Canadian Film Weekly (Jun 28, 1944)

OF OANADA LTD. 277 Victoria Street, Toronto. NOW READY FOR DATING Are These Our Parents? Starring HELEN VINSON LYLE TALBOT A Startling Expose Of Delinquent Parents! and PROVEN HITS Lady Let's Dance with Ice Star BELITA. Where Are Your Children? with JACKIE COOPER GALE STORM Women In Bondage with GAIL PATRICK NANCY KELLY Johnnie Doesn't Live Here Anymore with SIMONE SIMON JAMES ELLISON The fastest-growing company in the industry MONOGRAM PICTURES Toronto, Montreal, St. John, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver. Canadian FILM WEEKLY 0nThe Square with Hye Bossin Of All People There ought to be an inter-trade “Going My Way” contest. The boys on the screening room circuit—bookers, buyers, etc.— are bragging about how many times they’ve seen the CrosbyFitzgerald film, a sure sign of success. Cinema sages say it will eventually be the greatest all-time grosser. .. A Bad Penning Always Turns Up: Last week, in the story on MGM, it was stated that its accomplishments were an inspiration to the entire indus y, “spurning” competitors, etc. Should have read “spurring”. . . Izzy Allen says that he overheard his daughter answer the phone with: “For Whom Does the Bell Toll?”. .. Irving Hoffman, Hollywood Reporter columnist, reports that comedian Joe E. Lewis sings it this way: “I want a girl just like the girl that married Harry James”... While the waves were smashing against ‘“‘Lifeboat” on the screen at Shea’s recently, a great storm came up and flooded part of the orchestra and the downstairs washroom. As if this marine atmosphere wasn’t enough, Manager Fred Trebilcock’s voice cut through and asked if Mr. Swan was in the house. Wasn’t somebody’s gag, either. I expected to see Swan go swimming up the aisle. * oy * Interesting Comment In the Bracebridge, Ontario, Gazette Redmond Thomas, K.C., wrote a long and interesting article about the early days of movies. He recalls that: The old movies used to flicker and gave one the impression of looking through rain. Furthermore they, or many of them, had a pinkish tint. Women wore long hair, padded with “rats” and crowned with big hats resplendent with flowers, cherries, birds, etc. Regularly was thrown on the screen a notice “Ladies please remove their hats.” It was not very effective till later were added the words, “Elderly ladies in danger of catching cold need not comply with this request.” That brought ALL the hats off. The movie fans never knew the names of the actors and actresses. Their names were never advertised—were not even stated at the beginning of the films. There were no movie stars known by name to the public. In view of the present vastness of the moving picture industry, it seems almost incredible that it was as recent in history as 1894 that moving pictures were mere peep-shows and a great novelty at that. * 2% * Typodermic Injections At the British UA convention Dave Coplan was introduced with these words: “In the twelve weeks he has been with us Mr. Coplan has won the respect of all who have come in contact with him. America could not have appointed an abler or better man”... A puzzle to entertainment fans is why Harry Conley, one of the best-known comedians of today and yesterday, isn’t in films. He has personality of his own and would do well in the type of role that used to be handled by the late Ted Healy... . That Johnny Poole jeep in the Tip Top Store window for the “Four Jills in a Jeep” tieup sure looked like the real thing. What with dummy guns and parachutes, they might draft Johnny to make dummy jeeps... J. Arthur Rank is being sniped at in Britain, At a meeting of film technicians one claimed that “If you want to get on in the film business in this country, you have to be a ‘Rank’ insider.” Public ownership was suggested as a way of overcoming growing monopoly, as well as a film credit bank for independent producers. Mr. Rank might be a crusader, another said, “but the object of the crusader was to grab loot and treasure.” Harsh words, ewan Wezel Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Vol. 9, No. 26 Published by Film Publications of Canada Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronte, Ont., Canada, Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter Printed by Eveready Printers Limited, 78 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontario June 28, 1944 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor June 28, 1944 Rank Good Ally, Says Skouras / (Continued from Page 1) Monopoly charges are frequently aimed at him. Part of a statement by Skouras included the following information of interest to the industry generally: My purpose was primarily to — axe: work out an unresolved relationship that had existed for the past fifteen years between our’ company and the interests which control the Gaumont British Pictures Company, one of the largest and most important film producing companies of the United Kingdom, and also the operators of the Odeon Circuit. I am happy to report that this has been settled most amicably. Much credit for this must go to Mr. J. Arthur Rank, head of this organization. I found him a ‘sincere and honest gentleman who is serving his country among many ways, by his efforts in connection with the British Motion Picture Industry. I found that he and his great organization have established a foundation upon which to build a greater British Motion Picture Industry which will produce a higher type of picture and which will establish a system for a permanent and continuous supply of such British product. While in. England, I saw many British motion pictures. I was amazed that in the midst of. air raids and under the hardships of war (for instance, 75 per cent of the studio space in England has been taken over by the Government for various war purposes) . . . that in the face of all ob ‘ stacles, production of films con tinued on a large scale and with a substantial improvement in technique and quality. British quality pictures have always been popular in Great Britain. Through the efforts of Mr. Rank and his associates, their product is being adapted to suit the requirements of the international market. It is a tribute to Mr. Rank that one of his deepest desires is to improve the position of the British Film Industry in the international market and to create closer understanding between the American and British people. I consider Mr. Rank an extraordinary person. I admire him greatly and regard him as a close friend. It is my firm belief that the arrangements which we have concluded, the amity we have established, will prove very beneficial not only to Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation but to the American Motion Picture Industry as a whole. For, through these arrangements, our industry has acquired a strong and permanent business ally in the United Kingdom.