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Boxoffice-November.28.1966

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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

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