Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 2, 1944)

Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film NaS 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Published by Film Publications Canada, Phone ADelnide 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 The Industry’s Contribution Canadians engaged in every section of the film field will take great pleasure in the survey of the efforts of their industry made by Leonard W. Brockington, who has visited the Allied countries in behalf of the government and was present at the invasion of France. The men and women af Canada’s theatre industry who give their facilities, time and energy in behalf of the war effort, will draw inspiration and fresh resolve from his observations. Said he: “I have seen men and women in the forces and otherwise in all sorts of conditions, looking for an outlet from the horrors that surrounded them, attending moving pictures, and I know of no body of men who have brought more color to their effort and given it more willingly to the uplifting of the hearts of all than the industry. “To me, the great moving picture industry has been able in the last war and 1,000 per cent more in this war, to touch the hearts of ordinary men and women, to interpret to us all our common humanity, and to strike and elaborate so many variations of those themes of courage and sacrifices, the fine simplicities, the little simple things that join men and women the world over and has done it willingly. It has brought to bear all its art, all its science, and it has accompanied them with a great generosity, and throughout the English speaking world has made in my opinion, probably the greatest contribution to the uplifting of the human heart and the building of what we call morale.” The Unbeatable British Of the British moving picture industry, already a worthy competitor to Hollywood and still gaining, Mr. Brockington said: “They take adversity and determine that they will make it a stepping stone to prosperity—they take defeat and make it a step to victory. The result has been that since 1940 there has been the greatest organization of the film industry that Britain has ever seen. Under the most terrifically hard conditions, where their studios were destroyed, their men called up, they could not get actors or actresses, and it was difficult to raise money, they have bullt a film industry which is better in 1944, the fifth year of the war, than ever before in British history. They have taken a business out of the ‘lepth of depression and made it something living and vital.” The operation of theatres, as with other industries, is difficult because of manpower and material. Theatres have not been given preferential rating, although the government wants as many to remain open as possible for their contribution to morale, their ability to keep the people informed and their direct aid to every kind of recruiting, scrap and money-raising drive. This requires personal expenditure of time and energy beyond that needed from other industries and is provided gratis. Most people are not aware of this. The Montreal newspapers gave much space to Mr. Brockington’s picpowlsdgemant: Post War Plats The public is becoming interested in theatre post-war planning. The Toronto Globe and Mail last week carried an article about coming theatre expansion, placing the projected number of new theatres in Canada at about 30 after querying the circuits. Nat Taylor of Twentieth Century Theatres pointed out that present equipment needed replacing. “There will be millions of dollars spent in bringing everything up to date as soon as the theatres can get what they need. This will mean much employment, both in manufacture and installations and construction.” Total seating capacity of Canadian theatres was 702,833, which increased in 1943 because of 19 new theatres, of Canada Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ont., Canadian FILM WEEKLY Brockington Pat: Film Industry — (Continued from Page 1) told delegates and guests at the dinner which followed the first day of HEmpire-Universal Film’s twelfth annual convention. The occasion, perhaps the most distinguished of its kind in Canadian film history, was of international character. Among those spoke were John Davis, managing director of Odeon Theatres of Great Britain and H. W. McIntyre, general manager of Universal Films in Australia. The Hon. J. Harl Lawson, P.C., K.C., formerly Minister of National Revenue under Lord Bennett, presided. He was proud to join in a salute to the motion picture industry, Mr. Brockington said in predicting that the present service in a common cause would lead to a greater brotherhood of English-speaking nations. He praised Australia, a land with 12,500 miles of open coast, much of it in reach of the enemy, for the unquestioning way it had it had joined immediately in the fight, and the United States, with its moral and material support, made victory certain when it took its place among the ouibed Nations. When he spoke of England Mr, Brockington reached deep into the hearts of his listeners, “I cannot speak with restraint about England,” he said, “which I have seen in all its suffering.” General Alexander, he pointed out, was the last man off the beach at Dunkirk after determining that there were no Allied soldiers left behind. “That is England at its best,” the speaker proclaimed. In introducing Mr. Davis, Mr. Brockington stated that the British motion picture industry, like the rest of Britain, which had the qualities necessary to “take adversity and determine that they will make it a stepping stone to victory,” had used ‘“‘defeat as a vista to victory.” The British industry, under terrible handicaps, had made its greatest progress since 1940. John Dayis, saying that he was struck with the hospitality of Canadians, spoke gratefully of the splendid way in which Canadian men and women had come to the aid of Britain. “Canada,” he said, “has been one of our mainstays in this war.” He was glad to be in Canada, renewing acquaintances and making new friends. He was here to listen and learn. Thanking Mr. Brockington for his flattering references to Australia, H. W. McIntyre told those present that he was proud to be associated with an industry which enjoyed world-wide pres tige. Films were shown § ra all service men -and ; Australia, regardless of j country they came from, continued, “and the boys freely that next to a letter rom home movies are the thing t enjoy most.” The governn and people of Australia — aware of the contribution « of ti moving picture industry to war effort. ie Among the speakers was Jo J. Fitzgibbons, president Famous Players Canadian Cor ration, who said that he spoke national chairman of the Me Picture War Services Comm He thanked the Canadians present for their energetic suppor of the committee and asked that his appreciation be passed on to — the motion picture men women in their localities. eu and exhibitors. The concise under which we live today give © the industry and the individual a — great opportunity to serve eC nation.” This was being accomplished through the committee. ‘Tt is being done freely,” he said, “and will have its appreciation in the post-war era.” ah In introducing Mr. Fitzgibbons — the Hon. Earl Lawson said that — all present were indebted to him for his unstinting service to the — industry’s war effort. “He has — devoted his time not only for the — benefit of the industry but for Canada,” he stated. “For this we must thank him.” ate Others who addressed the. gathering were Paul Nathanson; s Haskell Masters, general man— ager of Odeon Theatres of Canada; Tom J. Bragg, a director of Empire-Universal; Frank J. MeCarthy, Canadian division manager of Universal; and William A. Scully, vice-president and general sales manager of Unk ae versal. ts: During the evening Michael Isman, manager of Universal’s Montreal office, presented Alf W. Perry, general manager of Empire-Universal, with a set of silver candlesticks in behalf of the delegates who had come from many points in Canada to be present, Quite a number of well-known Quebec exhibitors were present, among them George and John Ganetakos, George Rotsky, Arthur Hirsch, Alec Adelman, Ben Garson, B. C. Salamis, William Lester, Nick Tabah, Ameen Lewand and B. C. Salamais. The Universal sales meetings were held on July 20 and 21,