Canada Carries On () 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.Morris, Peter. Canadian Film Encyclopedia(Film Reference Library). Retrieved: January 11, 2016.
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.Ellis and McLane 2005, p. 122. 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)."Oscar Awards: Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject." Oscars. Retrieved: January 11, 2016.
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.Bennett 2004, p. 254. His sonorous recitation led to his nickname, "The Voice of Canada", and when reading grim battle statistics, "The Voice of Doom"."Bonanza's Canadian Lorne Greene." Bite Size Canada. Retrieved: January 9, 2016.
The success of Canada Carries On inspired a second NFB series, The World in Action, which was more tailored to international audiences.Ellis and McLane 2005, p. 123.
Canadian distribution The series was produced in 16mm 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, 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.Ohayon, Albert. "Propaganda cinema at the NFB." National Film Board of Canada, July 13, 2009. Retrieved: January 11, 2016.
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.
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.
Films in series
1940 TitleDirectorProducerLengthAtlantic PatrolStuart LeggStuart Legg10 min.The Children from OverseasRuby GriersonStanley HawesStuart Legg10 min.The Front of SteelJohn McDougallStuart Legg11 min.The Home FrontStanley HawesStanley Hawes11 min.Letter from AldershotJohn TaylorStuart Legg9 min.Squadron 992Harry WattAlberto Cavalcanti23 min.Un du 22eGerald NoxonStuart Legg 22 min.Wings of YouthRaymond SpottiswoodeStuart Legg 19 min.
1941 TitleDirectorProducerLengthThe Battle of BrainsStanley HawesStuart Legg13 min.Britain at BayHarry Watt7 min.Churchill's IslandStuart LeggStuart Legg22 min.Everywhere in the WorldStuart LeggStuart Legg16 minFood - Weapon of ConquestStuart LeggStuart Legg22 min.Guards of the NorthRaymond Spottiswoode10 min.Heroes of the AtlanticJ. D. DavidsonStanley Hawes15 min.Letter from Camp BordenRaymond SpottiswoodeStuart Legg17 min.Soldiers AllStuart LeggStuart Legg20 min.Strategy of MetalsRaymond SpottiswoodeStuart Legg19 min.Warclouds in the PacificStuart LeggStuart Legg20 min.Wings of a ContinentRaymond SpottiswoodeStuart Legg16 min.
1942 TitleDirectorProducerLengthThe Battle for OilStuart Legg Raymond Spottiswoode19 min.The Battle of the HarvestsStanley JacksonJames Beveridge18 min.Forward CommandosRaymond SpottiswoodeStanley Hawes22 min.Geopolitik - Hitler's Plan for EmpireStuart LeggStuart Legg20 min.High Over the BordersRaymond SpottiswoodeIrving Jacoby23 min.Inside Fighting CanadaJane MarshJames Beveridge11 min.Quebec – Path of ConquestRadford CrawleyRaymond Spottiswoode11 min.Road to TokyoRaymond Spottiswoode10 min.This Is BlitzStuart Legg22 min.The Voice of ActionJames BeveridgeRaymond Spottiswoode16 min.Women Are WarriorsJane MarshRaymond Spottiswoode14 min.
1943 TitleDirectorProducerLengthBanshees Over CanadaJames BeveridgeSydney Newman19 min.Coal Face, CanadaRobert EdmondsGraham McInnes20 min.Fighting NorwaySydney Newman10 min.The Gates of ItalyStuart LeggTom DalyStuart LeggTom Daly21 min.Pincer on Axis Europe20 min.Proudly She MarchesJane MarshRaymond Spottiswoode18 min.Thought for FoodStanley JacksonJames Beveridge15 min.Tomorrow's WorldRaymond Spottiswoode20 min.Train BustersSydney NewmanRaymond Spottiswoode13 min.Up from the RanksJulian RoffmanRaymond Spottiswoode19 min.
1944 TitleDirectorProducerLengthAir CadetsJane Marsh15 minBreak-throughJames Beveridge11 min.Fighting Sea-FleasSydney NewmanJulian RoffmanNicholas ReadSydney NewmanJulian RoffmanNicholas Read11 min.Flight 6Sydney NewmanGuy Glover10 min.Future for FightersStuart LeggJames Beveridge10 min.Look to the NorthJames BeveridgeJames Beveridge22 min.Mosquito SquadronErnest Borneman11 min.Target - BerlinErnest BornemanRaymond Spottiswoode15 min.Trans-Canada ExpressStanley HawesStanley Hawes19 min., 26 sec.Universities at War11 min.U.N.R.R.A. presents In the Wake of the Armies ...Guy Glover18 min.Wounded in Action 22 min.Zero Hour Stuart Legg22 min.
1945 TitleDirectorProducerLengthAtlantic CrossroadsTom DalyGrant McLeanTom Daly10 min.Back to JobsNicholas Balla9 min., 35 sec.Gateway to AsiaTom DalyTom Daly21 min.Headline HuntersAlan Field11 min.Music in the WindGuy Glover10 min.Ordeal by Ice Tom DalyTom Daly10 min., 39 sec.Road to the ReichTom DalyTom Daly10 min.Salute to a Victory10 min.Suffer Little ChildrenSydney NewmanSydney Newman1o min.This Is Our CanadaStanley JacksonStanley Jackson20 minToronto Symphony No. 1Julian RoffmanAlan Field12 minToronto Symphony No. 2Julian RoffmanAlan Field9 minThe War on WantGordon BurwashNicholas Balla15 min
1946 TitleDirectorProducerLengthBronco BustersLaurence Hyde10 min.Canada, World TraderTom Daly11 minThe Challenge of HousingTom Daly10 min.A City SingsGudrun ParkerNicholas BallaSydney Newman11 min.Everyman's WorldSydney Newman10 min.Fashions by Canada11 min.The New NorthHamilton WrightSydney Newman10 min.Science Goes FishingJean PalardyGuy Glover11 min.Ski SkillBernard DevlinRoger BlaisSydney Newman10 min.Small FryJack OlsenSydney Newman10 min.To the Ladies Nicholas Balla10 min.Voice of Canada Guy Glover10 min.White SafariHugh Wallace Sydney Newman11 min.
1947 TitleDirectorProducerLengthCanada DancesNicholas BallaSydney Newman9 min.Careers and CradlesJack OlsenSydney Newman11 mn.Eyes on Canada11 min.Johnny at the FairJack OlsenSydney Newman11 min.Mexico Today10 min.Montreal by NightJean PalardyArthur BurrowsSydney Newman11 min.Peoples of Canada (revised)James BeveridgeSydney Newman11 min.River WatchRoger MorinSydney Newman11 min.Tomorrow's CitizensGordon WeisenbornStuart Legg11 min.What's on Your Mind?Jack OlsenSydney Newman11 min.
1948 TitleDirectorProducerLengthArctic JungleSydney NewmanSydney Newman11 min.Art for EverybodyLaurence HydeSydney Newman10 min.Champions in the MakingSydney Newman11 min.The Home Town PaperMorten ParkerGudrun Parker23 min.Inside the AtomJack OlsenSydney Newman11 minIt's Fun to SingRoger BlaisSydney Newman11 min.Maps We Live ByGudrun ParkerJames Beveridge11 min.Mercy FlightEvelyn Spice CherryLawrence CherryEvelyn Spice CherryLawrence Cherry11 min.Pay-Off in PainRobert AndersonSydney Newman11 min.Science in BloomNicholas BallaSydney Newman10 min.
1949 TitleDirectorProducerLength55,000 for BreakfastLawrence CherryEvelyn Spice CherryLawrence CherryEvelyn Spice Cherry11 min.Ballet FestivalRoger BlaisDon Mulholland11 min.A Capital PlanBernard DevlinSydney Newman11 min.Famous Fish I Have MetJack OlsenSydney Newman11 min.Passport to CanadaRoger BlaisSydney Newman11 min.Red Runs the FraserE. TaylorSydney Newman11 min.Sight and SoundGudrun ParkerNathan ClavierDon Mulholland11 min.Summer Is For KidsStanley JacksonSydney Newman11 min., 42 sec.Valley of GoldDavid BairstowDon Mulholland10 min.Welcome, Neighbour!Leslie McFarlaneSydney Newman11 min.What's Under the Label?Ron WeymanDon Mulholland11 min.White FortressLeslie McFarlaneRon WeymanDon Mulholland10 min.
1950 TitleDirectorProducerLengthCity in SiegeJames ParkerAllen StarkSydney Newman17 min.Cliff HangersDon Mulholland10 min., 27 sec.Gentleman Jekyll and Driver HydeDavid BairstowDon Mulholland8 min., 18 sec.Hunters of the North PoleNils RasmussenDon Mulholland10 min.Life Under A LeafRon WeymanDon Mulholland30 min.Our Town is the WorldStanley JacksonDon Mulholland11 min.Snow FiestaHarry FosterHarry Foster10 min.Thunder in the EastDouglas TunstellSydney Newman11 min.Unto the Hundredth GenerationDonald FraserDon Mulholland11 min.
1951 TitleDirectorProducerLengthAfter Prison, What?Ron WeymanSydney Newman11 min., 29 sec.Cadet HolidayDavid BairstowRobert HumbleDouglas WilkinsonSydney NewmanMichael Spencer11 min.Flying SkisHarry FosterHarry Foster9 min.Gangway for NavyJack OlsenSydney Newman11 min.Inside NewfoundlandSydney NewmanRoger MorinSydney Newman11 min.It's The Fashion!Ron WeymanSydney Newman11 min.The Man in the Peace TowerRoger BlaisSydney Newman10 min.The Outlaw WithinMorten ParkerGuy Glover11 min.PenitentiaryRon WeymanSydney Newman11 min.Rescue MissionRon WeymanSydney Newman11 min.Screaming JetsJack OlsenSydney Newman11 min.Struggle for OilRonald DickSydney Newman11 min.Talent ShowcaseRoger BlaisDouglas TunstellSydney NewmanSydney Newman10 min., 45 sec.Toronto Boom TownLeslie McFarlaneSydney Newman10 min.Yoho: Wonder ValleyRoger BlaisJack OlsenSydney Newman11 min.
1952 TitleDirectorProducerLengthArctic SagaDouglas WilkinsonNicholas Balla11 mn.Beyond the FrontierRonald DickNicholas Balla11 min.Canada's Atom Goes To WorkRoger BlaisGuy Glover11 min.Horizons of QuebecRaymond GarceauGuy Glover11 min.The Mountain MoversRon WeymanNicholas Balla11 min.The Romance of Transportation in CanadaColin LowTom Daly11 min., 20 sec.Singing ChampionsRoger BlaisNicholas Balla10 min.Winter Week-end (Revised)Bernard DevlinGuy Glover10 min., 23 sec.Singing ChampionsJulian BiggsMichael Spencer16 min.
1953 TitleDirectorProducerLengthCitizen VarekGordon BurwashNicholas Balla11 min.Farewell Oak StreetGrant McLeanGordon Burwash17 min.Germany - Key to EuropeNicholas Balla21 min.The HarbourEarnest KirkpatrickNicholas Balla9 min.Here's Hockey!Leslie McFarlaneNicholas Balla10 min., 40 sed.Herring HuntJulian BiggsGuy Glover10 min., 47 sec.In Search of HomeRoger BlaisNicholas Balla11 min.Inland SeaportRon WeymanNicholas Balla11 min.Mission ShipRobert AndersonNicholas Balla11 min.Mister MayorRaymond GarceauRoger Blais11 min.Tempest in TownRaymond GarceauBernard Devlin13 min.Today in South AsiaDonald Fraser Donald Fraser 11 min.The Wind-Swept IslesJean PalardyBernard Devlin9 min., 50 sec.The World at Your Feet (Revised)Larry GosnellMichael Spencer10 min.
1954