Canadian Film Weekly (May 8, 1957)

VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY VOL. 22, NO. 19 Incorporating the CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST (Founded 1915) Toronto, May 8, 1957 ONTARIO SCREEN FARE 30% ‘FOREIGN’ PERCENTAGE OF FILM 'TREATED' SMALLER IN '56-7—CENSOR Thirty per cent of all motion picture entertainment in Ontario during the 1956-57 fiscal year was not in the English tongue, reflecting the effect of Canada’s liberal immigration policy on the province’s ethnic development, O. J. Silverthorne, chairman Good Lineup For Stid. Film Fest The Stratford Film Festival, judging from the progress made by John Hayes, production manager of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, will have many celluloid riches during its July 8-20 span at the Vogue Theatre. Hayes, making the technical arrangements for the (Continued on Page 4) $1,000 Gift To NFB s Beachell One thousand dollars, granted under the Public Servants’ Inventions Act, was presented to Chester Beachell, National Film Board Research chief, for his invention of a lightweight device which simplifies the recording of sound for films. Dr. A. W. Trueman, at the (Continued on Page 3) Ontario Theatres Down By 35 During 1956-7 The number of theatres, all 35 mm., licensed by the Theatres Branch of the Ontario Treasury Department fell from 583 in the 1955-56 fiscal year to 548 in the last one, which ended March 31 — a reduction of 35. The annual report of the Branch forecasts the closing of 38 in the current fiscal year, which will bring the number in operation to 510 — 73 fewer in two years. The record year was 1954, when 575 licenses were issued, Even circuses and travelling carnivals, which are licensed by the Branch, seem to have been affected by TV competition. They played 753 days last year compared with 824 the year before. Two carnivals were from the USA. The inspection staff of the Branch made 2,686 visits to theatres to check application of safety measures to projection booths, doors, etc. John Grierson Returns For Lecture Dates Growth of television on a tremendous scale was envisioned by John Grierson, first head of Canada’s National Film Board, and he felt this country ought to spend $50,000,000 per year on it in time. Where would the money come from? The Federal government, Provincial governments and industry. Film would play a big part in the expansion, he told those at a luncheon of the Association of Motion Picture Producers and Laboratories of Canada. The luncheon divided the quarterly meeting of the Association, which took place in the Carlton Club, Toronto, last week with Arthur Chetwynd, president, in the chair. Grierson (Continued on Page 8) Warwick Signs Helen Cherry Helen Cherry, British actress, has been signed by Warwick Films to star opposite Ray Milland in High Flight. MARK PLOTTEL Hardiman C'miracle Publicity Contact Unit publicity chief of Cinamiracle Adventure, the film being shot in a number of USA and Caribbean locations under the direction of Louis de Rochemont, will be Jim Hardiman, who left Toronto to join National Theatre’s Cinamiracle section a year ago. He was Odeon advertising and publicity chief prior to becoming aide to Elmer C. Rhoden, NT’s president, in publicity matters related to Cinamiracle. Cinamiracle Adventure will be shown in the late Fall. Mask. Plottel,, sales manager of Empire-Universal Films, was elected to succeed Charles $. Chaplin, UA Canadian general | manager, as president of the Canadian Motion Picture DisYj tributors Association at the recent annual meeting in Toron-. of The Board of Censors and Theatres Branch of the Treasury Department of Ontario, stated in his annual report, which was directed to the Honorable Dana Porter, QC, Provincial Treasurer. During the same period 21 per cent of films from all sources were treated or classified to limit the effect of objectionable content, compared with 25 per cent last year—an indication that responsible elements in the United States motion picture industry were dis playing a tendency to be guided by (Continued on Page 3) DR. ALBERT W. TRUEMAN spent most of the years since his graduation from Mount Allison University in 1927 as the head of faculties. Then in 1953 he was separated from his faculties and became chairman of the National Film Board. That’s a joke. Dr. Trueman, despite his awesome academic history of having headed the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Stanstead College of Quebec, the University of Manitoba and the Univeris a man easy to joke with. He’s an uncommon man with the common touch. That common touch will be of immense value to Canada in the next few years, for Dr. Trueman has been chosen to be the administrative head of the Canada Council under Brooke Claxton. The Canada Council will spend $50 million to stimulate culture among Canadians. Persons with affection for and appreciation of the average Canadian will be the best bridge between the brows, high and low. One of these is Albert W. Trueman. He’ll be missed by film industry folk. sity of New Brunswick, “I think that beyond a doubt Canada begins to stand for something unique, such begin to show national qualities that are Canadian, and not merely American or British or French. I cannot agree with the statement sometimes made_ that Canadians are a race of copyists.”’ 18 Best 18 Best'Sellers On WB Sked Eighteen best-sellers, including some of the foremost in publishing history, are being brought to the screen by Warner Bros. Pictures. Currently in release is The Spirit of St. Louis, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Charles A. Lindbergh, with James Stew (Continued on Page 4) NFB To AMPPLC? Members of the Association of Motion Picture Producers and Laboratories of Canada will vote by mail on the application of the National Film Board for membership, it was decided at the quarterly meeting in Toronto. BREVIGNETTE that Canadians as to. Hillis Cass, MGM general sales manager, was named to follow Plottel into the office of vice-president and Clare Appel was returned as executive director. The meeting was informed that the Canadian tour of Hollywood writers is set for August. ”