Canadian Film Weekly (Oct 23, 1957)

October 23, 1957 Incorporating the Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Founded 1915) Vol, 22, No. 41 October 23, 1957 HYE BOSSIN, Editor ls ileal aiden aha ibe ee Assistant Editor Ben Halter Office Manager Esther Silver CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 175 Bloor St. East, Toronto 5, Canada Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa Published by Film Publications of Canada, Limited 175 Bloor St. East, Toronto 5, Ontario, Canada — Phone WAlnut 4-3707 Price $5.00 per year. VCR. FESTIVAL (Continued from Page 1) states Norman Barton, chairman of the Admissions Committee. Canadian and American films must have been produced or released since January 1, 1957 and all others before January 1, 1956 to be eligible. Last entry date is April 15, 1958. Entries and films should be sent to the Festival, c/o Audio Visual Services, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, British Columbia, Canada. Entrant should pay shipping charges for the films, which should bear insurance, and they will be returned collect after August 15, 1958 if accepted and earlier if rejected by the pre-selection committee. Non-English-language films should have subtitles but a script or synopsis is acceptable, preferably in English. Where possible stills, posters and other paper material should be shipped immediately on entering. Each entry form will be accompanied by a statement explaining customs requirements. A festival certificate will be presented to all participants whose films are selected for showing and a trophy or plaque will be given to winning entries in each category. All films must be clearly identified as to title, running time and point of origin. Entry in other festivals does not bar a film from competing at Vancouver. The five general categories are feature-length theatrical films of 50 minutes or longer, documentary films of any type, children’s films, avante-garde and _ experimental films and films produced especially for television or kinescope recordings of programs. 20th-Fox' 'The Naked Earth’ Juliette Greco, French chanteuse, has been signed to star opposite Richard Todd in 20th-Fox’ The Naked Earth, now shooting in Uganda, Africa under the direction of Vincent Sherman. WB's ‘Hell's Highway’ Hell’s Highway, to be directed by Howard W. Koch and produced by Aubrey Schenck, will be the first motion picture the KochSchenck team will turn out under their new multiple-picture contract with Warner Bros. CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY Theatre Regulations (Continued from Page 1) meeting — was in a measure due to the way the ATA had presented its tax briefs to the government. No sob story but facts that stood up on examination featured the tax presentation. The government, he said, would always be willing to hear ATA representatives and co-operate. In thanking him Miller expressed the hope that tickets costing one dollar or less would be exempted and that the government would help prevent the municipalities from instituting amusement imposts. Other successes were the reduction of drive-in licence fees by 50 per cent, making them comparable to those charged indoor theatres, and retention of the existing Capac rates. There is also better understanding and co-operation between exhibitor and distributor about film costs. The matters discussed by the ATA are the same ones which concern the entire Canadian trade and will occupy the attention of other theatre associations. Here is how the ATA looked at them: Product: After testing many practices distributors are now changing their thinking towards a more steady flow of product throughout the year, which should help maintain a steadier level of attendance. A survey shows a good number of first-class boxoffice attractions in forthcoming product. Television: ‘‘The type of business you have _ experienced throughout the year no doubt depends upon your location and whether you are reached by TV,” Shackleford said during his report. ‘‘With new stations going up every year in Alberta, more exhibitors will experience the effect of this form of home entertainment on their boxoffice.” Telemeter: ‘It is apparent that unless we get into this type of exhibition someone else will. It is anticipated Telemeter will tap the untapped audiences industry people are always talking about.” The number of theatres will be reduced because of TV, whether TM does or doesn’t operate. Sunday shows: It was the opinion of Ken Leach that they would come in a few years and that the time had come to make some move. Dick Barron discussed the present legal action in Ontario, which sees no difference in Sunday entertainment offered in theatres or on TV. Sunday movies were being offered now under what was described as a non-profit plan by their exhibitor, the Calgary Junior Chamber of Commerce. The question was referred to the executive. Foreign films: It was suggested that Edmonton and Calgary exhibitors ought to run them one night a week. Juveniles: The suggestion of Mr. Hunchak of Rocky Mountain House that the regulations should be altered from 16 to 14 as the admittance age was taken under advisement. Admission of children with a note from a parent had drawn some official opposition lately and an amendment covering it may be asked for. F. Wingfield of the Amusements Tax branch, after thanking the exhibitors for returning tax tickets promptly, stated that the only time a person could get theatre figures from his department was when that person was purchasing the theatre — and if the seller wrote a letter giving permission. Matt Park, the secretarytreasurer, was given a hearty vote of thanks. A resolution of appreciation was directed at United Artists for a special screening of Around the World in 80 Days. ‘The Barbara Graham Story’ Susan Hayward has been signed by Figaro, Inc. to star in Walter Wanger’s The Barbara Graham Story. Columbia's ‘Gideon's Day’ John Ford has signed Anna Lee, British actress, for a starring role opposite Jack Hawkins in Columbia’s Gideon’s Day. WE POSSESS * 4824 Cote des Neiges Rd. Montreal 26, Que. RE. 3-7181 The equipment that can remove SCRATCHES from films, either negative or positive stock — 16 and 35 mm. *A RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY IN CANADIAN FILM _ PROCESSING Page 3 OMA ei IS an excellent film but will it do business?’ This conjecture is being made more and more by theatre bookers and operators. There was a time when an experienced man in this field could predict with a great deal of accuracy the boxoffice potential of a film j+he had just » screened. Today he is not likely to venture such an opinion. What does the public want to see and for what will it lay down money at the boxoffice? Never in the history of our business has this question been more difficult to answer. It is easy to understand that a poor film does not merit a large patronage but it’s completely confusing when it does. It is expected that a fine film should do well but bewildering when it does not. We have long since ceased to wonder about gimmick or horror films. We can only keep our fingers crossed and hope that they may continue to do business for a long time. It should not be necessary to reiterate that the bulk of our patronage today consists of young people and teenagers. For many years theatre owners throughout the country have lamented the continued use of players who have outlived their ticket selling powers for this younger clientele. The answer, obviously, is the grooming of a whole new crop of younger players who will be attractive to our ticket buying patronage. Recently a few younger names who have established some claim to popularity have appeared in films which have met with better than average success at the boxoffice. One of the great lures of motion pictures has always been the _ self-association of members of the audience with the characters on the screen, particularly those of the hero or heroine. It is readily evident that young people cannot attempt this when certain roles are enacted by people old enough to be their parents. There is an increasing tendency on the part of producers to gear films to attract the younger set. Based on present production reports, a_ great flood of film will presently be available for showing in motion picture theatres. Let us under (Continued on Next Page)