Canadian Film Weekly (Jun 6, 1945)

June 6, 1945 Trade Relations Happy—McLean (Continued from Page 1) thing as a quota on American films in mind. “There is at present no idea of imposing any restrictions on the USA film industry,” said McLean. “So long as the relations remain as friendly as at present we will have no disputes,” he added, and continued by saying, “The American industry has treated Canada fairly and all we ask is a continuation of such treatment. “We have been getting along beautifully with America, England and France and there is no reason why that entente cordiale should be upset.” When asked about picture production McLean made it plain that Canada has no plans in this connection. “Climatic conditions are a bar to production in Canada,” he pointed out. “And so long as Canada is fairly treated by producers of other countries, we will have no quarrels. As a matter of fact, we are glad to have these producers make pictures or part of them in Canada. All we ask is that they give the world a true picture of our country, its life and customs.” When asked about the entry of J. Arthur Rank into the Canadian exhibition field through his purchase of an interest in Odeon Theatres of Canada, McLean stated that the government at Ottawa had no objection. “The coming of Rank will be an asset to the exhibition end of the Canadian industry,” he said. He said that he did not know whether Rank had any plans to produce in Canada and he emphasised that past attempts to produce pictures in the Dominion had proven unsuccessful because of the climate. “But if Rank believes he can produce pictures in Canada, we shall be glad to give him every co-operation possible,” McLean stated. “Our attitude is that we welcome anything that can help Canada.” Loew, Marx Bros. In Production A new film producing company, Loma Vista Films Incorporated, has been formed by David L. Loew in association with the Marx Brothers. Under the banner of the new firm, the Marxes, Groucho, Harpo and Chico, will star in an original comedy “A Night in Casablanca” which will be released through United Artists. The film script will be written by Joseph Fields. Canadian FILM WEEKLY This Time They Knew Reporters were surprised to find J. Arthur Rank, possessor of the greatest amount of personal power in the film and theatre industry, anything but the dynamic individual you would expect a man to be who had acquired such a position in so short a time. He is also younger looking than his photos indicate. Rank listened politely to the many questions, without interruption and with the manner of a man unaccustomed to being interviewed. Often he continued to listen expectantly after the question had ended, as though there was more to come. During this delay some reporter would ask another question, in which case the previous one drew little more than an acknowledgment as an answer. Questions that tended toward the provocative brought some of Rank’s party in on the verbal double to assist in providing a satisfactory answer. This time the reporters knew all about Rank. When John Davis and Paul Nathanson called a press conference last November to announce the merger they were startled into silence by what happened. Clare Appel had distributed an announcement and those present were invited to question Paul and Davis. Nothing happened, each reporter waiting for the other. “Who,” asked Alexandrine Gibb of the Toronto Daily Star, ‘is this man Rank?” The would be question-answerers were caught with their stance down and the film trade press men were surprised into a laugh. “Yes,” said Ken McTaggart of the Globe and Mail, “who is Rank?” They were right, of course. The tradesters, used to reading about Rank in every industry journal, overlooked that fact that he meant little to the daily press. Rank’s status was explained and the interview started. It reminded me somehow of a recent yarn about a war correspondent who had gotten an important story at night and located a typewriter in a house without lights. Fortunately, he was one of the few key tappers who knew the touch system and for four hours he worked with a will. Then he turned his copy in for filing with the comment that it was probably the best work he had ever done. The other fellow shoved his copy back pityingly. The sheets were blank. The typewriter had had no ribbon. * i * + Verbiage ‘No man has ever been born who was wise enough to be a censor.’”—Josephus Daniels at 83... “Unlike criticisms of the legitimate theatre, movie reviews have no appreciable effect on the box office.’—From Sean Edwin’s column, “The Sound Track,” in the Montreal Herald’. . . Racing “has as much bearing on improving the breed of horses as a bawdy house has on eugenics.”—Mayor LaGuardia of New York . . . “Poor children, poor children, just wait a little and you will see who will laugh at the end.’—Premier Duplessis of Quebec to Liberal members who laughed with glee when the Legislative Council killed the six per cent so-called luxury tax. * * BS On the Take Charlie Cashman’s new assistant is Ronnie Brynaert, who can set you straight when the councillor is away councilling .. . That’s a musical moniker FPCC’s partner in the Northland, Flin Flon, Manitoba, has—‘Chummy” Plummer . . . This publication has been delayed in its arrival on time twice recently by mechanical trouble. A snag in any of the number of stages necessary to its preparation can cause it and you know how things are these days . . . Len Bishop, Tom Daley and Paul Maynard went around the Thornhill course the other day, with Bishop betting Tom a fiver that Paul would beat him. The game was tied going into the 18th and Daley got on the green with two beautiful shots. Looked so much of a cinch that Bish paid him off after Paul hit a wild one. But the wild one bounced off the clubhouse steps and back on the green within four feet of the hole! That ruined Daley, what with insult being added to insult by having to put ten in Len’s hand instead of five, Page 5 Jim Cowan Reps Lawrence Here (Continued from Page 1) from the activities of Britain’s leading film and theatre figure. Cowan, well-known to the theatre industry for many years in a number of capacities, will govern the release of matters pertaining to policy and of general interest, as well as facilitate the flow of publicity material on films to those responsible for its distribution. The trade and daily press has found difficulty in the past in getting information because news releases were made in Londor: and New York. Such news wili now be released in Toronto for Canada simultaneously with London and New York. Also with the termination of the war in f£urope the shortage of manpower and raw materials will be diminished, making it possible to create publicity material, the distribution of which will be important. Exhibition of British films has been handicapped until now by uncertainty about the arrival and the amount of such material. Cowan became Canadian representative in 1940 of Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell, affiliates of Rank now, and was associated with the Canadian exploitation of “49th Parallel,” “The Silver Fleet’ and ‘Colonel Blimp.” A former newspaperman who was connected with the Toronto Daily Star and conductor of the theatre column in the Star Weekly, he has worked with stage companies. Cowan was Variety’s representative when Sime Silverman was alive. Offices of Editorial Services, Ltd., are at 80 Richmond Street West, Toronto. “Navy Show’ Movie For British Studio Canada’s “Navy Show’ will make a film for the British National Film Corporation if permission is received from Ottawa, according to Capt. J. P. Connolly, chief of special services, RCN. The picture will likely be made after the show completes a tour of American and Canadian camps in Europe. FOR SALE Walker Plastic Moulded Screen Nine Feet Nine Inches by 13 Feet. BOX 10 Canadian Film Weekly