Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 16, 1947)

April 16, 1947 Foster Of NFB Returns Here (Continued from Page 1) ics Division of Canada’s National Film Board, was made that organization’s representative in the Antipodes and moved there early in 1945. ’ Several months later a request was received by Prime Minister Mackenzie King from the Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph B. Chiefley, for permission to bor row Foster for one year. During his term of office Foster trained an Australian to succeed him. Now that Foster has finished his worked and is due back in Canada any day, Watt summed up his activities in an article which was condensed and reprinted in the Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian, he wrote, deServed praise for the energy, enthusiasm and imagination used to create the new organization. “As the first year’s work, starting from scratch, the films are pretty good,” Watt wrote, adding that they were, however, “naive” as representatives films to go out into the world as examples of Australia’s filmcraft. During Foster’s stay the AFB made 28 films, with an equal number being in work at the time he left. Creation of the organization and its operation was facilitated by the comparative frée‘dom given the board, although wartime shortages were among the difficulties. Foster, formerly president of Canadian section of the Newspaper Guild, resigned in 1942 from the Toronto Daily Star to join theNational Film Board. Dutch Film Engineer | Visiting Canada Eduard F: W. ‘Trijssenaar, chief engineer of the Netherlands Film and Cinema Union, paid a short visit to St. Thomas, On-_ tario, while making a tour of the USA. His visit to St. Thomas was for a reunion with members of the Elgin Regiment who lived at his home in Eindhoven during the winter of 1944-45. Loew's Redeeming Preferred Stock Marcus Loew’s Theatres Limited has provided funds for the redemption of its seven per cent $100 par preference shares out of its resources. The move took effect April ist. There are 6,539 shares of such stock outstanding and as they are being redeemed at $115 plus accrued dividends, the amount necessary is $763,428. As of August last year current assets totalled $936,194, over eight times the current liabilities, which were $125,445. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Film Banning Spreads (From the Ottawa Citizen) Since Alberta's bill of rights proclaims “freedom of expression” for every citizen of the province within the limits of the law, bewildered Albertans must wonder why their government ignores its proclaimed principles and bans a film designed to show scientifically that all men belong to one family, that there is no “master-race,” and that equality, as the Athenian Solon said, “breeds no wars. The film has a commentary by a prominent United Kingdom scientist, Professor Julian Huxley, In the spirit of Christianity it pleads for human brotherhood, not on religious or idealistic grounds, but on the scientific truth that racial differences between men in no way need prevent them living together in unity. A fleeting glimpse of the Soviet Union’s success in dealing with the great varieties of people within its borders is introduced by way of illustration. But it surely cannot be because of this trifling addition to the theme that the Alberta government has found the film unsuitable for exhibition in the province’s schools? True, it is reported that the Cabinet is bent on eradicating “Communistic infiltration.” But how can anyone regard as “Communistic infiltration” a demonstration that all men are brethren under their skins and inside their skulls, passes comprehension. It certainly makes nonsense of the concept of “free‘dom of expression” which Alberta's bill of rights affirms for every citizen. Unanimous Election For AMPA Officers Arnold Stoltz of Samuel Goldwyn Productions was named the new president of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, succeeding Rutgers Neilson, at a recent closed luncheon meeting in New York that saw the complete slate unanimously elected. Phil Williams, Fortune Magazine, continues as vice-president; Max Stein, 20th Century-Fox, becomes treasurer; Margaret Wayburn succeeds the latter as secretary; and directors elected were Rutgers Neilson, Joel Swenson, Harry McWilliams, Hap Hadley and Don Velde. Trustees are Charles Alicoate, Ray Gallagher and Jacques Kopfstein. "Mom And Dad’ To Return To Ontario “Mom and Dad,” the sex hygiene motion picture that is being roadshown in British Colucbia with lecturer Elliott Forbes, will return to Ontario early next month to open a week’s engagement at the Biltmore Theatre, Oshawa, on May 12th. The west coast tour of the film, which will be completed by the end of the month, has left a trail of phenomenal grosses and house records wherever it has played. George Altman, general manager of Hygiene Productions of Canada, who handles “Mom and Dad,” has arrived back in Toronto. Is your projection equipment obsolete or in need of repairs? Send it to our shop for a com plete overhaul. Experienced mechanics and modern repair machinery guarantee satisfaction. BS B a Dominion Sound Equipments Limited Toronto: 114 Bond Street—WAverley 6131 Montreal: 1620 Notre Dame Street West—Fitzroy 9663 Page 15 « be | RALPH FOSTER Due back shortly from Australia where he served as commissioner of the Australian National Film Board. FPCC Platter Pitch For New Policy The idea of using recorded announcements by local celebrities about new policy and pictures, inaugurated by Famous Players in the Tivoli, Eglinton and Capital, will be continued for “Great Expectations.” Roly Young, Globe and Mail reviewer, will tell the patrons about “Great Expectations,” which film he feels will be chosen among the ten best of the year. Lorne Green, famed newscaster, told the pre-Jolson public at the Tivoli and Eglinton about the coming change via. a recording after the house lights went up. He intro’d with “News is my business and this is news.” The same scheme will be used in other special cases. Jimmy Nairn and his boys, along with Operation personnel, have found the idea distinctly worth while. Belgium Organizes Film Institute A National Institute for Film Technology has been set up in Brussels to serve all phases of the industry. Secretary general of the organization is Luc Haessaerts. Laboratories and studios with specialized technicians will be established, Haessaerts stated, and the institute will play an important part in Belgian national life. Its functions will be extended to the Belgian Congo by the establishment there of a cinematographic centre and extensive international contacts will be maintained to keep the industry up to date with developments eslewhere in the world.