Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 17, 1943)

Page 6 \easin a Gaon Limited 24 Tf a a) ete PIR Fim, iN i Pl ee . fH. J. ALLEN, [H._J. ALLEN, President] ALL-TIME GREATS EDWARD SMALL presents THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO Alexander Dumas’ Immortal Story ’ with ROBERT DONAT ELISSA LANDI LOUIS CALHERN SYDNEY BLACKMER O. P. HEGGIE LAST OF THE MOHICANS story by J. Fenimore Cooper with RANDOLPH SCOTT BINNIE BARNES HEATHER ANGEL HENRY WILCOXON BRUCE CABOT and a cast of thousands HAL ROACH presents Stan LAUREL Oliver HARDY in the feature-length classics Pack Up Your Troubles Pardon Us Beau Hunks co) COMING Korda’s CATHERINE THE GREAT Splendid! Magnificent! Breath-Taking! Producers Releasing Corporation LIMITED Executive Offices: 277 Victoria 8t., Toronto, 2, Ont. eee SSS eee Canadian FILM WEEKLY November 17, 1948 World-Wide Setup (While Travelling Created By Rank (Continued from Page 1) would organize such a company if more playing time was not forthcoming in other countries, particularly the USA, for British films. The new company is called the Commonwealth Film Corporation and Rank heads its board of directors, the setup being arranged by the British Film Producers’ <As sociation. Other directors are Michael Balcon, Sam Smith and W. G. Hill. Teddy Carr, managing director in Great Britain for United Artists, is reported being considered to handle the distribution. Carr or whoever takes charge of distribution will make the first move of the new company in the USA, arranging an exchange system in that country. It is estimated that it will cost something like $30,000 to set up a network of exchanges. It is Rank’s contention that British exhibition alone cannot support British production. He has asked USA distributors and exhibitors to give more playing time to British product, apparently without avail. Rank has been steadily expanding his theatre holdings, having acquired control of the playing time of over 1,000 motion picture houses in England. After seven years in the industry he is now ready to move into an exhibition Halifax Theatre Gets V Loan Pennant Award Senator W. McL. Robertson. chairman of the Fifth Victory Loan for Halifax, last week presented a Victory pennant to Manager Freeman Skinner and the staff of the Orpheus Theatre, in recognition of their outstanding response to the Fifth Victory Loan Drive. The staff subscribed for $2,400, establishing a record of 163 per cent of its quota. Every member of the staff bought one or more bonds and at least 15 per cent of their payroll is pledged for the next six months. Wallington Narrates For Red Cross Film Jimmy Wallington, well-known NBC and CBS announcer, will do the narration for a new Canadian Red Cross film now being produced at Associated Screen Studios, Montreal. While in Canada for the Fifth Victory Loan, Wallington generously agreed to donate his services. The short is titled ‘“‘That They May Live” and describes Red Cross blood donor services. and distribution battle with Hollywood on all film fronts. The British government is supporting his position. The most recent move was to share the showings of films in liberated countries with Hollywood, thus helping to create a taste for the British product. Rank has been studying the Canadian field and it is said that he paid a secret visit to this country recently. Drop War Features RAF Man Suggests (Continued from Page 1) wan. Squadron Leader Courtin has been doing the booking and buying of motion pictures for the theatre at his camp since it commenced operation and his opinion is the Same as that of the entire personnel. “T am a vehement critic of the film industry for its consistent policy of producing harrowing war pictures, which only have a most depressing effect on the average person’s morale,’ said Squadron Leader Courtin. ‘‘War films should be limited to pictures taken in action, such as ‘Desert Victory,’ and film producers should be forbidden to make pictures of a fictitious war staged in a peaceful building called a studio, whose only claim to be called entertainment is their absurd unreality. I contend that these so-called war films should only be produced in peacetime as a deterrent to further wars.” It is a fact that those films least related to the war are doing the biggest business today. But those who pretend to know what is good for the public maintain that a certain amount of realistic war films of a fictitious nature are necessary to keep this continent aware of the real nature of the struggle. Theatre men have little objection to doing without war films but whenever escapist product dominates for any length of time protests arise from critics. Greet Your Friends in the CHRISTMAS EDITION of the CANADIAN Film Weekly Talks Movie Effort (Continued from Page 1) distributing companies and practically every theatre operator in Canada, have whole-heartedly cooperated with all government agencies in every phase of the war effort,” J. J. Fitzgibbons told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix recently. The chairman of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee, touring in his capacity of president of Famous Players Corporation, has been interviewed by the press in almost every city and town where he has stopped off. The Saskatoon statement was made during a typical interview and the general result has been a great contribution toward making a reality the oft-expressed opinion that the Canadian public ought to know more about the effort of the motion picture industry. “Motion pictures are invaluable in time of peace and indispensable in time of war,” Mr. Fitzgibbons said, adding that the theatres and their personnel had proved a great asset to the morale of the people. “The laughs of men, women and children being entertained in movies in England has helped in no small way to bring back the courage and confidence of those living in bombed-out areas.” He listed a number of ways in which the industry had sided the war effort, some of which were: Giving the use of screens for the sale of war stamps and bonds; salvage campaigns through the medium of free shows; coal conservation drives; free use of theatres for bond sale shows; free shows for members of the armed forces in congested areas; and the appearance of stars for drives. VOCALITE Crystal Beaded SOUND SCREEN Doubles the Brightness of the Projected Light Sold in Oanada by PERIANS COMPANY LIME Q77 VICTORIA STREET TORONTO onTMaAL