Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 13, 1944)

December 13, 1944 §.J. Dunning, Mtl., Passes at Sixty Samuel John Dunning, 60, Montreal picture pioneer, passed away suddenly at his home in Verdun last week. He was managing director of Standard Amusement Company, Ltd., which operates the Park, Fifth Avenue Theatres, Verdun and Century Theatre, Montreal. At the time of his death Dunning was reported planning a post-war house for Verdun. Born in Montreal, he went to Toronto for his education but returned to his birthplace in 1906 to begin his connection with the theatre business. He _ started building the Park Theatre, Verdun, in 1914, in partnership with his father. The theatre was opened to the public in January of 1915. Besides show business Dunning was actively interested in sports. He owned and operated the Verdun Park team, winners of the 1934 Dominion Soccer Championship, and also managed a softball team. When the Air Cadets plan was initiated, Dunning assisted in the formation of the Verdun High School Squadron. Surviving are his wife; his father, J. P. Dunning; a son and a daughter. Pays Seat Tax It was incorrectly stated in these columns last week that Eaton’s Auditorium did not pay the provincial seat tax. It does. But Maple Leaf aGrdens, which seats almost 13,000, doesn’t. Theatre Staff Honors Mr. and Mrs. Graham Mr. and Mrs. Levi Graham were honored recently by the staffs of the Princess and Strand Theatres, Prince George, B.C. Graham and his partners recently sold their theatre properties to H. G. Stevenson, Alberta exhibitor, and the former, who was in charge, will retire. Mr. Graham received a Gladstone bag and Mrs. Graham a beautiful bonquet. Warner Bros. Buy ‘Life With Father’ Warners have acquired film rights to “Life with Father,” the Lindsay-Crouse play now in the sixth year of its Broadway run. Jack L. Warner confirmed the sale last week and announced the deal calls for an advance of $500,000 against royalties on the pictures’ gross take. He predicted the final selling price would set a new high for play purchases. The film, to be made in color, will not be released before 1947, according to Warner, Canadian FILM WEEKLY aA SQWS ~ Se . eh The recently-announced partnership between Paul Nathanson, head of Canada’s Odeon theatre chain, and J. Arthur Rank, leader of the British film and theatre industry, will have a marked effect on the Canadian theatre field of the future. Odeon of Canada, half of which is now owned by Rank, operates about 100 movie theatres in Canada. The partners will erect modern theatres in principal cities and towns after the war. Canada will have some 50 new postwar theatres and this enterprise will be welcomed because their construction calls for the employment of more varied crafts than are used in other industries. Also the post-war employment thus created is not concentrated but spread across the Dominion. Britain has taken theatre building into account as a means of providing work for returned veterans and is expected to grant it a priority equal to that of homes. Second important aspect of the partnership is the wider market created for British films, the producers of which have been trying desperately to get enough playing time to make million dollar productions worth while. British films, it is expected, will be every bit as good as American ones after the war. Publicity offices will be established in Canada that will make British stars household names in the Dominion. British films have improved tremendously and even the Americans recognize this, for they have agreed to distribute many in the USA. Another sidelight of the deal is that it may do much to solve the vexing problem of films for children. In Britain, Rank, who is a producer as well as a theatre owner, makes specia) films for children. These are knitted into two-hour programs and shown at weekly matinees with the help of all organiza tions interested in juvenile welfare. Mary Field, in charge of this program, just visited Canada to study the possibility of making these films with Canadian backgrounds for domestic use. The partnership is the most interesting development in the Canadian motion picture industry in many years. = * al Bob Hope’s book, “I Never Left Home,” has sold 1,400,000 copies so far. The proceeds go to war charities ... An actor who didn’t like his salary returned his cheque with this notation: “Any resemblance between this and a living wage is purely coincidental” . . . Orson Welles’ next film job will iar ie is Forever,” in which he appears opposite Claudette Colbert. . Quite a stir in certain parts of Britain because Italian prisoners of war are admitted to movie hous*s at the cheaper rate charged servicemen. Local farm commandos and other volunteer war workers objected to paying the full price and it was explained to them that the Italians were regarded as soldiers. e * * “This is the Army” earned $7,500.00 for USA Army Emergency Relief and $40,000 for its Canadian equivalent. . . Hollywood has provided refuge for many European film players and technicians. A French film being shown now is “Dark Eyes,” in which Simone Simon and Pierre Aumont were the stars. They, as well as the writer, producer, director, composer and art designer, are working in the Cinema City now. Fay Bainter’s son is overseas and his pals heard a great deal about his famous mother. The first film he saw in liberated Paris was “White Banners,” which served to introduce his mother to his friends. Wm. Fox Returns To Production William Fox is in Hollywood negotiating for the production of 12 films under a William Fox Productions banner. The dozen features are to be completed in two years. Fox has a site in West Hollywood and plans to begin construction of a studio after January 1. Present plans call for release of the films through his own company. Await Decision On Rank-Ealing Deal J. Arthur Rank may soon take over the distribution of Ealing Films product, through his EagleLion company, under the terms of a deal reported in negotiation in London. Michael Balcon and Leslie F. Baker of Ealing and E. T. Carr, representing Rank, took part in a conference on this subject last week. Announcement on the deal is expected soon. Page 9 Warners Leaves Hays Office Climaxing a long history of disagreement between Warner Brothers and the Hays Office, the company has withdrawn from the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc. Immediate cause of the with drawal was given as disagreement over labor policies and standards decreed by the MPPDA. The history of Warners wrangle with the MPPDA covers a period of time during which the studio opposed the reappointment of Will Hays as MPPDA president and reportedly refused to help pay for a Jlabor-relations director, hired jointly by MPPDA members. Warners will continue to submit its product to the MPPDA'’s production code administration for approval of scripts and finished films, as an _ independent. Other producers, who are not members of the MPPDA, pay regular fees for production code administration and follow’ the rules of the Code concerning morals and decency in film content. Under the MPPDA's six month withdrawal rule, Warners. will not leave officially until May. No other studio has indicated that it intends to follow the Warner example. However, it is believed the next six months will see a change in Hays Office policy and the rules of the Production Code for the purpose of preventing other withdrawals. Warners will henceforth handle their own labor negotiations, but will abide by all agreements made while the company was 2a member of the MPPDA. Peerless Will Distrib Some Astor Product Astor is closing its office in Toronto and Peerless Films will distribute some of its present product. Astor has been without a manager since Harry Price quit. Jack Shayne, owner-partner and front for the outfit, says he’s too busy and too ill to administer the affairs of the company. The closing, it is understood, is temporary. FP Vanc'r Theatre To Cost $250,000 The new Kerrisdale theatre, to be the largest suburban house in Vancouver, B.C. will cost Famous Players $250,000 to build and will seat 1,500. Local architects are Townley & Mason.