Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 15, 1943)

Vol. 8, No. 51 Dec. 15, 1943 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto 1, Canada. Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter Regional, Eh? We were proud to read the other day of Sir Arthur Leme Beit telling the British House of Commons that “Canada will finish the war with the world’s fourth largest air force, if not the fourth armed power, and it is quite clear she must be prepared to take her share of responsibility in maintaining the peace of the Atlantic and Pacific.” This is one of the many expressions that prove people everywhere are realizing that Canada has come of age. Of some 35 United Nations, Canada, with a population of less tham 12,000,000, has been ranked as fourth or fifth in war effort. But there are Camadians and Americans who haven't yet realized that Canada has reached nationhood. These are the men who represent :-American business interests here. To them Comada is “regional.” That word “regional,” used to explain to us that Canada is fed its advertising through American national magazines, has often irked us. Of what are we regional? Surely not the United States. Yet there are men who are used to thinking of Canada that way simply because, for purposes of the distribution of goods and gathering of revenue, we are considered to be part of a region which includes various American states. That may be good business but let us not forget that Canada is a geographical, cultural and national entity. And it should be treated that way. Canadians like to express themselves in their own way through their own mediums. Let us forget that “regional” business or limit it to its proper sphere. Important Event The last week of November saw one of the most interesting experiments in Canadian motion picture history, the showing of a Hollywood-made French language film before a Quebec audience. The film was “Le Ciel et Toi,” none other than “All This and Heaven Too” and it was a tremendous success at the Capitol Theatre, Quebec City, where 25,000 French-Camadians came to see it in a week. The first try having been a success, more films will follow. Warners’ had the film dubbed in the French language in such a way that the voices synchronize almost perfectly with the lip movements of Bette Davis and other players. Charles Boyer’s own voice is heard in the film. “Le Ciel et Toi” was the first of a number of films being prepared by the studio for the day when France will be freed. Films of this type will mean a great deal to the future unity of Canada. Imported French films have expressed the ideas of the Old World and Hollywood product was hindered in its good intentions by the language barrier. The coming of films to Quebec, each of which makes plain modern ideas that have value in spreading general understanding, is an event of importance. Nor must it be forgotten that our French-speaking fellow-Canadians can now get the same pleasure from motion pictures as English-speaking peoples, for whom they are primarily made. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Suggest Cut in Music Royalties (Continued from Page 1) collection societies should have their rates reduced so that they will receive no more than 70 per cent of former over-all rates. Granting of a license to the American Peforming Right Society after the Ottawa hearing before the Copyright Appeal Board will not be opposed by the Musical Protective Society if the APRS can show a substantial repertoire. But, if such a license is granted, the Canadian Performing Right Society should reduce its fees, according to the position of those who pay royalties, Those music organizations which will be represented in Canada by the American Performing Right Society were formerly represented by the Canadian Performing Right Society, which is an Ascap unit. The move to open a new collection agency resulted when Ascap and the Peer organization split. The Peer organization is sponsor of the APRS. Unless the CPRS reduces its rates to correspond with the APRS take, the exhibitor will have an increased music bill. Without a corresponding decrease, there would be a breach of the spirit of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board policy of maintaining the price ceiling. Present rates were based on the premise that but one collection society was operating in the field. The hearing takes place on January 6th. The firm of McMaster, Montgomery, Fleury & Co., are representing the Musical Protective Society. Worman S. Robert son, K.C., will present the arguments before the Copyright Appeal Board. DAVID SEIGEL Newly-elected president of Local 178 (Toronto) of the IATSE, largest branch of that organization in Canada. December 15, 1948 Inquest Verdict Given by Jury (Continued from Page 1) not have a capacity exceeding fifty reels of film.” There was no evidence to show that 72A. had been violated—if it applies to revising rooms, It is Section 714, Sections A, B, C and D which applies to vaults, according to the book of regulations. one of the sections makes any mention of how film is to be packed in vaults. There is no rule shown which forbids naked films to be stored in vaults, Again, in the case of 72B, which is designated as applying to film cuttings, there is a question as to whether Regal’s conduct was outside the regulations. Says 72B: “All film scraps or cuttings from film shall be deposited in a covered metal receptacle kept at least one-half filled with water which shall be emptied daily and all film departments shall be cleared of all waste paper or similar inflammable debris daily.” Winslow Brown, in charge of Regal’s supply department, testified that this had been adhered to. There were three barrels and two boxes of junked film outside the vaults but these did not contain scraps or cuttings from revision. They contained rolls of discarded films—not scraps or cuttings—awaiting shipment to Canadian Kodak and acceptable for transporting while packed in that fashion. The films in the barrels and boxes and 600 naked reels in the vault were not damaged during the fire. Though Carl Caskey, Provincial deputy fire marshal, couldn’t form an opinion as to the origin of the fire he believed that it would not have occurred if containers had been used. He said that “some one was in No. 1 vault prior to our arrival on the morning of the fire and something was taken out.” Dorothy Wilson of Regal, questioned on the possibility of anyone entering the vault, testified that the key to the vault had been locked in her desk and given to the fire marshal. She did not think that any unauthorized person had entered the vault, The jury recommended that film exchanges and distributing agencles be placed in buildings of one and not more than two storey buildings. These buildings should not contain other offices or pro jection rooms and should be located outside the municipal limits. Chief Coroner Lawson commented during the proceedings that only 11 film exchanges in the United States are not in buildings of one or two storeys. The verdict called for more stringent and frequent inspection. @