Canadian Film Weekly (Jun 1, 1955)

June 1, 1955 FILM VIOLENCE (Continued from Page 1) Father Little’s attack almost coincided with the annual report of O. J. Silverthorne, chief Ontario censor, which stated that 21 per cent of features had to be classed or treated—a record. Just about that time a group of Toronto women and an alderman demanded the withdrawal of The Blackboard Jungle. Both positions were widely reported in the press and on the radio. Father Little was answered by Y. Frank Freeman of Paramount and Dore Schary of MGM, who said that his estimate of the situation was out of proportion. Then came a NY press conference, at which Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, said that while criticism was welcome from any group, the Industry does not “plan making any concessions to anybody or anything.” The movies, Johnston claimed, were providing more family entertainment than any other medium, “including the newspaper, magazines, theatre, radio and television.’”” But he did feel that there was too much violence and, following a recent meeting of producers, he predicted that the coming pictures would have less of such content. In The Montreal Star Walter O’Hearn devoted a recent column to The Blackboard Jungle, in which he concluded that ‘This film is a blow to the optic nerve. It may be painful, but it may also be timely.” In The Hamilton Spectator Joan Kelday took the daily film column, Views and Reviews, for an article headed: ‘Judging Need of Violence In Film Difficult Task.” After discussing violence in films she observed: ‘Evaluating these factors for ourselves is far harder than having it done for us by an official whose task it is to guard the public welfare. And any evaluation must, of necessity, be highly personal.” An editorial in the same paper, “The Cult of Brutality,” began with a reference to the Ontario dispute over The Blackboard Jungle. The enjoyment of brutality, it said, was nothing new in human history but it was doubtful if it had ever yielded as much commercial profit as it does now. 20th-Fox' ‘Do, Re, Mi’ Nunnally Johnson will produce and direct from his own screenplay 20th-Fox’ forthcoming production, Do, Re, Mi. Madison Signs Deal Guy Madison has signed a sixIpicture, producing-acting deal with Columbia. He will star in ffour of the films, which he and mis agent, Helen Ainsworth, will cto-produce. He has acquired Seven Watchmen, by Mary C. MfcCall, Jr., for the first film. CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY News Notes HAMILTON DISPUTE IN PRESS Difference of opinion between Dydzak Drive-in Theatres, which operates units in London, Chatham, Windsor and Clappison’s Corner and recently opened another in Hamilton, and the projectionists’ union has caused an ad to be placed in the Hamilton press about the last-named situation. This followed one by the union advising that the newest drive-in was non-union. Local 303 of the IA is picketing the Hamilton Drive-in as nonunion and the Dydzak Bros. ad says that “This brings up a nice question!” The proprietor, “himself a projectionist fully licensed under the Ontario Theatre Act,” is not eligible to join a union of employees, it claims. There are no employees, union or non-union. The ad heading says: “Has a Proprietor the Right to Operate His Own Projector?” The Dydzak operation is a family one. Joe and John Dydzak, brothers, originated it and Joe and John, Jr., are active in it, as well as other members of the family. ASKS SAME SAFETY STANDARDS Alberta community halls showing motion pictures must be licensed as theatres and meet the safety standards set out by the Alberta Amusement Act, H. W. Burkell, chief inspector of theatres said recently. In a letter to the Edmonton City Council Burkell said that his office is hesitant about intervening in what it considers purely a problem between the city and the Federation of Community Leagues. “During the past season,” the letter stated, “the Federation of Community Leagues became more ambitious and entered into the commercial motion picture business. Thus, this office now has no alternative but to administer the regulations . . . under the Amusement Act.” He mentioned that the survey taken by his office had found many halls in Edmonton and environs that met all requirements but several were definitely unsafe. He suggested that even halls not showing motion pictures—and therefore outside his jurisdiction — should be brought to a reasonably safe standard as meeting places for children. CENTURY VISTAVISION HORIZONTAL PROJECTORS BRING GREATER PICTURE IMPACT TO CANADA The installation of the new Century VistaVision HORIZONTAL Projectors in Toronto's |mperial Theatre marks a great milestone in Canada's best entertainment. Greatly enlarged razor-sharp image is achieved with the introduction of the Century double-frame projection and the associated Century sound reproducer takes full advantage of the wider range in sound quality resulting from a doubling of film travel speed. There's more picture enjoyment from EVERY seat in the house. The Horizontal VistaVision Projector will be distributed in Canada exclusively by Dominion Sound. Enquiries are invited. DOMINION SOUND EQUIPMENTS LIMITED Page 3 OUR BUSINESS (Continued from Page 2) solution must be found for the situation. % bod a Occasionally, a motion picture is worth an increased admission price in the eyes of the smalltown patron. There have been several in the past. However, when an exhibitor reaches the point of charging advanced admission prices every second or third week, he is bound to meet strong resistance from his patronage. There cannot be an overall solution to this problem because each individual situation has its own set of circumstances. The exhibitor, however, may have reached the point where he must decide whether he can continue to operate with current overhead at existing admission prices. The distributor, in turn, must realize that there is a limit to admission prices which can be charged in certain situations and that a more carefully calculated sales policy may not only return to him more dollars but permit the exhibitor to retain a level of prosperity which will allow him to remain solvent. a | Fox Buys ‘Roomful Of Roses’ Edith Soderberg’s A Roomful of Roses has been acquired by 20th Century-Fox and added to the new schedule. Bob Hope To Star In James Walker Biog Beau James, a motion picture based on Gene Fowler’s famous biography of the late Mayor James J. Walker, will be produced for Paramount by Melville Shavelson and Jack Rose with Bob Hope starred as Walker, one of New York’s most celebrated mayors. This will be Hope's second biographical venture. The comedian recently completed The Seven Little Foys in VistaVision and Technicolor for Shavelson and Rose. Mr. Exhibitor I ! l Our specially selected representatives have been trained to sell for you locally our expanding Adfilm service for merchants in your town, For further particulars contact: Adfilms Limited 77 York St., 10940-122nd St., TORONTO EDMONTON EM. 68-8985 8-2508