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Vol. 1, no. 1 November 1976
From a small stage in Ottawa to a nationally televised awards presentation, the Canadian Film Awards have come a long way. If you know just how far, see our quiz on page 31. FESTIVAL FEVER TAKES HOLD OF TORONTO Moviegoers in Toronto hardly the CFA ended on Oct. 21, those Board added to the excitement utors Association the right to knew which way to turn with the of the F of F ran until Sunday by refusing to allow Partners by give away its new Golden Reel Festival of Festivals and the Oct. 24 at which time the CFA Don Owen to be seen without cuts Award to the film which made Canadian Film Awards compet started up again with its awards and neither the director nor the the greatest commercial impact ing with each other for their presentation, broadcast coast producer were of a mind to cut. over the yeeu-. This, added to the time, loyalty and entrance tickets. to coast at 10 pm by CTV. So the program changes began already heavy lobbying to get Both festivals began on Oct. 18 As if the festivals weren't and the publicity fleired. Lies My Father Told Me by Jan Kadar disqualified as a non- and though public screenings for enough, the Ontario Censorship There was also the last minute Canadian movie, heated up the rumor that Nat Taylor was ready atmosphere to boiling. The scene to resign as president of the Cinema Canada thanks Stephen Chesley (Toronto) and Fiona Jack was set for another momentous CFA because of the pressure son (Vancouver) who have contributed to this month's Illustrated Canadian Film Awards. put on the Awards to refuse the News, and encourages others to send newsworthy items and pic Canadian Motion Picture Distrib tures to the magazine. C.T.
November 1976/9 BUI C58 Still Hanging In
(S.C.) - Bill C58 continues to shall of the Canadian Associa There was a surprise de And give Canadian producers make ripples, if not waves. tion of Motion Picture Produc velopment, however, and it came clout with investors. And prob Eighteen U.S. senators, includ ers sent a letter to Kissinger as a proposal from the Cana ably create another branch plant ing Hubert Humphrey, drew up a asking for the ban on Canadian dians. The owners of the U.S. for U.S. production. The pro bill to ban Canadian films, TV, features, because then Cana border TV stations, who could posal was accepted by Capital and records, even jingles, from dians could really deal a death lose $20 million in annual reve Cities Broadcasting, WometcOi the U.S. if Bill C58 is put into blow to the American film in nue, would set up a production Taft Broadcasting. On this side effect by Sauve. And Henry Kis dustry, considering all the fea fund for Canadian producers of were the CFTA, CAMPP, and a singer was asked to join ne tures shown there. Not to men $5 million (that leaves $15 mil new Animation Producers' As gotiations (Why is a Bill that is tion the 40 million dollars Ame lion). The money would go to sociation. already law still being negotiat ricans remove from our broad produce programming which, Wasington-based negotiations ed?). All of which was reported cast industry every year via our because of American cash, could indicate a watering down, even in the Toronto Star American spending on American program even receive a stronger sell to though the bill has been declared wire service story. Bill Mar- ming. U.S. networks or syndication. operative.
^ ET r?- PfliisriWTATiovs fVRiUMflNr us WUK iMfWlf-JVS! Things Are Slow in B.C. L EMPIRE DES SENS Vancouver - (F.J.) - The sun directed both with scripts from is shining on through an Indian Tom Drake, using Anna Hagan. summer - if you have to be un Zoe Alexander, Ian Tracey. employed, now is as good a time Janne Mortil and Elizabeth Bar as any. The promise of the clay in one whose lead is Neil spring has not been fulfilled Dainard; and Lally Cadeau and either in the weather or the Barney O'Sullivan in the other work of the summer. The movie with Neil Munro the male lead. Jocasta, based on the legend of Hopes are high that one or the Oedipus, was in pre-production other will sell as a series. in Williams Lake for weeks. There was a rumored UK/Ca That shoot now changed direc nada co-production and there tors and moved to Montreal. still is (a rumor, that is). Fran Rosati has gone with it as WNET/13, the New York edu production manager and Keith cational TV station, was plan Pepper as art director. The ning a shoot here based on a original production manager Bob ' Tom Drake Coastal Indian legend. It was to Gray is now working as locations CBC is in production of a be part of a series in which US manager on Equus in Toronto. series with Mike Neun. theatre companies are used. No Death Hunt, an ABC Movie of BCTV / CTV are shooting word yet on a definite .starting the week, was wrapped up here scenes from two pilots in an in date. It looks unlikely at this Censored? with some shooting, mainly sec teresting experiment. Shot on point. ond unit, to be picked up around videotape on location with the Pattie Robertson is working Los Angeles. Mike Connors of new RCA camera and lit by Har as production manager on a pool Mannix fame starred and it em ry Makin, the object is to find of Sony commercials for the Ja (C.T.) Astral Films Ltd. of ployed a lot of local actors. out if it's possible to shoot a panese market with Japanese Montreal was relieved when the Zale Daalen is shooting his series that way. Stanley Olsen crew and L.A. production house. Cinema Supervisory Board gave low-budget CFDC feature Skip an exhibition visa to Oshima's Tracer from his own original erotic Empire of the Senses. screenplay. Zale will also edit Banking on the film's projected the fUm, which was produced by Pay-TV: The Latest sensation at the N.Y. Fest, As Laara Daalen. tral had started to count its Keith Cutler filmed his 11th (S.C.) - Two pay-TV develop mandarins for allowing such a chickens only to see the hen film for the US Roman Meal ments have hit the government public outburst of disapproval, removed. In N.Y., the film never Bread Company. What started and broadcast industry hard. but hasn't announced any post showed. Seems that U.S. customs as a simple sales motivation First there was a press confer ponement. changed its mind about the ap film 11 years ago has since be ence called by representatives All of which ties in with cur propriateness of letting the film come a soapei " the first order of 220 cultural organizations rent ennui at the CRTC. Since across the border. Hoping to with the same character re from across the country calling Pierre Juneau's departure, Sau- avoid controversy, the CSB ad maining from the first one and for a halt to the introduction of ve's department has been mak vised Astral that it would be wise evolving from callow youth to a pay-TV until further studies are ing a concerted effort to assume to withhold the film's exhibition high of supervisor this year. A made, and castigating the gov some CRTC power; the CRTC until the furor died down. It did new callow youth (Mario Crudo) ernment for not making the comes under the Secretary of not, however, rescind the film's was hired this year, and who hearings by the CRTC open to State. A top researcher is leav visa. knows what might happen in the the public. Next came a brief ing the CRTC and staff morale next 11? from the CBC opposing pay-TV is at rock-bottom, caused not Which leaves Astral in a bind, As usual, BC film people and at this time. only by Sauv^'s assault, but also the film on the shelf, and a public crews are busy in Alberta this by recent court battles and pub anxious to see the film which autumn. Some of them have In other words, nobody except lic outcry against the CRTC's caused the biggest controversy done so many features there the cable companies wants it Canadianization and bilingual at Cannes last year, and which their accents are beginning to yet. Communications Minister broadcasting availability poli was thought to be - critically - change. Jeanne Sauve is furious with her cies. one of the best films there.
10/Cinema Canada Production News from Ontario Paramount Canada to co-produce Chaos Farley Mowat's A Whale for the Killing may become a co- production of the Canadian sub sidiary of Paramount Pictures in and the ABC-TV network and qualify as a Canadian film with Canadian investors. Harvey Hart would direct, James Margellos Quebec would produce if production, scheduled for next spring in Newfoundland, takes place. Originally set for this fall, the pic was postponed because ABC's American star choices were unsuitable to the Canadian side. Paramount has an option on another Canadian novel as Montreal (C.T.) - The con- well. fxision and inertia which handicap the Direction gene- At Kleinburg Lions for Breakfast rale du cinema et de I'au- diovisuel are making inroads In planning stages is a feature Kleinburg Studios outside To to make an RCMP series for in other sectors of the in to be shot in late winter or early ronto is gaining acceptance as a U.S. TV, and says he's closer dustry as well. The pro spring. In Council Rooms Apart feature site. Currently shooting than ever... ducers complain bitterly is a novel by John Craig, who is Sidney Lumet's feature of Writer-director Jim Blacker, about the do-nothing attitude will handle the script with Wil Equus, with Richard Burton. who was A.D. on Recommenda of the DGCA and have seen Aside from co-lead Peter Firth, liam Davidson. Budget will be tion for Mercy, is promoting $1.6 million, and it will be an the production of govern the rest of the cast is Canadian, Nothing to Lose, a prison dra ment-sponsored films fall off international co-production. ma based on the Steinhauser and includes Kate Reid, Ken by 60% compared to last year. Kramreither will do the pro case in B.C. His budget is James, Neil Dainard, David Recently, the Cinemathe ducing chores on both upcoming $535,000 and he intends to shoot Gardner, Patricia Hamilton, Sa- que quebecoise closed its bena Maydell, Elva Mai Hoover, projects. this fall without CFDC invest ment. vaults because its annual Sean McCann, James Hurdle, subsidy from Quebec was not and John Friesen. Casting was Other movie plans Both Gilles Carle and Denis forthcoming. Although the by Clair Walker in Toronto... In planning stages are a film Heroux are planning to do their DGCA insists that it offered Leon Uris' Trinity may also be of Robertson Davies' Fifth next features in English... Re the Cinematheque several ne Simard, Quebec's boy pop done at Kleinburg next year... Business, optioned by former service contracts which star, has become the first child And Peter Sasdy, who made United Artists vice-president amount to $72,000 the Cine star to sign a contract with 20th Welcome to Blood City there Herb Jaffe and writer-director matheque needs to assure its Century-Fox in Hollywood since this summer, plans to return Nicholas Meyer for future pro operating budget before ac next year. Blood City is set to duction. Don Shebib will do a Shirley Temple. Plans are to star him in Hassle. About a cepting the additional tasks open in Toronto next March. profile of sportswriter Ted which the service budgets Reeve for CELT TV... David Quebec youth and an older man on the go, with production next would entail. Kramreither sells Cronenberg is preparing Rabid, The above reflects the si a new horror flick for Cine- Producer Tony Kramreither S.C. tuation at the DGCA which informs us he's sold two films, pix... Jack Webb is still trying still - after almost a year and plans to produce a feature and a half - has only an in this fall and one next spring. terim general director, Mr. Lions for Breakfast has been Gerard Lajeunesse. Although sold to Bob Hope's distribution U. of Windsor Robert Bastien had been arm, Epoh Releasing, and open chosen for the post and for ed in 45 theatres in the U.S. on six months held the title October 1. Four hundred play Broadcasting Report directeur - general - adjoint", dates have been scheduled... A personality conflicts with La Sweeter Song, by Alan Eastman, (S.C.) - Another report con independents, a government jeunesse, who is also deputy will open in Canada in Novem cerns the broadcast industry, lending agency should be set up under-minister at Communi ber, to be distributed by Ambas and was prepared by communi to help private industry, and cations, led to his removal. sador, and talks are under way cations professor Hugh Edmunds foreign sales should be tax- Three of the four depart with Epoh about it too. and his University of Windsor exempt and producers should get ment heads (administration, Scheduled for a fall shoot, with staff. credit for any foreign taxes distribution and production) Ambassador and Famous Play Commisioned by the federal paid. The report notes that of 96 are also still temporary. The ers among the investors, is Communications Department, 'private' shows in the past sea latter, Jacques Parent, pro Deadly Harvest, a 'tense dra the report recommends that a son, only twenty-two were truly duction, has just been declar ma' set in the future and con specific period of prime time be independent. And it raps CTV's ed unqualified to fill his post cerning what happens after an set aside for Canadian shows, knuckles for doing too little by the provincial civil ser unsuccessful harvest results in extra money should be made Canadian work. vice. The fourth, Romuald a food shortage. Martin Lager available for CTV and the CBC It's interesting that Edmunds, Miville-Deschenes at the Ci wrote the script. Bob Brooks to purchase from private in a private consultant, urges pub nematheque nationale, was will handle camera, and a direc dustry, the CRTC should study lic and private power in TV, appointed by Bourassa and tor and stars are still to be the formation of an ad-hoc third while bureaucrat Tompkins wants needn't submit his candida found. The pic will be shot north network, made up of Global, Ha the private industry to take over ture to the civil service. of Toronto. milton's CHCH and western the job.
November 1976/11 Ni^fiSpSa^ als Festivals Festivals FestI The CBC
CNE Film Competition national Festival of Women's national Film Festival Novem held in Toronto Films was held in New York ber 12-21, usually showing many Presents... Held in mid-August was the from September 13 to 26, and Canadian entries; The U.S. TV After the flap last spring, the Third Annual CNE Film Com featured screenings, a confer Commercials Festival with CBC went into a corner and, lo petition, in Toronto, under the ence and panels. awards to be presented in Chi and behold, re-scheduled Nellie Women's Division of the Cana Film Festivals Bureau head cago on November 18. Further McClung, and has signed, of dian National Exhibition. The Jean Lefebvre was a juror at the information regarding these course, Kate Reid to play the winners, made by post-second Locarno Festival this summer... events can be obtained from the lead... King of Kensington writ ary students, were shown on Michael Snow attended the Edin FOm Festivals Bureau, Room er-producer Jack Humphrey Youth and Education Day. Over burgh Festival for a conference 1709, 66 Slater Street, Ottawa performed the same chores on 60 entries were viewed by judges on avant-garde film wherein he K1A0M5. a TV adaptation of his radio Tess Taconis, Vaclav Taborski, appeared on a panel. show Travels With Aunt Jane, Gerald Pratley, Bruce Pitman, The Art Gallery of Ontario S.C. starring Jane Mallett and di Jeff Paule and Harvey Hons- presented a seven-program His rected by Andre Brassard... berg. Grand Prize Winner and tory of the American Avant- L'Age et la Vie The CBC Music Department first in the Animation Category Garde Cinema during September (CT) - An important film fes will co-produce The Music of ($1000 from Famous Players) and October. The programs were tival took place in Montreal Man, six one-hour shows cost was The Pit and the Pendulum selected by John G. Hanhardt from Oct. 17 to 22. "It's not a ing one million dollars in bud by Neil Warren. Richard Do- of New York's Witney Museum, festival about old people or for get. Others producing are TV- brucki of Mohawk College re and the travelling series was old people. It's about people who Ontario and the Mississipi Au ceived $250 from Odeon for organized by the American Fed are getting older," comments thority for Educational TV. Second in Animation for Step by eration of Arts. Guy L. Cote, the prime mover Starring Yehudi Menuhin, the Step. Best Documentary ($500 of the festival. Over the six day series idea was initiated by from FP) was A Minute and a Red Cross looking for period, 29 films from 12 coun CBC music chief John Barnes, Half by Dominique Lacasse of festival entries tries were shown to the general who will also co-ordinate the Algonquin College. Best Ex The Canadian Red Cross So public at Cine-Centre. project. Concerning the histori perimental was John Bertram's ciety is looking for health films cal role and impact of music Sonauto ($500 from FP) and Sec to enter on behalf of Canada for on Western society, the series ond was Richard Davis' Water- Varna II, a Festival of Health will begin broadcast in 1979. colour ($250 from Odeon). F.K. Films to be held in Varna, Bul- New and existing film will be Hochheim received $500 from gEiria next June. Contact the Red used. FP for Best Scenario for Plu Cross head office in Toronto or rality of Vibratory Circum the SOS Film Festivals Bureau. stances; Odeon gave $250 to A Canadian winner at the first Jerry Ciccoritti of York for fest was the NFB's La faim, so Second Scenario for FeuUle 'Health' is obviously defined Features d'AIbum, and Braun gave $100 rather loosely. for Third Scenario to Kenneth Dass for Temporarily Confus On the future festival Au bout de mon age by Georges Dufaux Winding ed. Honorable mention went to horizon... John Weshesuer for photography The festival is part of a cam in Temporarily Confused; Ri Coming up are the 6th Inter paign organized by the movement chard Dobrucki for photography national Film Festival of "Age and Life" to change peo Up in There Was a Time; Gary Zu- Nature, Man and his Environ ple's attitudes toward the elder beak for his film Weekend War ment in Padova, Italy, from ly. Besides the film festival, (S.C.) - Fall is also com riors; John Bertram for the November 29 to December 1; L'age et la vie held multi-dis- pletion time, and Summer Rain music in Sonauto; Lawrence Pa the 11th Tehersm Children's ciplineury round-tables to analyse is now editing. Who Has Seen gan for his film Reflections of Film Festival from October 31 the aging process, held an exhi the Wind? has been completed the Past; and to the Humber to November 5th; the 5th Inter bition of children's drawings of in Saskatchewan, with a cast College Film Department for national Teheran Film Festival old people and held "information under director Allan King that Ram. from November 21 to December days" to awaken interest in the included much of Canadian 5, featuring 22 features, 22 aged. Mr. Cote comments, "Ci actordom: Gordon Pinsent, Helen Recent festivals shorts, a festival of festivals, a nema is a political act and the Shaver, Donnely Rhodes, Char- market, and retrospectives; the festival hopes to resituate the mion King, David Gardner, Cha- The Atlantic Filmmakers' 12th Chicago Festival November political debate where it counts: pelle Jaffe, Patricia Hamilton, Co-op, in co-operation with the 5-18; the Virgin Islands Inter in the heart of each man. Gerard Parkes, Sandy Webster, Festival of the Arts presented Ed McNamara, Tom Hauff, at Dalhousie in Halifax in Cedric Smith, Nan Stewart, and August, presented Films by Four American Jose Ferrer. The Halifax Filmmakers: Brett, four youngsters are all from Livingston, Pearse and Sim the Regina area, found by King's mons... The Third Annual Al wife Patricia Watson after a berta Film Festival was held in talent search. Edmonton from September 20 to Also complete is The 22. Sponsored by the Alberta Hunter, a cheapie filmed sans Motion Picture Industries As CFDC participation near Arn- sociation and the government's prior. It's a psychological Department of Industry and thriller about a teenager who Tourism, the fest featured finds he's hunting humans, not works by Alberta producers, animals. The cast includes Ri both feature and short, and fest chard Greenblatt, David Craig, chairman was AMPIA director Rachel John, and the executive Don Reed... The Second Inter producer is Wayne Aaron.
12/Cinema Canada Echoes from Ontario In the steps of ment's request, and sold two Toronto's Harbourfront with for the network recently almost Marco Polo... features - old U.S. films Young several film programs... Fil- bankrupt. And parent company at Heart and Gentle Giant - IWC Communications wants to Not content to avoid selling ympics Canada was held for and eyed several Chinese shorts buy out the other Global part Ontario-made movies in Ontar five days in August at the Wind to bring over here. He said the ners (Global Ventures Western, io, a blue-ribbon group set off sor Public Library. Highlights Chinese wanted our stuff for Seymour Epstein, Gurston Ro- for the exotic Far East to pro were features, including Be study and archival use, and will senfeld) and merge them with mote movies made in Ontario. tween Friends, A tout prendre. be buying more. China has pur IWC. Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney Sudden Fury, Wedding in Wliite chased half a dozen NFB shorts, were stopping points for dis and Cry of the Wild, as well And The Toronto Star, the the features Kamouraska and tributor Charles Chaplin, pro as a panel with Don Shebib, Bill country's richest newspaper, is Pour quelques arpents de ducer Ralph Ellis, and distribu Fruet, Ben Caza and Garth expanding its communications neige, and will view 300 more tor Sam Jephcott. Heading the Jowett. further, by a recent rush to buy Canadian efforts. First sales to entourage was civil servant a substantial, but not control the Teeming Millions. Peter Skinner of the Ministry ling, interest in Western Broad of Trade and Commerce. Broadcast notes... casting, as well as an outright buy of Neilsen-Fereis production International Film Distribu Around the province... Global TV expects to show company. tors head Charles Chaplin also The Canadian Filmmakers' a profit for the fiscal year end went to China, at that govern Distribution Centre supplied ing August 31, 1977, the first S.C. awards, kudos, appointments et al
MPI picks up travel film award ing in the Supreme Court of Ontario to Famous Players profit up again William Rhodes' MPI Productions of fight an ACTRA injunction request against the show, now in rehearsal. Famous Players profit for the nine Toronto received a Gold Cindy Award months ending March 31 was $10.4 at the 17th Annual Cindy Award pre ACTRA is also miffed because of the spectre of the CBC going to the U.S. million, with film providing $3.9 million sentations in Palm Springs on October of that. That makes up 75% of parent 2nd. The award for best travel film again (after Nellie McClung) and wants a public brouhaha over the matter. High company Canadian Cablesystems' pro went to the firm's Come-in-From-Away, fit. made for the Prince Edward Island drama. Ministry of Tourism. Rhodes directed McPherson appointed to and produced, Jim Mercer was camera Editors* Guild meets to discuss man, Doug Scott wrote it. Jack Schoon unionization Grierson Chair was editor and Paul Grady did the music. The Canadian Film Editor's Guild Dr. Hugo McPherson has been met in Toronto on September 29 to dis appointed to the John Grierson Chair Saskatoon's Lumby Pro cuss formation of a union (as opposed to of Communications at McGill Univer ductions receives Czech award current status which has no force in sity. McPherson is a former Govern law). Representatives of lATSE, NA- ment Film Commissioner (1967-70) Forest in Our Hands picked up its BET, CFTA, and ACTRA appeared on and the chair recognizes that Grierson fourth award (previous kudos were at a panel. The discussion is continuing spent his last years in Canada at Mc- New York, Los Angeles and Chicago) among members, but one idea brought GUl, where a Grierson Archives is at Techfilm 75, held in Prague, and up was a union consisting of editors, being established in conjunction with last month the Lumbys, who made it, soundmen and cameramen. Sterling University in Scotland... and Nolan Matthies of the Saskatchewan Government Department of Renewable Lonsdale new Chief Random notes Resources and Tourism, who sponsor ed it, travelled to Ottawa for the form News Editor at CBC Insight Productions had two TV show al presentation. Pic was best film in the Cliff Lonsdale, 31, is the new Chief ings within five days of each other, one category Forestry and Related Subjects. News Editor for the CBC. He moves on each network. First came Toller, on up from Executive Producer of the CTV October 23, an hour effort focus National News 11 pm broadcast... No sing on the skater. Then CBC Teleplay ACTRA takes CBC to court replacement for Lloyd Robertson as of broadcast Insight's first drama, written Some two years ago writer Rod Lan- this writing. and directed by Pen Densham and pro gley was commissioned to adapt his duced by John Watson. It was a co- play on Norman Bethune for CBC TV Kudos and official recognitions production half-hour called If Wishes Front Row Centre. Donald Sutherland The dinner held in Toronto to honour Were Horses, and starred Jackie Bur was hired to play
November 1976/13 buting companies had remained Canadian and all the cinemas had remained under Canadian control, with each working together to present the best films from all producers, including Canadians, what would the si tuation be like today? Would our filmmakers have risen to the need? Would our 'expatriates' have stayed home? in and out What effect in social, political, and psychological terms would this have had on audiences, who now, as a result of 75 years of American films, know the USA of the movies and its habits, history, places and procedures, better than their own? We can hardly blame Zukor for all this, of course, because we let it happen - in the name of gerald pratley free enterprise! It's of little use to wonder about what might have been. Now it is too late; but with pay-TV and the large- screen TV system around the corner heralding the demise of cinemas as mass media, we could make a new beginning by learning from the past. But no one should bank on it!
Otto Preminger was in Gravenhurst to attend the opening of the Norman Bethune House as an historic monument, and to see Carol Bolt's play. Dr. Norman When Adolph Zukor died this year at the magnificent Bethune On Board the S.S. Empress of Asia. For age of 103, none of the tributes and assessments of more than three years Mr. Preminger, being fasci his career published in Canadian newspapers (which, nated by the story of the remarkable Canadian doctor, running true to form, were simply picked up from has been trying to raise the money in Canada to make their US sources) mentioned the fact that the once- a film (from Rod Stewart's book) on location in British aggressive and all-powerful Zukor was one of the ar Columbia. Bearing in mind that the Saskatchewan chitects of our present misfortunes in motion picture production. Our limited histories tell of Mr. Zukor's entry into exhibition in Canada with Paramount's Famous Players company, how he bought up the cinemas and put out of business those exhibitors who resisted him, by sim ply building a bigger cinema next to them. With the entire production of the Hollywood studios available to him, he swept across the country and starved of their movies and their audiences those who would not sell. Those few who did resist lost every thing, as there was nothing Zukor wanted once he built his own cinemas. Former independent theatre owners then went to work for him. The federal and provincial governments of the time didn't care, not understanding the importance of a Ca nadian presence on the motion picture screens. Poli ticians considered a few short subjects as being suf Otto Preminijer ficient and proper Canadian participation in the some government has invested heavily in Alan King's film what vulgar business of film production. of Who Has Seen the Wind?, might not the BC govern It's interesting to pause and reflect what the out ment be inclined to follow its example? Or was Dr. come for Canadian filmmakers might have been had Bethune of the wrong political stripe? Preminger has our cinemas not fallen under American domination. Donald Sutherland in mind to play Bethune. (By the time Odeon came on the scene, the damage had ' • already been done.) In the absence of government reg Motion pictures have come to be accepted as part ulations on quotas and levies, there would have been of the arts,, but time and time again they are omitted little di^erence. Exhibitors the free world over are from matters relating to the arts. At a discussion of all alike. They play fUms which are easy to come by, the responsibilities of the critic, held at the National familar to audiences, and most likely to make them Arts Centre recently, no film critics from Canada or wealthy. American films fulfilled these requirements, elsewhere appear to have been invited. If they were, and anything domestic was dull and suspect. they either said nothing or the reporters for the news Even if there had never been a circuit called Fa papers considered them unworthy of being mentioned. mous Players, but one under a different name wholly • owned by Canadians, it would probably have shown When a group of irate US senators proposed count mostly American movies, or those coming through er-measures to Canada's revised tax laws relating to American distributors, and shunned Canadians pro advertising on US border TV stations, one of their grams - just as the cinema's present-day equivalent, suggestions was to ban the import of Canadian feature the television station, prefers to do. If all the distri films! One is tempted to ask them, what feature films?
14 / Cinema Canada