canadian corvettes in action, will have its world premiere in Canada next month, at a double showing in Ottawa and Halifax. The Royal Canadian Navy, which has watched over the writing and filming of this picture, will probably play a big part in the premiere. Originally entitled “Corvettes in Action,” this Howard Hawks’ production has cost Universal $1,000,000, most of the money going into the filming of action shots by director Richard Rosson, who sailed out of a Canadian port on convoy duty to film the real thing. The script was written by Edward Chodorov in collaboration with Canadian navy officer Lieutenant John Royal Sturdy and was okayed at Ottawa by Admiral Percy W. Nelles, Commander in Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy, and Commander Brand, chief naval intelligence officer. Most of the film was shot last summer on a corvette in the Atlantic. Director Rosson made five convoy trips originally and has just completed a sixth during which he filmed additional material including action centered around the performance of the navy’s new anti-aircraft rocket gun. “Corvette K-225” stars Randolph Scott, Ella Raines, James Brown, Noah Beery, Jr., Barry Fitzgerald, Andy Devine, Fuzzy Knight and Richard Lane. The world premiere here will take place a full week before the picture is publicly screened in New York. Bill Hart Rides Again William S. Hart, oldtime Western star, rides again. In conjunction with Roy Roger’s “Idaho,” the Skouras Victory Theatre, Bayside, N.Y., is booking MHart’s “Tumbleweed,” with lobby displays announcing “The old and the new King of the Cowboys.” progress is rumored in this regard. More use of the educational possibilities of the screen is forecast, and some of the trade foresee motion pictures as a strong instrument in the post-war period for establishing the better understanding which will be necessary between nations. There is no need for worry about the supply of new pictures. Although British producers have been somewhat curtailed due to the war, they have a backlog of films completed and others in production. Hollywood, despite a shortage of leading men, seems to be getting by, and has other films awaiting release, @ 1 t