Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 13, 1944)

a Page 2 British Films Set For Free Europe (Continued from Page 1) the British war effort and the way of life of the people under war conditions. Stories have been selected for a series of shorts, now in preparation, that are especially slanted for the country where they will be shown. The series will be titled “The World Marches” and the shorts made in Albanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Magyar, Norwegian, Polish, Roumanian, Serbo-Croat and Slovene. The schedule includes shorts on health, education and industrial subjects. A weekly newsreel, “The Free World,” produced in London by the USA Office of War Information and the British Ministry of Information, is now being shown in Normandy and Italy and will probably soon go into Paris theatres. The Italian edition, dubbed in Rome, will shortly be edited, printed and distributed from the Italian capitol. This newsreel is issued in seventeen languages. In North Africa British films have earned more money since the Allied landings than they took in from France in peacetime, according to a recent survey issued by the Films Division of the Ministry of Information. British distributors have the advantage in North Africa for they can withdraw their earnings while USA film funds cannot be taken out of the country, the survey also notes. . In Normandy and Italy, British features are distributed through regular theatres and mobile units supplied by the Ministry of Information. Tom Baird, director of the Films Division, Jast week predicted the British Government will establish and maintain one central bureau to make information and educational films for all bureaus after the war. Such production will be confined to specialized or professional films as in the case of the Ministry of Information’s “Psychiatry in Action,” Baird stated. ' Films produced either singly or in collaboration by the Office of War Information and the Ministry of Information are distributed through the Psychological Warfare Bureau. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Ask ‘Fair Break’ For GB Product (Continued from Page 1) Came to the City,” “Champagne Charlie,” “Fiddlers Three” and “The Return of the Viking.” Sir Edward was in Toronto last week to confer with Oscar Hanson, who distributes Ealing product in Canada through Esquire Films, and H. I. Allen, Esquire representative. He attended the Canadian premiere of “San Demetrio-London” at the Eglinton, Toronto, on August 31, which was sponsored by the Navy League. He was interested in the future of British films in general and those of Ealing in particular, he said. Eighty per cent of Haling’s product this season is entertainment and twenty per cent is designed to make people think through excellent use of dramatic material. not preachments, he explained, but emphasize democratic values of universal appeal. The British point of view towards parliamentary government and human rights has found a place throughout history in the hearts of people of all nations and the early willingness of that country to defend it has captured the imagination of the world today. Sir Edward Exchange Union Asks Charter (Continued from Page 1) workers will be in the hands of the A F of L direct or whether that organization will turn it over to the IATSE. The meeting was addressed by William P. Covert, Canadian IATSE chief organizer, who voiced the willingness of his union to accept jurisdiction. Three regional A F' of L officers also addressed the meeting. If the exchange workers come under the IATSE banner they will receive moral and financial support. The IATSE, however, is bound by contract in its relations with the theatres and can take no strike action in support of any differences which may arise between exchange workers and their employers. It is thought that projectionists can do many things to help the exchange workers if necessary. Vol. 9, No. 37 Sept. 18, 1944 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Published by Film Publications of Canada L' Canada. Phone 2S Dundas Square, Toronto, mts td., Sag oro AMT. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. as Second Class Matter Printed by Eveready EEE wa al 76 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontarje These latter films are sees no reason why the films of his own and other studios should not find an equal place with American films in the tastes of all people and on the screen of their theatres. The film world has always been international, he suggests. Films of all countries will be exchanged in the future. With universal agreement as to the values they present, there is no reason, he feels, why the product of British, French and other film makers should not have the same appeal to Canada and the USA that Hollywood films have in Britain and elsewhere. “Live and let live,” he said. ‘I’m over here to find out what is causing the hitch in the acceptance of British films, which are in many cases not getting the break they deserve,” he told the press. He agreed that British film producers had been backward in their publicity methods and that British stars were comparatively unknown. Some attempt would be forthcoming to establish British stars in the minds of Canadians and Americans. The star system would have to be used instead of ignored. British studios, Sir Edward said, have performed a Herculean task in the last few years. In spite of the shortage of talent and equipment and the handicaps of production under bombing, they have shown such marked improvement as to provide the first real challenge to Hollywood. Sir Edward represents Michael Balcon, recognized as a great director on every continent, and Major Baker. He is managing director of Ealing Studios’ subsidiary, British and Overseas Film Sales. Ealing is the second largest studio in Great Britain. Speaking of the trade situation in Great Britain, Sir Edward said that it was being hoped that government control would not be expanded beyond what is necessary to assure progressive procedure during these uncertain times. At the same time he realized that the British Government may have to intervene in Washington on behalf of fair treatment for Old Country product in the field of American distribution. ‘We hope British films can find their own commercial level,” he .said, “and make that unnecessary.” Freund on Loan Short Karl Freund, Academy Award winner, will handle the camera for the 7th Canadian Victory Loan’ short, “Tomorrow John Jones,” now on MGM stages. September 13, 1944 Product Comp y (Continued from Page 1) be the directive force over pro-— duction and distribution in the Dominion, The announcement came through a news release by the publicity officer of the New York company, Ed Hurley. James Cowan, director of BEditorial Services, Ltd., a free-lance publicity and promotion outfit with offices in Toronto, will be in charge of Trans-Canada Pictures. Editorial Services has on occasion handled film buildups, one having been “49th Parallel.” Jack Goldberg, well-known in Canada and an Independent producer, heads the New York company and Ira Simmons will represent him on the coast. A. deal is pending, says the announcement, with J. Arthur Rank to distribute the company’s product in Great Britain. The first production, to be started next month, will be “Sick River Heart,” written by the late Lord Tweedsmuir, former Governor-General of Canada. As John Buchan he was a leading literary figure. His ‘39 Steps,” directed by Alfred Hitcheock, was a famous hit. Stock Overdraft Holds Back Negs Because the USA motion picture industry overdrew some 55,000,000 feet of raw stock during the last six months, negatives from which Canadian prints are to be made have been delayed in their arrival of late. One-third fewer negatives are being turned out this quarter, the War Production Board insisting on the reduction to help make up the industry’s overdraft. Slowdown in delivery, however, will not upset Canadian release dates or bookings. Canada is usually four or five weeks behind USA. playdates. In the past most negatives or prints arrived in the Dominion with plenty of time to Spare and the present margin is still sufficient. Because of the celluloid overdraft the major studios are trying to schedule the lowest possible amount of raw stock usage for the next quarter. The WPB wants the balance of overdrawn stock restored immediately. The industry uses about 320,000,000 and is credited with 34,000,000 feet more for Army and Navy films. It has been proposed to cut the entertainment figure to 228,000,000 feet but the studios are trying to arrange a compromise at a slightly higher figure. ee: ‘ae Found Canadian e ®