Through rare film footage and interviews with some of the pioneers who made film history, this documentary traces the history of filmmaking in Canada from 1939-1953. It covers the establishment of the National Film Board in 1939; the war years; Canada’s first Oscar; and John Grierson’s sudden demise as Canada’s driving force in the industry. We witness the struggles of the private film producers, the development of the film industry in Quebec, and the emergence of the documentary. Above all, the film asks whether the alternating fortunes of the Canadian film industry, in the face of an overwhelming American presence, reflect the attitudes of the Canadian people towards themselves and their culture. Written by Donald Brittain and John Kramer.
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
306989
Language
English
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Academy awards (Motion pictures)
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Film criticism
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion picture industry
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion picture industry - Canada
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion picture producers and directors - Biography
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion picture studios
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - Canada - History
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - Excerpts
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - History
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - Production and direction
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - Production and direction - Canada
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - Social aspects
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → National Film Board of Canada
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Canada
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Quebec (Province)
Crafts & Visual Arts → Art - Canada
Crafts & Visual Arts → Art and motion pictures
Crafts & Visual Arts → Video art
Documentary → Documentary films - Canada
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Motion pictures - Social aspects
Experimental → Experimental films - Canada
Feature films → Feature films - Canada
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)