Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 4, 1943)

Vol. 8, No. $2 Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronte, Ont., Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter That ‘Italy’ Short “The Gates of Italy.’’ a National Film Board short subject which got much attention from theatre-goers, drew our condemnation last week as being unworthy of the screen today. It was markedly pro-Italy—the Italy of tradition—but was mildly anti-Mussolini end mildly antiFascist. It said very little about the true character of Mussolini and the horrors of Fascism. Two Toronto film columnists. Roly Young of the Globe and Mail and Helen Allen of the Telegram, beat us to the street with a similar opinion. There have been other complaints along those lines inside and outside the industry. It is reported that Gradwell Sears, vice-president in charge of distribution for United Artists: which company distributes NFB shorts outside of Canada as part of the World in Action series: has been conferring with John Grierson, chief of the WIB and the NFB, about the pro-Italy slant of “Gates of Italy.” The film fell right in line with the short-sighted opinion which hailed the replacement of Mussolini by Badoglio and the destruction of Fascist symbols as the end of that system. The Italians are shouting for their new leader and their king. Let it be remembered that the king was in a great measure responsible for the coming of Mussolini to power. Not the king, nor Badoglio, nor the present aversion to Mussolini and Fascism as a name for their way of life has anything to do with the Allied victory over the Italians. That victory is the consequence of Allied arms. NFB shorts are supposed to provide instruction about every aspect of the war. “The Gates of Italy”’ put the construction on Italy before Fascism and then let its modern history fade out unchallenged. That was its error. As Archibald MacLeish, head of the American Congressional Library, said in a speech, “It is our principal hope, on our side, that we can so unite and inform and hearten American opinion that American determination will survive any conceivable disaster abroad and any possible propaganda of treachery and fraud at home. That hope is a hope the citizens of this country confide primarily to the press: to the traditional instruments of communication and of information—the press, radio and the moving pictures.” Those words apply to Canada as well as the United States. Treachery and fraud at home are the hope of Fascist sympathizers. They can take the form of sabotage in war. They can be support of Fascistic measures after the war on the premise that not everything about Fascism is bad and unworthy of being imitated here. Fascism, then, should be described for what it is and their leaders for what they are. Such distinctions will bring understanding of the difference between Fascism and Democracy. That understanding will be a guarantee against any pale imitations of Fascism here. That's what “The Gates of Italy” failed to do. August 4, 1948 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Canadian FILM WEEKLY “42 NEB Cost — $1,535,424 (Continued from Page 1) of costs to the various departments using NFB shorts in their activities. Since its inception the National Film Board has made a total of 1156 films, of which 348 were released to commercial theatres. The rest were educational. The larger number comprised educational and training films, most of them 16 mm. size. These were shown to schools, trade unions and factory staffs. NFB projectionists have been bringing movies to places where even itinerant shows are unknown. The National Film Board employs 460 persons—18 permanently and 442 temporarily. In spite of the costs distribu| tion system used it is apparant that the NFB, which enjoys a first-class reputation in the documentary and educational field, is a big and thriving business. Rev. Mr. Hansell’s questions, when first presented, provoked a general discussion about the operations of the National Film Board and its scope, even Premier King having his say. Sydney Sampson, Fox Welcomed to Canada (Continued from Page 1) Fitzgibbons, Haskell Masters and Col. Cooper, kept things going at a snappy pace. Messages of congratulations were read from Mayor Kelly of Buffalo; Charlie Hayman, president of the NY state MPTOA; Meyer Schine of the famed USA eastern circuit; Tom Connors, Fox v.p., and Jim O’Loghlin. Jim’s letter, written in his customary straight-from-the-heart style, was a highly sentimental note. He promised to be back in harness sooner than any expected when he took ill. Syd Samson, in replying to the speakers, told how impressed he was with Canada and expressed the hope that his affection for his old and new friends here would be reciprocated. “The motion picture industry in Canada,” Mayor Conboy told the gathering, “besides its great service as an institution of education and entertainment, has always been among the first to join any public service—and af its own expense.” He told of his experiences many years ago in promoting public health with the help of the industry and concluded by welcoming Samson to Toronto and Canada. Col. Cooper, J. J. Fitzgibbons and Haskell Masters, all of whose remarks were tinged with sound advice and good humor, greeted Samson in behalf of their respective interests. August 4, 1943 Work Starts on Classic, Que. (Continued from Page 1) reconstruction of the building, 50 ft. by 110 ft., concrete foundation, wood trusses, brick and terra cotta walls, hardwood floors, acoustical plaster and the heating system to be overhauled. The Classic, which seated 400, was destroyed by fire and a permit for rebuilding at a $30,000 outlay was issued, though the original $5,000 limit set on renovations was reduced to $500 in October, 1942. This was explained ‘by the Department of Munitions and Supply, to which the Con | troller of Construction is attached, as part of the policy which allows for the rebuilding of burned-out theatres, The Academie de Musique, Levis, Quebec, also owned by Edmound Beaumount, was reopened recently after a $4,500 alteration job. It seats 200. At Levis a new theatre, the Canada, was opened by Romould Fregeau, grocer, who altered his: building on Commercial street under a $15,000 permit. Certain theatres, because of their location in war work centres, have been allowed to exceed the $500 limit to alter and enlarge their premises. New theatres have been opened along the Alaska Highway with the permission of Ottawa. The Palace, Verdun, Quebec, operated by Consolidated Theatres, which was burned out, is now being reconstructed at a cost of $12,000. A seven-day house located in the Montreal area, it had a seating capacity of 1,150. VOCALITE Crystal Beaded SOUND SCREEN Doubles the Brightness of the Projected Light Sold in Canada by Ss COMPANY LIMITED BT VICTORIA STREET 2037 mEURY STREET TORONTO \