Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 2, 1946)

January 2, 1946 Canadian FILM WEEKLY Page 11 MPs Query Film Board Poliey Discussion of the future policy of the National Film Board in the House of Commons a day or So before prorogation saw members of all parties breaking party ranks to praise or criticize the workings of the Dominion film agency. The occasion was the passing on the estimates for NFB of $810,965 with a supplementary grant of $335,000. Progressive-Conservative J. R. MacNicol (Toronto Davenport) initiated the debate when he praised NFB work, particularly films which educated Canadians at home about their country ani told Canada’s story abroad. He asked that the Minister of Public Works erect a new, fireproof Their Majesties See Two MGM Pix Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in London were requested to supply prints of “They Were Expendable” and “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes,” to be shown at Sandringham where the British Royal family is assembling for the first time since the war for the Christmas holidays. Present at Sandringham were King George, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret Rose, the Duchess of Kent and her three children and others. Borzage and Wayne On Republic Pic His second producer director chore for Republic Studios, Frank Borzage will probably get ‘That Man Malone” in production soon. John Wayne will be starred, the picture being held up until he finishes his role opposite Claudette Colbert in RKO’s “Without Reservations.” Borzage’s first picture for Republic was “T’ll Always Love You,” formerly “Concerto.” “Malone” had been announced as Wayne's first job as producerstar at Republic, but he now is in line for another property. Chevalier Returns, May Make Picture After a ten-year absence from the United States, Maurice Chevalier, French musical comedy and movie star, is returning to Hollywood early in 1946, Leo Morrison, his agent, announces. Chevalier was charged as a collaborationist by Free French spokesmen, but has since been cleared of the charges. He will do a concert tour out of New York before signing any picture pacts. Party Ranks Are Split as Members Discuss Million-Dollar Budget for 1946 building to ‘preserve these priceless films that have been taken of Canada from one end to the other.” Rodney Adamson, also a Progressive-Conservative, frequently critical of the board, demanded a statement on policy, requesting information whether the board was going to produce major films as well as documentaries, whether they would in any event cooperate with commercial studios or compete with private producers of films. Was the expenditure of over & million dollars a year by the people of Canada for governmentmade films merited? D. King Hazen wanted to know. Does the Film Board play an important part in the lives of the people or in the lives of the members of parliament? he asked. “So far as I know,” he said, “it plays no part, or if it does it plays only a small part, in the lives.of the people of my constituency. I doubt if the government can carry on a film business any more than it can carry on a weekly newspaper. I suggest therefore that the whole matter Should be very carefully looked into before further expenditures are made.” He said he had heard that the Fijm Board had made a film for the RCAF at a cost of $20,000 which the air force had had to pay for but which had to be remade at a commercial studio. Minister of National Health and Welfare Brooke Claxton, under whose department the board is administered, declared that ‘no agency of the Canadian government has done so much to spread knowledge of Canada abroad as the Film Board. In the year under review it produced a total of 308 films... and I would ask any member to compare that production, from the point of view both of quality and quantity, with the production of any other country on the face of the earth, “The National Film Board has come to have a reputation abroad which puts us virtually second to none in the documentary field.” Claxton told of seeing Canadian films at every international conference he had _ attended. UNRRA had engaged NFB to make a film about its work and this film had been shown all over the world. The 308 films produced last year consisted of 46 films in the NFB program, 153 in the war information program, 109 for other governmental agencies. The “World in Action” series shows in 6,000 theatres in the United States, and a great number in the United Kingdom, in Central and South America as well as Australia and South Africa. “Canada Carries On” is seen by over two million people in Canada every month. Films are produced in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Revenue from films for 1944-45 showings was $72,088.57. Increases in the budget this year are: $127,000 for rural distribution; $110,000 for equipment; $100,000 for the development of international circulation and $125,000 for distribution. Claxton foretold an annual tourist income in Canada of $300,000,000, much of which would be due to NFB pictures abroad encouraging visitors to Canada. The minister said the governing board of NFB had not met to discuss a successor to John Grierson, who resigned recently as commissioner. Warning that the. NFB must exercise great care in its production of films, Rev. E. G. Hansell (S.C., MacLeod) declared “it is difficult to say where the line should be drawn between what might constitute government propaganda and what might constitute an educational program. “I say that when they issue films of a nature to propagandize some particular policy, they are dealing with matters which I do not think are within their functions as a government film board. Institutions such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ana the National Film Board should come under the closest scrutiny of parliament every year. I would suggest that the appropriate parliamentary committees be set up regularly so that officials could make their annual reports, and so that these reports could be scrutinized from every angle.” Other supporters of NFB were Alistair Stewart (C.C.F., Winnipeg North) and Mrs. Gladys Strum (C.C.F., Qu’Appelle). Opponents were J. M. Macdonnell (P.C., Muskoka-Ontario), H. R. Jackman (P.C., Rosedale), Angus MacInnis (C.C.F., Vancouver East) and W. A. McMaster (P.C., High Park). “If the Film Board is to become really efficient,” said Alis tair Stewart, “a great deal will depend upon the number of projectors which are available for groups, clubs and associations. Would it be possible for’the Film Board to obtain from the services these projectors which are declared surplus, with a view to Selling them to clubs and associations which will use them for the benefit of the people?” In the year of 1944-45 the Film Board distributed a total of 2,155 prints of films as compared with 715 prints the previous year. Of these 1,642 went to the British Empire this year as compared with 466 last year. A total of 1,108 persons have been employed by the board at various times, and present staff is 787 persons. Two Atom Bomb Pix Now in Making A factual story of the atom bomb’s development, made with USA government cooperation is planned by Hal Wallis and Joseph Hazen for Paramount. On a recent trip to Washington to arrange various phases of the film they spent a full half-hour with President Truman. The picture will not be solely documentary but will be dramatized entertainment. Metro has announced that Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy are both available for their version of the atomic story. Huge Hotel Lobby At Paramount World’s largest hotel lobby is being constructed on two sound stages of the Paramount Hollywood lot for a sequence in the new Eddie Bracken starrer ‘“Ladies’ Man.” Four stories high and several hundred feet long, the scene is background for a dance solo by Johnny Coy. In the routine the registration desk, davenports, newsstand chairs and luggage rack are all props for the spectacular routine by Coy. Blow-off is a human fly act in which the dancer climbs up the wall in an acrobatic tap finale. NB Theatre to Run Bowling Alley Construction of a modern 400seat theatre is announced for Carelton, NB, with the purchase of a site from M. M. Robert Le— febvre and Clovis Bujold. Size of the building will be 45 feet by 85 feet and it will contain in addition to the theatre, a restaurant, bowling alley and other amusement rooms. .