Canadian Film Weekly (Jul 16, 1947)

Page 10 Renaissance Coy Plans Six Films Six films will be made by the newly reorganized Renaissance Films Distribution, Incorporated, in 1947-48, two in conjunction with other producers, J. A. DeSeve, president and general manager, revealed at a press conference in Montreal recently. DeSeve, who formerly held the position of general manager and secretary-treasurer of FranceFilm, the largest distributor and exhibitor of French language films in the Dominion, succeeded Charles Phillip as head of Renaissance after resigning from France-Film in 1945. Renaissance Films, which produced and released the first French film to be made wholly in Canada, “a Pere Chopin,” in May of 1945, has undergone important expansion under the guidance of DeSeve. The company has nearly completed the building and equipping of up-to the-minute studios at Cote des Neiges in Montreal and has added a branch of the International Central Cinema to its organization. This latter company produces religious films of a Catholic nature. French technicians are sailing shortly to teach Canadians the “know-how” of film production. Associated Screen News of Montreal is equipping a laboratory to handle all Renaissance printing and developing, while Fiat-Film will do the dubbing for the world market at its former studios in France, the Garenne Auditorium. The last-named company can turn out four productions a month with synchronized translation in any language due to an oscillograph invented by two of its engineers, Gratioulet and Carre. First on the production program is “Le Divin Sacrifice,’ an all-religious film which will probably be photographed in natural color and will likely be premiered in the Vatican. It will be under the direction of Abbe Vachet. The next three will be “Rancon,” a musical starring a noted female singer; ‘‘Triomphe de La Vie,” from an original idea by Abbe Vachet; and “L’Homme aux Bonbons,” a film with a Canadian theme that will have its locale set in Gaspe Peninsula and L’Ile Oiseaux. In addition, Jules Calamy, the French producer, will come to Canada to collaborate on his “Un Homme Se Penche sur Son Passe” and the Societe Sifra will make in conjunction with Renaissance Gregoire Leclos’ “L’Avalanche.” Janet Blair Cast Janet Blair will star in Columbia’s “Let’s Fall in Love,” -her first, Canadian FILM WEEKLY . Watch Film Classics’ Writes CHICK LEWIS in the _Showmen's Trade Review “Under the able guidance of Joe Bernhard, Film Olassics is moving ahead in its plan for a wholly-owned distributing organization capable of handling top-ranking product. “This page has consistently maintained for the past years that the industry needs new distribution outlets so that independent producers may be free to negotiate the best possible deals for the distribution of their pictures, “It is not a healthy condition for an industry as large as ours to be controlled by the same companies that have dominated it for the last twenty-five years. New distributing organizations and new blood will revitalize the whole business and bring back to it the measure of competition any good industry’ needs to progress and live.” It Is With Pride We Announce FILM CLASSICS Will Be Distributed In Canada By ASTRAL FILMS I. H. ALLEN British Film Star Visits Belleville One of the features of the Belleville, Ontario, “Old Home Week” will be the visit of one of J. Arthur Rank’s British film Stars, Michael Redgrave, through arrangements made by Willard Fawcett, manager of the Odeonoperated McCarthy Theatre in that city. Rai Purdy, Toronto producer, set up all the evening feature attractions, including the ‘Miss Eastern Ontario” beauty contest in the Arena at which Redgrave will make his appearance. Toronto-Born Girl Gets Title Role Gale Sherwood, 18-year-old Toronto-born actress, has been cast in the title role of Ensign Productions’ “Blonde Savage” by Lionel Toll, producer of the film, which will be released by Producers Releasing Corporation. This will be Miss Sherwood’s second important assignment, recently completed, being the role of Sofia in Allied Artists’ story of the life of Tchaikowsky, “Tragic Symphony.” An accomplished singer, her youthful career began through her performance in the Greek Theatre’s production of ‘Rosalie,” Abbott And Costello To Make First Indie Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Whose previous comedies have earned a net profit of more than $17,000,000 to put them in the “top ten money-making stars” bracket for three consecutive years, have signed with Hollywood Eagle-Lion Films for their first independent venture, ‘The Noose Hangs, High,” it was announced by Bryan Foy, vicepresident in charge of production at Eagle-Lion studios. “The Noose Hangs High,” budgeted at $1,600,000, will Zo before the cameras on August 18, and will be produced by Milton H. Feld, who has produced the thirteen successful comedies in which the zany pair starred. Universal Pays New High For "Harvey" Universal -International Pictures has purchased the Broadway stage hit, “Harvey,” for screening at a price said unofficially to be $1,000,000. Statement said, “One of the highest prices ever paid for any property, topping any previous amounts ever paid for any stage play or book.” ; Former high was the reported $500,000 paid by Warner Brothers for the screen rights to “Life With Father,” which film is now ready for release, July 16, 1947, Shooting On For E-L Domn Film The final title of the EagleLion Cinecolor film to be shot entixely in Canada, originally called “Rainbow Ridge,” will be either “Stampede” or “Wild Conflict.” Scenes taken at the worldfamous Calgary Stampede will be incorporated in the picture, most of which is being shot on the Duke of Windsor’s Alberta ranch. A $2,000,000 production, the most ambitious to date of the new company, it will be released in Canada through PRC, as is all of Hollywood Hagle-Lion’s product. Two top players have been aded to the cast. Joan Leslie, star of the company’s recently-completed “Repeat Performance,” will have the feminine lead opposite James Craig. Comedy lead will go to Jack Oakie, who has been retired for two years, his last picture Heing Universal’s “She Wrote the Book.” Oakie is said to have lost 30 pounds and is” as slim now as he was at the height of his fame. Canadian officials were instrumental in obtaining permission to film the production on the Duke of Windsor’s ranch, in keeping with their newly instituted policy of expanding motion picture facilities in. Canada. All possible assistance has been offered EagleLion by the Duke, including the use of the main ranch house for interiors. ‘ Locations for ‘‘Stampede” will also include sites in Banff and Lake Louise, famed resort areas. Dominion authorities believe that increased motion picture use of the country’s scenic wonders will produce tourist trade as well as intensify interest in Canada as a film centre. NFB Costs Checked By House Committee Several expenditures of the National Film Board came under scrutiny of the public accounts committee of the House of Commons when Watson Seller, auditor-general, presented his current report. In reply to questions by Donald Fleming, member for Eglington, he stated that the sum of 85 pounds paid by the London office for air passage for John Grierson from England to Canada had been repaid by Grierson, who had accepted only because it had been intimated to him that his services were wanted in Canada by the Board. Seller also revealed that two employees were required to return $400 each when their expense accounts, one for a: trip to Greece and the other for entertainment in London, were deemed to be too high,