Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 1, 1948)

ee a cE RY re ne Septembor 1, 1948 Canadian FILM WEEKLY Paramt Releases Await Odeon-Toronto Opening Eagerly (Continued from Page 1) For Last Quarter (Continued from Page 1) On September 24th, the Hal Wallis production, “Sorry, Wrong Number,” starring Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster, will be released nationally. This melodrama, adapted from the radio program of the same title by Lucille Fletcher, was directed by Anatole Litvak. The screenplay is by Miss Fletcher who wrote the radio script. ‘Isn’t it Romantic?” will be the second of this group, with a national release date of October 8th. “Isn’t It Romantic?” stars Veronica Lake, Mona F'reeman, Mary Hatcher and Billy De Wolfe. Included in the cast are Pearl Bailey, Patric Knowles and Roland Culver. The direction is by Norman McLeod, and Daniel Dare is the producer. The mystery melodrama, “Night Has a Thousand Eves,” starring Edward G. Robinson, John Lund and Gail Russell, will follow on October 22nd. This was directed by John Farrow. On November 8th the new Ray Milland vehicle, ‘Sealed Verdict,” will be placed in national release. This drama, set against a background of the war criminal trials in Germany, introduces Florence Marley to American audiences. It is the film version of a novel by Lionel Shapiro, well known correspondent. Direction is by Lewis Allen, production by Robert Fellows. The latest Charles Brackett production, and the first motion picture directed by Richard Haydn, “The Tatlock Millions,” a comedy starring Wanda Hendrix, John Lund, Barry Fitzgerald and Monty Woolley will be released nationally on November 19th. Included in this cast are Dorothy Stickney, Ilka Chase, Dan Tobin, Robert Stack, Elizabeth Patterson and Lief Erickson. The Pine-Thomas production, “Disaster,” a melodrama starring Richard Denning and Trudy Marshall, will be released on December 3rd. For Christmas, with December 24th as the release date, Paramount will distribute its latest Bob Hope starring vehicle, “The Paleface.’ This Technicolor production costarring Jane Russell, was directed by Norman McLeod. WANTED Position as theatre manager. Five years’ experience in booking, buying, advertising and bookkeeping. 35 years of age and speak both English and French, Apply BOX 19 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 25 Dundas Square, Toronto ene tne apenas a eeeneemne een aene ene meena ing film is Eagle-Lion’s “Oliver Twist” and among the stars present will be Patricia Roc and Trevor Howard. Designed by the late Jay I. English, who was recognized as a brilliant theatre architect, completion of the building was supervised by Leslie H. Kemp, eminent English authority in the same field. The theatre contains 2,400 seats, which occupy space usually devoted to 3,000, thus providing more room than any other Canadian house for the patron. The chairs are the first installation in Canada of complete Dunlopillo seats, back and arm rests. They have a gold and green design. Situated at 20 Carlton Street, a few hundred yards east of Yonge on the north side, the building will contain the Canadian head offices of Odeon Theatres in the five floors of offices and in the four above them known as the Tower. The design is modernistic, although balanced and simple, and the facade is of rustic buff Indiana limestone. From the top of the facade rises a high central pylon in bold steps. On either side of this 126-foot tower is the name “ODEON” in 10-foot blue letters. Above the marquee is the largest readograph in the Dominion, 45 feet long and 18 feet high. The marquee stretches around the flank of the theatre and in front, projecting 12 feet. The Odeon will have the first application of processed weather all year round, 31 separate units ~ maintaining constant comfortcooling. These centre around an 86,000-gallon tank of Lake Ontario water kept constantly at 40 Deg. F. by two 60 horsepower refrigerating machines and 14 Turboflow water chillers. The huge tank, below the floor of the auditorium, measures 54 feet long, 34 feet wide and 15 feet deep. Each floor of the office building has its own independently-operated air conditioning system. Each type of heating system has been devised to overcome the peculiarities of the space being heated, an innovation which has caused much comment among heating authorities. The theatre will feature the first installation of Thyratron electronic mood lighting and the first combination of color dynamics in the auditorium with clear screen vision. This painting by lighting allows every known color scheme and makes experiment possible. The huge contour curtain, the largest in Canada, will be a key spot in the color scheme and the ability to manipulate it into different openings for stage and organ consols will play an important part in the effects sought. Everything, including the carpets, are subject to this type of color treatment. There will be a theatre restaurant on the mezzanine floor overlooking the main lobby and approached from the grand staircase, seating 110 and to be open from noon to midnight. The main kitchen is in the basement and there is a sub-kitchen off the mezzanine floor. A mural with a motion picture industry theme, designed by Bernard McLoughlin of Fort William, Ontario, will be on the wall beside the grand staircase. McLoughlin won the Dominion-wide contest for Canadian artists. Other features are: Reserved seat section in loge circle, with seats purchaseable one week in advance. Wall to wall carpeting. Two check rooms, one off main promenade and one off balcony promenade. Promenade for continual art and kindred exhibits. Courtesy desk in main lobby for information and to record any messages and calls the patrons may expect. The stage has a 60’ x 40’ opening, a 26’ depth and is 90 feet to the grid. Size of picture is 27 feet wide and 18 feet high. Three bank theatre organ made by Hillgreen Lane & Co., Alliance, Ohio. The chairs, motion picture equipment and other supplies are from Gaumont-Kalee, Limited. Projection equipment is that company’s Post-War ‘“21’’. General contractor for the construction of the building is Jackson-Lewis Company, Ltd., Toronto. Vol. 13, No. 33 Sept. 1, 1948 .HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Entered as Second Class Matter. Fublished by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Page 3 Famous Players Contracts ‘Sins (Continued from Page 1) tion, St. Hyacinthe, and distributed by Maynard Films. Before this it had two roadshow engagements, the first at His Majesty’s Theatre, Montreal, and the second at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, where it played four weeks. ; According to the Financial Post, the film cost $80,000, took 10% days to make and is expected to gross $3,000,000 by Paul Maynard, who controls world rights. “It’s a little gold mine,” he is quoted as saying. “Sins” will begin its USA engagements in Buffalo on October 9th. European rights, with the United Kingdom excepted, have been sold for $300,000, states the Financial Post. A film along similar lines, ‘Mom ’n’ Dad,” has been playing Canadian theatres for over a year, with the exception of those operated directly by Famous Players. The signing of “Sins of the Fathers” is considered by some to represent a change of policy where that type of film is concerned, such change having been caused by the fact that this film was made in Canada. Produced by Larry Cromien, who previously made ‘Bush Pilot,” “Sins” was directed by Phil Rosen, brought from Hollywood. Austin Willis, who shared the lead in “Bush Pilot” with Rochelle Hudson, and Joy Lafleur, a feature player in ‘‘Whispering City,” are the stars of the film. Charles Birge and William Brunt are named by Financial Post as the men who financed the making of the film. “Sins of the Fathers” has the endorsement of church and welfare groups, as well as that of the government. A number of its Sequences were made originally for US Army use and were included by permission of authorities. WANTED Position as theatre manager in Ontario. Age 24, reliable, sober, married. Also have experience as projectionist. Give salary in letter. K. Buell, Murray Harbor, P.E.I. WANTED Projectionist. Steady job in small Western Ontario town. Apply BOX 22 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 25 Dundas Square, Toronto.