Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 9, 1947)

Page 10 HERBERT MATHERS Appointed Saint John branch manager for Empire-Universal, succeeding Gerald Hoyt, who resigned. Astral Films Gets Film Classics (Continued from Page 1) ted, is headed by Joseph Bernhard, formerly vice-president of Warner Brothers Pictures. As a result of the deal Astral will handle a number of Korda reissues in Canada for Film Classics, among them “The Thief of Bagdad.” Bernhard’s company will also market new films from Independent producers, agreements for which are being arranged now. Film Classics recently acquired exchanges and franchises from their holders as part of its plan to own its own exchange system. Today the company controls 20 exchanges in the USA. Allen’s ability to secure distribution rights indicates that Film Classics is satisfied to distribute in Canada through a representative. Acquisition of the Film Classics program will give Astral a big boost in status, moving it into an important place in the Dominion distribution picture. Astral Films will also distribute a number of French films, for which contracts were made by Allen during his stay in New York. Director Assigned Sidney Lanfield will direct RKO Radio's “Stations West.” This Luke Short western adventure story brings Dick Powell back to the studio where he Starred so successfully in “Murder, My Sweet” and ‘‘Cornered.” Canadian FILM WEEKLY = ati Lr 77 LG haat aa SF — —~ Ame —_ i] These Bring Customers (From the Rivers, Manitoba, Gazette) The better part of a thousand persons patronized local picture houses over the week-end. Both before and after the shows, these crowds spilled over into eating places, grocery and general stores. Thousands of dollars, brought from several municipalities, remained here. The two shows located here have been doing for Rivers merchants untold good over a period of years; in that same time, local residents have been entertained at low cost. Just how much is owed the operators of those amusement places—particularly by other business men? A survey shows that only a few didn’t attend regularly, a small percentage have never attended. One or two residents have even tried to get by the cashier without paying. The last statement will raise a cry of protest, but the fact remains that you can find “dead-beats” everywhere— and this locality, sad to say, has its quota. Merchants of Rivers owe much of their prosperity to local showmen. It is the duty of every business man to boost—and to patronize—them in return. * * * That Banned French Film (From the Moncton, NB, Daily Times) Those who have seen the French film Les Enfants du Paradis, which caused such an upheaval at the University of Montreal that the students’ newspaper there was censored, can only wonder what all the fuss was about, remarks the Ottawa Citizen. Certainly, the name of Canada abroad will shine no brighter because so brilliant a motion-picture was banned in the Province of Quebec. The drama is a striking example of the art of the cinema at its best. It is a vividly-portrayed story of stage life ranging from the fairground to the classic theatre and set against the romantic background of the gay French capital i in the picturesque days of Louis Philippe. The acting is polished and the settings nostalgic in their revival of a Paris that no longer exists. But as in all good films, it is the drama itself that matters. It follows a long-established French literary tradition, exhibiting and analyzing the emotional life of a woman who has loved several men in several ways and found happiness with none. The unfolding of the drama tells why, and it is in this subtle. exploration of the secret places of the heart that French genius especially shines. Whether the film is “moral” or “immoral” in the conventional sense, is beside the point, says The Citizen. It is great art in the sense that Madame Bovary is great art. That is its justification. Because it holds the mirror up to the strange and contradictory volcanic thing called human nature, reflecting it in all its tragic or ridiculous intensities, it enlarges experience, deepens understanding and gives ordinary life a profounder significance. To suppress such art, says The Citizen, is the real immorality. It offends against the deepest moral nghts of those who seek in identification with the sufferings or joys of others the discovery of themselves. TES REFLECTIONS. _ July 9, 1947 MP's Ask About Spy Probe Pic Twentieth Century-Fox’ announced intention of producing a film based on the Soviet espionage trials has caused some editorial and political apprehension. Little news of Darryl Zanuck’s plans has been added to the original information, which revealed that the company had sent a representative to Ottawa to make whatever arrangements were required. The Ottawa Citizen objected editorially to the film company’s plan and three members of the House of Commons made enquiries from the floor which were answered by the Right Honorable L. S. St. Laurent, Secretary of State for External Affairs. “What will come out of Hollywood as the climax of these activities is easily foreseen,” the newspaper stated. “It will be a travesty of the facts and a blot on the good name of Canada. No one is proud of the fact that there were a few Canadians false to their honor and their oath of secrecy. But to spread their offense upon the’ picture-screens of the world for the profit of Hollywood is nothing short of @ scandal.” Quoting the denunciation of the proposed film by the New York branch of the American Association of Scientific Workers because the court proceedings showed that nine suspects had Deen wrongfully accused, the Ottawa Citizen observed that “Obviously, a film such as is now in preparation can only further pervert the public mind with evil suspicion and international hatred.” In the House of Commons George Black, member for the Yukon, suggested that “in view of the present tense situation in world conditions” the film was inadvisable. Answering through the Speaker, Mr. St. Laurent pointed out that it was not within the powers of the government or his department ‘‘to determine what pictures Hollywood interests may or may not make.” Karl Homuth, MP, asked if the government had given any film company the right to photograph government buildings and Mr. St. Laurent answered that permission had not been granted or sought. He also informed M. J. Coldwell, MP, that the same was true of the facilities of the Mounted Police. ma WARNER (aia NEWS NOV.