Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 13, 1947)

Page 16 Canadian Signs New Contract Robert Beatty, Canadian-born actor, has signed a contract »vith British National Films, Limited to appear in at least two of its productions a year as a reward for his fine starring performance in the company’s latest release, “Green Fingers.” Beatty previously was seen in three major pictures and portrayed different characters in each. He was “The Yank” in “San Demetrio, London,” the detective in “Appointment with Crime” and Dennis in “Odd Man Out.” After graduating from Delta College in Hamilton, Ontario, Beatty attended the University of Toronto, where he majored in Arts. He spent three to four years in amateur stage work in the Dominion, then went to London, England, to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. His first big break came when he was made understudy to his fellow countryman, Raymond Massey, in “Idiot’s Delight.” When war broke out he was playing in “Grouse in June” at the Criterion Theatre in London. Beatty’s stage appearance include such hits as “Petrified Forests,” ‘A Soldier for Christmas,” “Laura” and “A Bell for Adano.” ' Vee Meu CANADA CARRIES ON RELEASE FOR August MONTREAL BY NIGHT 4 NATIONAL FILM BOARD PRODUCTION Distributed by COLUMBIA PICTURES Canadian FILM WEEKLY Baited Film Advertisements (From the Prairie Messenger, Muenster, Sask.) Correspondence we received recently reminded us of an experience we had about twenty years ago in Minneapolis. On the way to dinner we happened to come past the most respectable theatre in the city. Its billboard announced a film in a rather shocking portrayal with the result that we stopped being interested in the film. At dinner the parish priest with whom we stayed spoke about the wonderful film being shown at this theatre. Told about the shocking advertisements, he replied: “There’s nothing at all like it in the picture,” and he recommended it unreservedly. It was a clear case of advertisers misrepresenting a good film for the one and only purpose of attracting more people. The dollar meant more than morality. The great success that good films have enjoyed in the vast two or three years led one to hope that film producers and operators had learned that they need not stoop to the indecent to draw crowds. It seems the hope was premature. The correspondence we received spoke of a letter which a reader sent to the provincial government authorities protesting against the showing of two indecent films in this province. As proof he included advertisements of these films. The government official referred the matter to the Saskatchewan film censor, who said that both of the films had been classified as “general” and that the advertisements submitted were suggestive and did not indicate the “general” classification of the films. It is the same old story of someone imagining he cannot get a crowd unless he injects vice somehow. If the film is free of vice, he lets vice scream at people through distorted posters and press advertisements. Can nothing be done about it? Much can be done. The above government official says his department “has control over posters and newspaper advertisements in the province only” and he believes the Saskatchewan censor “has been successful in keeping objectionable advertising of pictures to a minimum.” Our government has no control over outside publications circulating in Saskatchewan. While this is doing something worth-while, the biggest thing to do rests with the public, Why should one endure the insult of having to buy a ticket to a decent film in the presence of an indecent advertisement? Concerted action by the public will bring results much more desirable than strict censorship. It is the people who have the power because it is they who pay for the tickets. Columbia Selects Pic's Final Title “To the End of the Earth” has been selected as the final release title for the Columbia feature identified throughout production as “Assigned to ‘Treasury.” The romantic drama stars Dick Powell with Signe Hasso, Ludwig Donath, Gloria Chinn (Maylia), and Vladimir Sokoloff. Sidney Buchman and Jay Richard produced and Robert Stevenson directed. Stars of "Good Sam’ Gary Cooper and Ann Sheridan will star in “Good Sam,” Rainbow Productions’ film by Leo McCarey. Milne's Air Drama Bought By Warners Peter Milne’s dramatic story about the civilian aviation venture of two ex-army airmen, “Old Enough to Know Better,” has been purchased for screening by Warner Brothers. Milne has been assigned to prepare the screenplay under producer William. Jacobs. Preston Foster Cast Preston Foster, who recently starred for Columbia in ‘‘King of the Wild Horses,” has been signed by that studio for a second outdoor action drama, “Prince of the Stallions,” which John Haggott will produce. Aug. 18, 1947 ‘Berkie Praised On 30th Anni The Regina Leader-Post recently noted the 30th anniversary in show business of Harry A. Bercovitch with a biographical article. He’s manager of the Broadway Theatre in that city and “Berkie” will pilot the new Odeon house when it is built. Says the Post in part; He’s been managing Regina theatres since June 21, 1919, when he came to the city as Saskatchewan supervisor of the Allen theatre enterprises and prior to that he managed two houses at Moose Jaw. Since March, 1942, Mr. Bercovich has been associated with the widespread Odeon chain and the understanding is that his business association will extend to any of the new Odeon theatres built in Saskatchewan. A nattily-dressed, pipe-smoking chap who likes to meet people, Mr. Bercovich has long made it a point to get acquainted with his customers. “My big delight {gto meet the patrons personally and I’d estimate that I know about 75 percent of them,” he says. Mr. Bercovich entered show business in the spring of 1917 when he joined the Allen theatre organization in Edmonton and travelled as manager of a road show, “Joanne the Woman,” starring Geraldine Farrar and carrying a 12-piece orchestra. He had completed his education in Winnipeg and was in the Edmonton area as a gramophone representative, travelling from farm to farm with horse and buggy and giving gramophones to all who bought 20 records. From Edmonton, Mr. Bercovich went to Moose Jaw to manage the Monarch and Allen theatres and on June 21, 1919, he reached Regina to manage three of the six theatres in the city—the Allen, the Rex and the Rose. In 1922 the Allen company went into liquidation and Mr. Bercovich leased the Rose theatre, where the Broder building now stands. He took over the management of the Rex theatre in the fall of the same year and ran it until it burned Sept. 9, 1938. He was also operating the Broadway theatre, which he had built. The rebuilt Rex was managed by Mr. Bercovich from its opening in March, 1939, to February, 1942, when he left to reopen the extensively altered Broadway the following month. Mr. Bercovich came west in 1900 when his family moved to a farm seven miles northwest of Lipton, Sask.