Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 17, 1945)

Vol. 10, No. & Jan. 17, 1945 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, 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 Printed by Eveready Printers Limited, 78 Wellington Strect West, Toronto, Ontarjo Poll Results Release of the USA critics Ten Best Pictures of 1944, as determined by the 23rd annual poll of Film Daily of New York, provides an opportunity to compare their tastes with those of our own film inspectors. Here are some selections: USA CRITICS— Going My Way, Song of Bernadette, Since You Went Away, Madame Curie, Dragon Seed, White Cliffs of Dover, Gaslight. A Guy Named Joe, Story of Dr. Wassell, and Lifeboat. HERBERT WHITTAKER, Montreal Gazette— San Demetrio-London, Lifeboat, The Purple Heart, Home in Indiana, Voice in the Wind, Going My Way, Hail the Conquering Hero, The Seventh Cross, Thunder Rock and Lost Angel. JACK KARR, Toronto Daily Star— Cover Girl, Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Gaslight, Two Girls and a Sailor, Thunder Rock, Double Indemnity, Going My Way, Since You Went Away, This Happy Breed and Laura. ROLY YOUNG, Toronto Globe and Mail— This Happy Breed, Madame Curie, The Lodger, Cover Girl, Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, San Demetrio-London, Dragon Seed, The Climax, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and Going My Way. Canadian Critics It is hard to compare Canadian choices with those of the USA, since the same films, in one or more cases, were not released in the same year. It is also doubiful as to whether many USA critics saw San Demetrio-London and This Happy Breed. British films do not get good distribution in the USA. Karr and Whittaker did not select in order of merit but picked their ten favorites. Young named “This Happy Breed” as the best but did not indicate that the others were in order of importance. “Going My Way” was picked by all three — the only one to be a unanimous choice. “San Demetrio-London” was chosen by Young and Whittaker but didn’t make Karr’s list. Young and Karr, both Toronto critics, agreed on four films—This Happy Breed, Cover Girl, Miracle of Morgan’s Creek and Going My Way. They named 16 films without agreement, after looking at the same films at the same time. And seven out of ten picked by Whittaker did not win a vote from either Young or Karr, It almost proves the contention that there is no such thing as a bad moving picture. There are folks who say it's bad and folks who say it’s good. If the critics are so far apart, how can you rely on the opinion of a professional guide? The boxottice is still the only sure way of judging the appeal of a motion picture, Canadian FILM WEEKLY January 17, 1945 Canadian Directors Named By Rank (Continued from Page 1) H. Beeston, Toronto; T. J. Bragg, Toronto; the Hon. Earl Lawson, K.C., Toronto; and Paul Nathanson, Toronto. General Theatre Corporation Limited, as now constituted, will be completely under Canadian management, says an announcement from the head office of Odeon Theatres in Toronto. Its officers are the representatives of the “A” shareholders on the board of directors and they are Paul L. Nathanson, president and managing director; T. J. Bragg, vice-president and secretary-treasurer; George H. Beeston, comptroller; and the Hon. J. Earl Lawson, K.C., general counsel. Each will act in the same capacity for Odeon Theatres of Canada Limited. George Peters has been named assistant secretary-treasurer of the company, although not a member of the board of directors. New Personalities Several of those now connected with General Theatre Corporation and Odeon of Canada enjoy positions of power and distinction in other endeavors and their participation in the development of the Canadian motion picture industry is proof of its great promise. Their alignment with Odeon means that that company is prepared for any quality of opposition which may be offered by competitors in the battle for domination of or major representation in the Dominion theatre field. D. C. Coleman, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, is also chairman of its board. He is chairman of the board of Associated Screen News Limited, CPR-controlled, which has long been prominent in production of Canadian shorts and in motion picture printing. Mr. Coleman also holds directorates in the Bank of Montreal, Cohen Well Staffed Wolfe Cohen’s staff for the administration of the territory which he took over when he joined Warners International de partment is just about complete. Irvin (Babe) Coval of Montreal was recently added to Cohen’s group and he is the only Canadian who will be moved, it seems. British Get Jump In French Field Americans are irked by the fact that British film men got the jump on them in France and other countries. J, Arthur Rank now has French Gaumont, a theatre chain. The British representatives, say the Americans, got plane priorities. Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company Limited, Canadian Pacific Air Lines and a number of other companies. R. V. LeSueur, also a representative of Rank on the board, is president and director of Imperial Oil Limited. He has many important business associations, being a director of Confederation Life, Montreal Trust, Kirkland Lake Gold Mining Company, Northern Canada Mining and many other companies. Others No Surprise Leonard W. Brockington, K.C., and John Davis, who also represent the shares of Odeon of Britain, were elected directors in November. It was expected from the first that Davis would have a seat on the board but it was not until recently that Brockington’s association with Rank became public knowledge. Mr. Davis, who represented J. Arthur Rank in the negotiations with Paul Nathanson and his associates, is managing director of Odeon Theatres of Great Britain and a director of the board of Manorfield Investments Limited, the latter organization being the holding company for all of Rank’s theatre enterprises. Mr. Brockington, formerly head of the CBC, is reputed to be in close association with Premier William Lyon Mackenzie King. A distinguished speaker and writer, as well as a notable wit, his presence is constantly sought as an after-dinner orator. He has surveyed the war scene on almost every front and was present at the Normandy invasion. The legal representative of Mr. Rank in Canada is the Ottawa firm of Messrs. Gowling, McTavish & Watt, barristers, to whom Mr. Brockington is counsel. Lawson Counsel The Hon. J. Earl Lawson, K.C., One of the Canadian motion picture industry’s most personally popular figures, has always been associated with the Nathanson interests and is acting as general counsel on the new board, He is head of the firm of Messrs, Lawson, Stratton, Green & Ongley. Mr. Lawson, a member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, was formerly Minister of National Revenue in the cabinet of the present Lord Bennett. He has been active in business circles since his retirement from the House of Commons in 1940. He is a director of Viceroy Manufacturing Company Limited, Clark Ruse Aircraft Limited, Barker's Bakeries Limited, and Burry Picture Corporation of the United States. “t <