Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 6, 1957)

+ CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY November 6, 1957 OUR BUSINESS (Continued from Page 3) their backlogs for showing on TV. Now that the revolution has come and the new scheme of things has been tried and found wanting, perhaps all concerned, including the Justice Department of the United States, may realize that production, distribution and exhibition are all parts of one body and that amputation may lead to an eventual wasting away. Perhaps a good way to help the patient to again become strong and healthy would be to allow our business to come full cycle. SEL Se a eI ae WB's ‘Island Of Lost Women’ Jeff Richards will star in Warners’ Island of Lost Women. NFB TV PRODUCT (Continued from Page 1) of $1,654,738 to television. In 1954-5 it spent $390,338 of $1,502,024 for TV production. In 1953-4 its total production cost was $1,183,166 but its report of that year and the two before that not only did not stipulate expenditures for TV production, they gave no figures for theatrical production and the general program. A single figure for all types was offered. So that in three years inclusive the NFB’s television expenditures jumped by $463,900. In 1954-5 the NFB spent roughly a quarter of its production money on TV films and last year this was over half. Although the costs of its general programs each of the past three years remained quite stable (’56-7, $642,996; "55-6, $673,396; °54-5, $622,049), the budgets for its theatrical programs dropped sharply (56-7, $109,269; 55-6, $577,919; 54-5, $295,637). Although the NFB spent $185,506 more for production this year than last, it reported 261 completions (films, newsclips, trailers, newsreels and TV stories) compared to 308 — 47 fewer. Private producers contracted by the NFB made 35 of the 261 but what part of the production budget went to them was not reported. Other production expenditures that were part of the $1,840,244 total were: international newsreels, $50,791; adaptations and revisions of existing films into other languages and lengths for further distribution, $43,853; filmstrip production, $42,759; and photo services, $76,338. Distribution costs went up from $1,352,285 in the previous year to $1,549,380 in 1956-7 — $302,543 higher. The National Film Board’s parliamentary appropriations for the last fiscal year brought $4,960,143. Rentals and royalties brought it $1,596,377. It thus had $6,556,520 to spend. It spent all of it but $11,012—$6,545,508. 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ Float Big Hit Hundreds of thousands of people have seen this float, which has been touring Quebec, and many of them have been led to seeing Allied Artists’ The Hunchback of Notre Dame by it, it moves through 20 Ontario communities next, boosting the saturation booking of the film. On the left is Larry Stephens, advertising and publicity director for Allied Artists of Canada, who played a big part in the outstanding campaign of support which made the film a top grosser in its opening engagements. ON THE SQUARE (Continued from Page 5) Then an afterthought that brought a laugh: ‘And your parents.” Then another afterthought that brought a bigger laugh: “And your grandparents.” Although those honored were brought forward in alphabetical order, the “Queen of Hollywood” refused to take the closing spot, traditionally to the most important person on the bill. She deferred to “America’s Sweetheart,” Mary Pickford. Men had conquered the world, Mamoulian said, but “Mary had conquered the hearts of the world.” Miss Pickford reminisced about many of those on the platform. “What woman hasn’t fallen in love with Maurice Chevalier?” she asked. “I did. I confessed it to my mother. She said ‘I am too’.”” Everyone present enjoyed Mary’s comments. And at the end, realizing that the occasion had grown out of pride in the past and the desire of certain people to preserve its accomplishments, she appealed to the audience. “Look after the old films, won’t you?” she asked. ‘‘They’re ae of our hearts. We don’t want to see them crumble into ust.” We surely do not. Films are perishable and fame ephemeral. Yet films are no longer perishable because of nature’s action but because of man’s indifference. And fame grown out of films will endure as long as the films endure as evidence of cinematic accomplishment, means of information and sources of pleasure. The world of the future will owe much to those persons of the present who are striving to preserve motion pictures beyond their own time on earth. CINERAMA STARTS RUN IN TORONTO Cinerama made its Toronto bow last week at the University Theatre, which had been closed for some time while $120,000 was being spent in preparations. A press and trade preview was held on Wednesday evening, a private premiere followed on Thursday and the film, This Is Cinerama, first of the group, opened on Friday. The Thursday premiere, a United Appeal benefit, was preceded by a dinner in the Pump Room of the Lord Simcoe Hotel at which Mayor Nathan Phillips was host. His party made its way to the theatre in a 25-car cavalcade. The premiere got full fuss-and-feathers treatment and extensive coverage by press, radio and television. The Stanley-Warner Cinerama Corporation, which leased the University from Famous Players, has named Ray Conner managing director of the theatre, Mrs. Helen Hogarth house manager, Earl Hubbard, Sr. publicity director and Earl Hubbard, Jr. head of group sales. Among those who came from the USA for the opening were a number of Stanley-Warner executives, including Harry M. Kalmine, v-p and general manager; Bernard Kranze, v-p; Lester B. Isaac, national director of exhibition, in charge of advertising; Everett C. Callow, assistant to Isaac; and Zeb Epstin, assistant director of exhibition, in charge of public relations. Irving Margolin, vice-president and treasurer of Cinerama Productions, New York, was also present. News Clips Toronto author Patricia Joudry’s off-Broadway play, Teach Me How to Cry, will be called The Wonderful Years as a U-I feature film . .. “Shrewd Contribution to Hockey-Movie Debate” was the heading on a letter to the editor of The Montreal Star, in which the suggestion was made by Marguerite Trudeau that the Saturday night hockey game should be filmed for 11.45 p.m. TV CBC showing instead of coming on live at 9 — alternatively. Letter writers who are movie fans have been objecting to films being pushed aside in favor of hockey. Canadian Seating Company Limited now has a plant in Etobicoke, near Toronto ... Wm. M. Dozier, who left CBS to head RKO production in 1945, returns to take charge of live TV shows from Hollywood . . Lionel Lester and Leonard Bishop will co-chair the ticket committee for the annual Pioneer of the Year Award Dinner in Toronto on November 28... A. W. Shackleford, Lethbridge exhibitor, headed the aldermanic polls and was elected mayor by his colleagues. Variety Club of Great Britain will sponsor a premiere night for the London engagement of My Fair Lady . . . Allen Waters, head of CHUM Toronto, will succeed Baxter Ricard as president of the Central Canada Broadcasters Association in January . . . New assistant director of educational and community services for the Motion Picture Association of America is Mrs. Margaret G. Twyman .. . Julius Borneman, 72, who built the Muskoka Theatre, Gravenhurst in 1937, passed on last week. Garnet M. Shier, issuer of licences for Metropolitan Toronto, received personal publicity in the Toronto papers through the information that 21 movie theatres have closed in the area during the past two years . . . Specialized motion picture equipment was added to the product line of A. V. Roe Canada Limited in the last year, states the annual report of this heavyindustry company . . . Francais Theatre, $63-seat Ottawa movie house operated by Bob Maynard, may change ownership to go legit and open with My Fur Lady. FOR SALE Two CinemaScope Lenses for two projectors. Rosskote and Anamorphic. Must sell immediately due to bankrupt estate. Apply CHARLES LEE, Trustee, 67 Yonge St., Toronto. EM, 4-2336