Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 14, 1945)

Page 10 ‘The True Glory Gets Big Boost Backing the Dominion government’s expressed wishes that as many Canadians as possible see “The True Glory,’ PRC, distributor of the film, is going all out in publicising this epic record of the European fighting from DDay to VE-Day. Considerable assistance in exploitation is coming from the Public Relations department of the Department of National Defense. In every Canadian situation where “The True Glory’ has already opened praises are being heaped upon it by the critics. When it played at the Tivoli and Englinton theatres in Toronto, columnists of all three dailies came out with enthusiastic firstday reviews. The Star’s Jack Karr wrote, “It is a tremendous motion picture and deserves to be seen.” Helen Allen, of the Telegram praised it, saying, “Of all the war films we have seen, nof one can compare with ‘The True Glory’.” Awarding the film a full line of stars, Roly Young, of the Globe and Mail, said of it, “a picture that every Canadian should see and be proud of.” Winnipeg dailies also went overboard, coming out with editorial page comments, some of them two and three columns long. Toronto’s Mayor Bob Saunders endorsed the film in glowing terms, and there are indications that chief magistrates in other localities will follow suit. Negotiations are underway with some municipalities to have a “True Glory Week” declared during the picture’s run, with the Mayor and members of the council urging the public to see the film. In Hamilton, Ontario, Robinson’s department store ran a window display and four ads on the film in their regular daily newspaper space. Simpson’s, in Toronto, also donated a full window and newspaper plugs. Other department store window displays are being arranged, and PRC and Public Relations are lending every assistance in the matter of stills and blow-ups. Besides window cards and posters, special “This Way to ‘The True Glory’” arrows, designed by PRC, are attracting considerable attention. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation put its weight hehind the picture with a half-hour, coast-to-coast show, featuring Leonard Brockington and portions of the film’s sound track. Incidently, the unique idea of using voices of the fighting men in the commentary has been hailed as one of the outstanding features of the movie, Canadian FILM WEEKLY Exhibitors Thanked ee x an + Pete Egan, Palace Theatre, Calgary, receives the thanks of Mayor Andrew Davidson for the services rendered the city and country by the Calgary Theatres Association. Rank-Universal In Two-Way Deal J. Arthur Rank’s General Film Distributors, Limited, has concluded a long-term extension of an agreement with Universal International Films giving it the continued right to be exclusive distributor in the United Kingdom of the entire movie output of Universal’s studios. Working two ways, the contract also provides for certain British films produced by the Rank group to be distributed by Universal in the United States and South America. This arrangement gives Rank his fourth major distribution outlet in the United States. Travel, Convention Bans Are Removed Wartime Prices and Trade Board has announced lifting of restrictions on conventions which necessitate travel by more than 50 persons. Regulations limiting the use of hotels in certain areas by persons attending conventions have also been revoked. Put into effect last July the regulations were designed to facilitate the transportation of returning troops and essential travellers, Biltmore To Build In Sudbury, Ont. Biltmore Theatres has purchased property in Sudbury, Ontario, for the erection of a theatre of over 1,000 seats. It will be called the Biltmore. Last week the firm announced a theatre for Ottawa. Several more are planned. More PRC Changes; Mooney Goes Indie Reeves Espy, PRC’s studio head, is taking further steps to put into effect the company’s new policy of having almost all pictures it distributes made by outside producers. He has asked Martin Mooney, the company’s leading producer, to revive his old corporation, Martin Mooney Productions, and make as his first independent effort, a Cinecolor sequel to “The Great Mike,” one of the company’s greatest grossers. Four Mooney productions at present in the cutting rooms, all top-budget films, are “Detour,” “Club Havana,” “Danny Boy” and “I Ring Doorbells.” All the intra-mural departments of the company are expected to be affected in the policy shake-up. PRC’s future movie budgets will have a maximum range of between $50,000. and $75,000. There are numerous deals in the offing, including some “packages” in which one or two boxoffice players have agreed to play the leads. Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse, who held the only producer-director-writer contracts with PRC, have severed their connections with the company to enter independent production with a major release. M. O'Hara's Sister In RKO Film Debut Maureen O’Hara’s sister, Clare Hamilton, makes her film debut in RKO’s forthcoming British forthcoming British production “Hotel Reserve,” November 14, 1945 UK Producers Keeping Busy Overcoming the lack of studio space and equipment and other post-war difficulties, British producers are making good progress in putting film-making in the United Kingdom into full peacetime stride. Three of the J. Arthur Rank units alone had 24 features in various stages of production in October, from preparation for the camera to the cutting rooms, Two Cities Films was leading the Rank parade with four films on the sound stages, including “Carnival,” ‘Beware of Pity,” ‘Men of Two Worlds’ and “The Way We Live.” In preparation were “Hungry Hill,” “Pattern of Achievement” and ‘Boffins Went to War.” “The Wicked Lady” was being edited at Rank’s Gainsborough Pictures with early distribution expected. Gainsborough also had in preparation “The Root of All Evil,” “Diggers Republic,” ‘Rebecca’s Daughter,’ ‘Rob Roy,” “She Painted Her Face” and a mystery spy story. Independent Producers Ltd., also a Rank outfit, had three in the cutting room, four in production and one in preparation. Of these the Bernard Shaw-Gabriel Pascal Technicolor production of “Caesar and Cleopatra” was virtually completed. Others in work included “Great Expectations,’ “I See a Dark Stranger” and “A Matter of Life and Death.” Films being edited were “I Know Where I’m Going,” “The Rake’s Progress” and “Brief Encounter.” “Green for Danger” was in preparation. Two Dailies Merged At Moncton, NB. ‘Times and Transcript, two daily papers in Moncton, New Brunswick, have been merged under Moncton Publishers Limited. Publication, will continue as previously with the Times appearing in the morning and the ’ Transcript in the evening. J. C. Keating is president and general manager of the new company, and N. K. Grainger is vice-president and managing editor. Ed Gardner to Make Sequel to 'Tavern’ Ed ‘Archie’ Gardner, host of “Duffy's Tavern,” is the newest entry in the independent production field. He wil make “Murder at Duffy’s Tavern,” a sequal to the first “Tavern” movie, in which he will be the star as well as the producer. s @) CS a EE ee