Canada Carries On

Canada Carries On (French: En avant Canada) was a series of short films by the National Film Board of Canada which ran from 1940 to 1959. The series was created as morale-boosting propaganda films during the Second World War. With the end of the war, the series lost its financial backing from the Wartime Information Board, but continued as an NFB series of theatrical shorts that included newsreels as well as animated shorts.[1]

The series was initially produced by Stuart Legg, who also directed many of the early films. The first film in the series was Legg's Atlantic Patrol, released in April 1940, about the Royal Canadian Navy's role in protecting convoys from Halifax to the United Kingdom from U-boat attack.[2] One of the most famous films from this series was his Churchill's Island, released in Canada in June 1941 and winner of the first Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).[3][4]

The narrator for many of the films in the series was Lorne Greene, known for his work on radio broadcasts as a news announcer at CBC.[5] His sonorous recitation led to his nickname, "The Voice of Canada", and when reading grim battle statistics, "The Voice of Doom".[6]

The success of Canada Carries On inspired a second NFB series, The World in Action, which was more tailored to international audiences.[7]

Canadian distribution

The series was produced in 35 mm for the theatrical market. Each film was shown in approximately 800 theatres across Canada over a six-month period. They were distributed by Columbia Pictures,[2] and the NFB had an arrangement with Famous Players theatres to ensure that Canadians from coast to coast could see them. After the six-month theatrical tour ended, the films were made available on 16 mm to schools, libraries, church basements and factories, extending their life for another year or two. They were also made available to film libraries operated by university and provincial authorities. A total of 199 films were produced before the series ended in 1959.[3]

En avant Canada

The French-language series En avant Canada was distributed in Quebec and New Brunswick by France Film Distribution in some 60 theatres. Eight to 12 films were produced each year in French; some were versions of English titles, others original, for a total of 173 French titles before the program's end in 1959.[3]

International distribution

Some films were distributed internationally in Australia, the UK and the United States (by Telenews), in India (by Fox Film Corporation) and the West Indies (by Inter-continental). These were usually titles that dealt with international rather than Canadian issues. One such film was Warclouds in the Pacific, released just one week before the attack on Pearl Harbor, warning of an imminent Japanese attack.[3]

Films in series
Further information: List of Allied propaganda films of World War II § Canada

1940
Title Director Producer Length
Atlantic Patrol Stuart Legg Stuart Legg 10 min.
The Children from Overseas Ruby Grierson
Stanley Hawes		 Stuart Legg 10 min.
The Front of Steel John McDougall Stuart Legg 11 min.
The Home Front Stanley Hawes Stanley Hawes 11 min.
Letter from Aldershot John Taylor Stuart Legg 9 min.
Squadron 992 Harry Watt Alberto Cavalcanti 23 min.
Un du 22e[8] Gerald Noxon Stuart Legg 22 min.
Wings of Youth Raymond Spottiswoode Stuart Legg 19 min.

1941
Title Director Producer Length
The Battle of Brains Stanley Hawes Stuart Legg 13 min.
Britain at Bay Harry Watt 7 min.
Churchill's Island Stuart Legg Stuart Legg 22 min.
Everywhere in the World Stuart Legg Stuart Legg 16 min
Food - Weapon of Conquest Stuart Legg Stuart Legg 22 min.
Guards of the North Raymond Spottiswoode 10 min.
Heroes of the Atlantic J. D. Davidson Stanley Hawes 15 min.
Letter from Camp Borden Raymond Spottiswoode Stuart Legg 17 min.
Soldiers All Stuart Legg Stuart Legg 20 min.
Strategy of Metals[9] Raymond Spottiswoode Stuart Legg 19 min.
Warclouds in the Pacific Stuart Legg Stuart Legg 20 min.
Wings of a Continent Raymond Spottiswoode Stuart Legg 16 min.

1942
Title Director Producer Length
The Battle for Oil Stuart Legg Raymond Spottiswoode 19 min.
The Battle of the Harvests Stanley Jackson James Beveridge 18 min.
Forward Commandos Raymond Spottiswoode Stanley Hawes 22 min.
Geopolitik - Hitler's Plan for Empire Stuart Legg Stuart Legg 20 min.
High Over the Borders Raymond Spottiswoode Irving Jacoby 23 min.
Inside Fighting Canada Jane Marsh James Beveridge 11 min.
Quebec – Path of Conquest Radford Crawley Raymond Spottiswoode 11 min.
Road to Tokyo Raymond Spottiswoode 10 min.
This Is Blitz Stuart Legg 22 min.
The Voice of Action James Beveridge Raymond Spottiswoode 16 min.
Women Are Warriors Jane Marsh Raymond Spottiswoode 14 min.

1943
Title Director Producer Length
Banshees Over Canada James Beveridge Sydney Newman 19 min.
Coal Face, Canada Robert Edmonds Graham McInnes 20 min.
Fighting Norway Sydney Newman 10 min.
The Gates of Italy Stuart Legg
Tom Daly		 Stuart Legg
Tom Daly		 21 min.
Pincer on Axis Europe 20 min.
Proudly She Marches Jane Marsh Raymond Spottiswoode 18 min.
Thought for Food Stanley Jackson James Beveridge 15 min.
Tomorrow's World Raymond Spottiswoode 20 min.
Train Busters Sydney Newman Raymond Spottiswoode 13 min.
Up from the Ranks Julian Roffman Raymond Spottiswoode 19 min.

1944
Title Director Producer Length
Air Cadets Jane Marsh 15 min
Break-through James Beveridge 11 min.
Fighting Sea-Fleas Sydney Newman
Julian Roffman
Nicholas Read		 Sydney Newman
Julian Roffman
Nicholas Read		 11 min.
Flight 6 Sydney Newman Guy Glover 10 min.
Future for Fighters Stuart Legg
James Beveridge		 10 min.
Look to the North James Beveridge James Beveridge 22 min.
Mosquito Squadron Ernest Borneman 11 min.
Target - Berlin Ernest Borneman Raymond Spottiswoode 15 min.
Trans-Canada Express Stanley Hawes Stanley Hawes 19 min., 26 sec.
Universities at War 11 min.
U.N.R.R.A. presents In the Wake of the Armies ... Guy Glover 18 min.
Wounded in Action 22 min.
Zero Hour Stuart Legg 22 min.

1945
Title Director Producer Length
Atlantic Crossroads Tom Daly Grant McLean
Tom Daly		 10 min.
Back to Jobs Nicholas Balla 9 min., 35 sec.
Gateway to Asia Tom Daly Tom Daly 21 min.
Headline Hunters Alan Field 11 min.
Music in the Wind Guy Glover 10 min.
Ordeal by Ice Tom Daly Tom Daly 10 min., 39 sec.
Road to the Reich Tom Daly Tom Daly 10 min.
Salute to a Victory 10 min.
Suffer Little Children Sydney Newman Sydney Newman 1o min.
This Is Our Canada Stanley Jackson Stanley Jackson 20 min
Toronto Symphony No. 1 Julian Roffman Alan Field 12 min
Toronto Symphony No. 2 Julian Roffman Alan Field 9 min
The War on Want Gordon Burwash Nicholas Balla 15 min

1946
Title Director Producer Length
Bronco Busters Laurence Hyde 10 min.
Canada, World Trader Tom Daly 11 min
The Challenge of Housing Tom Daly 10 min.
A City Sings Gudrun Parker Nicholas Balla
Sydney Newman		 11 min.
Everyman's World Sydney Newman 10 min.
Fashions by Canada 11 min.
The New North Hamilton Wright Sydney Newman 10 min.
Science Goes Fishing Jean Palardy Guy Glover 11 min.
Ski Skill Bernard Devlin
Roger Blais		 Sydney Newman 10 min.
Small Fry Jack Olsen Sydney Newman 10 min.
To the Ladies Nicholas Balla 10 min.
Voice of Canada Guy Glover 10 min.
White Safari Hugh Wallace Sydney Newman 11 min.

1947
Title Director Producer Length
Canada Dances Nicholas Balla Sydney Newman 9 min.
Careers and Cradles Jack Olsen Sydney Newman 11 mn.
Eyes on Canada 11 min.
Johnny at the Fair Jack Olsen Sydney Newman 11 min.
Mexico Today 10 min.
Montreal by Night Jean Palardy
Arthur Burrows		 Sydney Newman 11 min.
Peoples of Canada (revised) James Beveridge Sydney Newman 11 min.
River Watch Roger Morin Sydney Newman 11 min.
Tomorrow's Citizens Gordon Weisenborn Stuart Legg 11 min.
What's on Your Mind? Jack Olsen Sydney Newman 11 min.

1948
Title Director Producer Length
Arctic Jungle Sydney Newman Sydney Newman 11 min.
Art for Everybody Laurence Hyde Sydney Newman 10 min.
Champions in the Making Sydney Newman 11 min.
The Home Town Paper Morten Parker Gudrun Parker 23 min.
Inside the Atom Jack Olsen Sydney Newman 11 min
It's Fun to Sing Roger Blais Sydney Newman 11 min.
Maps We Live By Gudrun Parker James Beveridge 11 min.
Mercy Flight Evelyn Spice Cherry
Lawrence Cherry		 Evelyn Spice Cherry
Lawrence Cherry		 11 min.
Pay-Off in Pain Robert Anderson Sydney Newman 11 min.
Science in Bloom Nicholas Balla Sydney Newman 10 min.

1949
Title Director Producer Length
55,000 for Breakfast Lawrence Cherry
Evelyn Spice Cherry		 Lawrence Cherry
Evelyn Spice Cherry		 11 min.
Ballet Festival Roger Blais Don Mulholland 11 min.
A Capital Plan Bernard Devlin Sydney Newman 11 min.
Famous Fish I Have Met Jack Olsen Sydney Newman 11 min.
Passport to Canada Roger Blais Sydney Newman 11 min.
Red Runs the Fraser E. Taylor Sydney Newman 11 min.
Sight and Sound Gudrun Parker
Nathan Clavier		 Don Mulholland 11 min.
Summer Is For Kids Stanley Jackson Sydney Newman 11 min., 42 sec.
Valley of Gold David Bairstow Don Mulholland 10 min.
Welcome, Neighbour! Leslie McFarlane Sydney Newman 11 min.
What's Under the Label? Ron Weyman Don Mulholland 11 min.
White Fortress Leslie McFarlane
Ron Weyman		 Don Mulholland 10 min.

1950
Title Director Producer Length
City in Siege James Parker
Allen Stark		 Sydney Newman 17 min.
Cliff Hangers Don Mulholland 10 min., 27 sec.
Gentleman Jekyll and Driver Hyde David Bairstow Don Mulholland 8 min., 18 sec.
Hunters of the North Pole Nils Rasmussen Don Mulholland 10 min.
Life Under A Leaf Ron Weyman Don Mulholland 30 min.
Our Town is the World Stanley Jackson Don Mulholland 11 min.
Snow Fiesta Harry Foster Harry Foster 10 min.
Thunder in the East Douglas Tunstell Sydney Newman 11 min.
Unto the Hundredth Generation Donald Fraser Don Mulholland 11 min.

1951
Title Director Producer Length
After Prison, What? Ron Weyman Sydney Newman 11 min., 29 sec.
Cadet Holiday David Bairstow
Robert Humble
Douglas Wilkinson		 Sydney Newman
Michael Spencer		 11 min.
Flying Skis Harry Foster Harry Foster 9 min.
Gangway for Navy Jack Olsen Sydney Newman 11 min.
Inside Newfoundland Sydney Newman
Roger Morin		 Sydney Newman 11 min.
It's The Fashion! Ron Weyman Sydney Newman 11 min.
The Man in the Peace Tower Roger Blais Sydney Newman 10 min.
The Outlaw Within Morten Parker Guy Glover 11 min.
Penitentiary Ron Weyman Sydney Newman 11 min.
Rescue Mission Ron Weyman Sydney Newman 11 min.
Screaming Jets Jack Olsen Sydney Newman 11 min.
Struggle for Oil Ronald Dick Sydney Newman 11 min.
Talent Showcase Roger Blais
Douglas Tunstell
Sydney Newman		 Sydney Newman 10 min., 45 sec.
Toronto Boom Town Leslie McFarlane Sydney Newman 10 min.
Yoho: Wonder Valley Roger Blais
Jack Olsen		 Sydney Newman 11 min.

1952
Title Director Producer Length
Arctic Saga Douglas Wilkinson Nicholas Balla 11 mn.
Beyond the Frontier Ronald Dick Nicholas Balla 11 min.
Canada's Atom Goes To Work Roger Blais Guy Glover 11 min.
Horizons of Quebec Raymond Garceau Guy Glover 11 min.
The Mountain Movers Ron Weyman Nicholas Balla 11 min.
The Romance of Transportation in Canada Colin Low Tom Daly 11 min., 20 sec.
Singing Champions Roger Blais Nicholas Balla 10 min.
Winter Week-end (Revised) Bernard Devlin Guy Glover 10 min., 23 sec.
Singing Champions Julian Biggs Michael Spencer 16 min.

1953
Title Director Producer Length
Citizen Varek Gordon Burwash Nicholas Balla 11 min.
Farewell Oak Street Grant McLean Gordon Burwash 17 min.
Germany - Key to Europe Nicholas Balla 21 min.
The Harbour Earnest Kirkpatrick Nicholas Balla 9 min.
Here's Hockey! Leslie McFarlane Nicholas Balla 10 min., 40 sed.
Herring Hunt Julian Biggs Guy Glover 10 min., 47 sec.
In Search of Home Roger Blais Nicholas Balla 11 min.
Inland Seaport Ron Weyman Nicholas Balla 11 min.
Mission Ship Robert Anderson Nicholas Balla 11 min.
Mister Mayor Raymond Garceau Roger Blais 11 min.
Tempest in Town Raymond Garceau Bernard Devlin 13 min.
Today in South Asia Donald Fraser Donald Fraser 11 min.
The Wind-Swept Isles Jean Palardy Bernard Devlin 9 min., 50 sec.
The World at Your Feet (Revised) Larry Gosnell Michael Spencer 10 min.

1954
Title Director Producer Length
Bottleneck Leslie McFarlane 11 min.
British Empire and Commonwealth Games Jack Olsen Nicholas Balla 11 min.
Bush Doctor Jean Palardy Roger Blais 10 min., 48 sec.
College in the Wilds Julian Biggs Guy Glover 10 min.
Corral Colin Low Tom Daly 11 min., 27 sed.
Diggers of the Deeps Grant McLean
Sorel Jean Palardy Roger Blais 11 min.
Thousand Million Years Tom Daly 10 min
Vigil in the North Fergus McDonell Nicholas Balla 11 min

1955
Title Director Producer Length
The Dykes Roger Blais Roger Blais 9 min., 52 sec.
Gold Colin Low Tom Daly 10 min., 32 sec.
Harvest in the Valley (short version) Larry Gosnell Larry Gosnell 8 min
High Tide in Newfoundland Grant McLean Nicholas Balla 21 min.
The Jolifou Inn Colin Low Tom Daly 10 min., 47 sec.
The Lumberjack Jean Palardy Roger Blais 29 min.
The Maple Leaf J. V. Durden J. V. Durden 9 min., 33 sec.
Needles and Pins Roger Blais Roger Blais 11 min
Problem Clinic Ron Weyman Nicholas Balla 12 min.
Return of the Indian Grant McLean Nicholas Balla 11 min.

1956
Title Director Producer Length
Fishermen of Pubnico Léonard Forest Victor Jobin 10 min., 32 sec.
Frontiers to Guard Ian MacNeill Nicholas Balla 17 min.
The Lively Pond Nicholas Balla 8 min., 41 sec.
The Shepherd Julian Biggs Julian Biggs 11 min.

1957
Title Director Producer Length
Bridge Under the Ocean Raymond Garceau Nicholas Balla 11 min.
Carnival in Quebec Jean Palardy Roger Blais 12 min., 13 sec.
Snow Fighters Leslie McFarlane Roger Blais 10 min.
Wildlife of the Rocky Mountains William H. Carrick 8 min., 40 sec.

1958
Title Director Producer Length
The Awakening Mackenzie Hector Lemieux John Howe 9 min.
Fraser's River Gordon Sparling Stanley Hawes 14 min., 38 sec.
Industrial Canada Guy L. Coté Guy L. Coté 18 min., 27 sec.
The Man From Karachi Leslie McFarlane Nicholas Balla 12 min.
Songs of Nova Scotia Grant Crabtree Roger Blais 11 min.
Street to the World Louis-Georges Carrier 14 min., 33 sec.
Treasure of the Forest Roger Blais Nicholas Balla 12 min., 50 sec.
The World on Show Roger Blais Tim Wilson 13 min.

1959
Title Director Producer Length
The Atom - Servant of Man Edmund Reid Nicholas Balla
Grant McLean		 14 min.
The Chairmaker and the Boys Tim Wilson 20 min., 3 sec.
The Magic Mineral Roger Blais Tim Wilson 13 min., 20 sec.
Man of Music Roger Blais Tim Wilson 18 min., 13 sec.
The Modern Prospector Jean-Yves Bigras Tim Wilson 14 min., 27 sec.
Portrait of Canada Hector Lemieux Tim Wilson 10 min.
Railroaders Guy L. Coté Nicholas Balla 16 min., 55 sec.
Wheat Country Roger Blais Roger Blais 20 min., 2 sec.

1960
Title Director Producer Length
Railroaders (revised) Guy L. Coté Nicholas Balla 16 min., 55 sec.

References

Notes
  1. Morris, Peter. Archived 2014-08-19 at the Wayback MachineCanadian Film Encyclopedia(Film Reference Library). Retrieved: January 11, 2016.
  2. Ellis and McLane 2005, p. 122.
  3. Ohayon, Albert. "Propaganda cinema at the NFB." National Film Board of Canada, July 13, 2009. Retrieved: January 11, 2016.
  4. "Oscar Awards: Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject." Oscars. Retrieved: January 11, 2016.
  5. Bennett 2004, p. 254.
  6. "Bonanza's Canadian Lorne Greene." Bite Size Canada. Retrieved: January 9, 2016.
  7. Ellis and McLane 2005, p. 123.
  8. "Un du 22e". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  9. "Strategy of Metals". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 1 April 2023.

Bibliography
  • Bennett, Linda Greene. My Father's Voice: The Biography of Lorne Greene. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse, Inc., 2004. ISBN 978-0-595-33283-0.
  • Ellis, Jack C. and Betsy A. McLane. New History of Documentary Film. London: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005. ISBN 0-8264-1750-7.
  • Goetz, William."he Canadian Wartime Documentary: "Canada Carries on" and "The World in Action". Cinema Journal, 16, 1977, pp. 59–80.
  • Khouri, Malek. Filming Politics: Communism and the Portrayal of the Working Class at the National Film Board of Canada, 1939-46. Calgary, Alberta, Canada: University of Calgary Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1-55238-199-1.
  • Lerner, Loren. Canadian Film and Video: A Bibliography and Guide to the Literature. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1997. ISBN 978-0-8020-2988-1.
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