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I<br />
I<br />
men!<br />
, censor<br />
Politics Feared in Quebec<br />
3ensor Board Appointment<br />
MONIKI M A iicu nicmhcr h.is hccn<br />
named lo ihc Quebcv; Motion Piciurv; Censors<br />
Board, and this brought cries in the<br />
hiovic industry of pohlieal "favoritism" ami<br />
V:xpression of fears that possibly all the gains<br />
made in the recent years as far as censorship<br />
of fihns is concerned may be endan-<br />
'gered.<br />
Yves Gabias. provincial secretary in the<br />
newly elected Quebec government headed<br />
by Daniel Johnson, confirmed nomination<br />
of Levis l.orrain to the board of censors ful-<br />
'lowing recommendation to the cabinet by<br />
the secretary of the province. In making the<br />
announcement. Gabias admitted neither the<br />
board's president or its members<br />
'were consulted concerning the appointment.<br />
In the previous administration since the<br />
.reform of the censor board, nominations of<br />
[new members were made on the recommenidalion<br />
of the president and the active mem-<br />
Ibers of the board. Gabias would not comon<br />
the subject although he mentioned<br />
ithat he would have a meeting with the<br />
board's president .Andre Guerin, who also<br />
I<br />
is president of L'Office du Film du Quebec.<br />
Lorrain is a brother of Romeo Lorrain.<br />
who was a minister in the former Union<br />
National cabinet of the late Maurice Duplcssi.s.<br />
He, according to the press, is an employe<br />
of a Union National Party group in<br />
Montreal.<br />
Following the official announcement, the<br />
Ass'n Professionelle des Cineastes (Ass'n of<br />
Professional Filmmakers) issued a press<br />
statement in which it said that in its task to<br />
defend the professional interests of filmmakers<br />
it is protesting "an attempt to politicize"<br />
the Quebec film industry. The association<br />
added. "We hope that the public<br />
opinion, aware of the danger represented<br />
for the future of the cinema." will bring<br />
pressure against the government "to revoke<br />
this nomination."<br />
The filmmakers also said they are waiting<br />
for the adoption of a new Movie Act, as<br />
well as the formation of a cinema center in<br />
the province.<br />
The French daily newspaper I. a Prcsse<br />
called Lorrain's nomination "astounding."<br />
and asked whither this indicated that Quebec<br />
censorship would return to "narrow, illadvised"<br />
cutting of films.<br />
Braille Institute Magazine<br />
Honors Sonny and Cher<br />
HOI n \\()()1>— .Sonny and Cher have<br />
been honored by the Braille Institute for the<br />
Blind magazine Light. The pair gave a sellout<br />
charity performance last spring at the<br />
Hollywood Bowl, the entire proceeds going<br />
lo the Institute.<br />
During their recent trip to Hurope. they<br />
also gave two charity concerts in London<br />
for the Variety Club children's fund and<br />
another in Paris for the Braille Institute and<br />
underprivileged children. They made their<br />
motion picture debut in .Steve Broidy's independent<br />
film "Good Times" which Columbia<br />
will<br />
release.<br />
Astral,<br />
Observing 20th Anniversary,<br />
Sees Need for Art-Theatre Increase<br />
IDRON IX)— .-Vslial Films. Ltd.. the onl><br />
wholly owned Canadian motion picture distributing<br />
company, is observing its 20th<br />
anniversary. Its success is a tribute to the<br />
foresight of the late I. H. "Izzy" Allen and<br />
to the men who followed in his footsteps,<br />
including Jerry .Solway. general manager;<br />
Martin Boehner. a.ssistant general manager,<br />
and Willi.im Moreland, head of publicity<br />
and promotion.<br />
In 1946. Allen quit as a special Eastern<br />
Canadian representative for Eagle-Lion<br />
Films of Canada lo set up his own company<br />
in a small store in the Dundas Square district<br />
of Toronto, where the Twinex Downtown<br />
now stands. He always was a booster<br />
of British films. As the market grew, more<br />
European films were obtained and it was<br />
soon necessary to establish a foreign films<br />
department. Granada International Films,<br />
which today is considered to be the leading<br />
importer of films in Canada.<br />
From an original staff of two— Allen and<br />
secretary-booker June Barker, who is still<br />
with the company— Astral has increased its<br />
payroll to about 30. Its headquarters are<br />
here and it has branches in Montreal. Winnipeg.<br />
Calgary, Vancouver and Saint John.<br />
Recently, a product division to its Montreal<br />
branch was established.<br />
Branch managers are Bill Rod. Toronto;<br />
Lcn Heberman. Montreal; Norman Simpson.<br />
Saint John; Morley Mogul. Winnipeg;<br />
Raymond Burr Is Honored<br />
Guest at B.C. Centennial<br />
NEW WESTMIN.STER. B.C. — Ra\-<br />
mond Burr was guest of honor here Thursday<br />
and Iriday (17) and (18) on the first<br />
two days of the four-day British Columbia<br />
centennial celebration held here. Also on<br />
hand were the province premier, the lieutenant<br />
governor and the lord mayor of London.<br />
England.<br />
Burr, who was born here where his parents<br />
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Burr still live, took<br />
two days off from filming his starring role<br />
in Universal-TV's "World Premiere" segment<br />
"Ironside." part of a .series of 2-hour<br />
feature films made specifically for television.<br />
to take part in the festivities.<br />
Special Denton Edition<br />
For 'Bonnie and Clyde'<br />
DENTON, TEX.—An entire<br />
issue of the<br />
Denton Record-Chronicle will be devoted<br />
to Warner Bros.' "Bonnie and Clyde," which<br />
is being filmed in this area, based on the<br />
bankrobbing activities of the notorious pair<br />
during the 19.10s.<br />
The special issue will be mailed to leading<br />
exhibitors and key city editors to signalize<br />
the production of the picture, which stars<br />
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. Beatt\<br />
is producing and Arthur Pcnn directing the<br />
film.<br />
I i.iiik Price, talgar>. and ,\be I einstcin,<br />
Vancouver.<br />
Astral, besides foreign films, also is<br />
known for its distribution of American International<br />
product. In foreign film distribution,<br />
Solway sees a need for more art houses<br />
in key centers. He sa\s, "Our distribution<br />
has increased more than 100 per cent in the<br />
company's 20-year history, and we estimate<br />
the market for foreign-language films at 35<br />
per cent of Canada's total movie audience,"<br />
He says that many good foreign films<br />
never play kc> centers like Toronto because<br />
there are not enough theatres specializing in<br />
this kind of product. "The big circuits have<br />
not recognized the need for art houses in<br />
key centers. If they don't soon, some independents<br />
will."<br />
Solway pointed out that Montreal, because<br />
of its French-language predominance,<br />
is the exception. "It has an appreciable number<br />
of theatres doing well with European<br />
product." He explained. "Toronto, on the<br />
other hand, has only one theatre—the New<br />
Yorker— maintaining a consistent, exclusive<br />
art house policy . . . The city could stand at<br />
least<br />
three more such houses. We know the<br />
potential is there."<br />
Overall, he said. Montreal is the top city<br />
market for foreign films, followed by<br />
Toronto and Vancouver. "Calgary and<br />
Edmonton have been negligible and Winnipeg<br />
hasn't the ethnic potential you might<br />
'<br />
expect<br />
Greenfield to<br />
Construct<br />
Twin in Montreal<br />
\I()\IK1 \l Monireal and district,<br />
which this year, especially, has seen a widespread<br />
revival of openings of new theatres,<br />
will again be the scene of still another twincinema<br />
construction. The architectural firm<br />
of Eliasoph & Berkowitz. Montreal, is receiving<br />
bids until Wednesday (iO) for the<br />
construction of a twin cinema on Taschereau<br />
Boulevard at Margaret Street in Greenfield<br />
Park on the South Shore of the St.<br />
Lawrence River near Montreal.<br />
The Owner is Cireenfield Park Theatres<br />
Co., Ltd. Consulting structural engineers for<br />
the twin arc Shector, Barbacki, Forte & Associates<br />
and consulting mechanical engineers<br />
are Levine & Jones. Six general contractors<br />
have been invited to bid.<br />
The project will consist of structural steel,<br />
precast concrete, brick and block walls, tar<br />
and gravel roof, hot water heating, terrazzo<br />
floors. The project is estimated at $500,-<br />
000.<br />
Irwin Dorfman Resigns<br />
'nEw"^ YORK— Irwin Dorfman, one of<br />
the founders of Childhood Productions, has<br />
resigned as secretary-treasurer and director<br />
of the company. He said he will announce<br />
his future plans shortly.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: November 28, 1966 K-1