Stanley Jackson

The Back-breaking Leaf

Terence Macartney-Filgate

Stanley Jackson

Here is a graphic picture of the tobacco harvest in southwestern Ontario. At the end of July, transient field workers move in for a brief bonanza when the plant is ripe. The tobacco harvesters call it "the back-breaking leaf."

Pour la suite du monde

Michel Brault, Pierre Perrault

Léopold Tremblay, Alexis Tremblay

At the instigation of the filmmakers, the young men of the Ile-aux-Coudres in the middle of the St-Lawrence River try as a memorial to their ancestors to revive the fishing of the belugas interrupted in 1924.

Glenn Gould: On The Record

Roman Kroitor, Wolf Koenig

Glenn Gould, Howard Scott

This short documentary (the second of two parts) follows Glenn Gould to New York City. There, we see the renowned Canadian concert pianist kidding the cab driver, bantering with sound engineers at Columbia Records, and then, alone with the piano, fastidiously recording Bach's Italian Concerto.

Glenn Gould: Off the Record

Roman Kroitor, Wolf Koenig

Glenn Gould, Franz Kraemer

Canadian concert pianist Glenn Gould enjoys a respite at his lakeside cottage. It is an aspect of Gould previously known only to the collie pacing beside him through the woods, the fishermen resting their oars to hear his piano, and fellow musicians like Franz Kraemer, with whom Gould talks of composition. (First of two parts.)

Cornet at Night

Stanley Jackson

Based on a short story by Sinclair Ross, this short film recalls rural life on the Prairies in the 1930s. In the film a farmer's young son, sent to town to hire a man for the harvest, readily accepts when an itinerant trumpet player, down on his luck, begs a chance. He is hardly the kind of man the boy's father had in mind, but that night his trumpet speaks from the shadows and everyone pauses to listen.

Paddle to the Sea

Bill Mason

Stanley Jackson

A boy's carved boat travels through the Canadian wilderness until it reaches the ocean.

Circle of the Sun

Colin Low

Stanley Jackson, Pete Standing Alone

A young man of the Kainai Nation (Blood tribe) shows us contemporary life of people as he attends a Sun Dance ceremony with the tribe.

The Days Before Christmas

Wolf Koenig, Stanley Jackson

This short documentary depicts Christmastime in Montreal. The milling crowds, department store Santas, Brink's messengers, kindergarten angels and boisterous nightclubs all combine to make a vivid portrait of the holidays.

The Days of Whisky Gap

Colin Low

Stanley Jackson

Rousing tales of the North-West Mounted Police are brought to life through photos and artists' sketches. In 1873, the North-West Mounted Police were established to maintain law and order in the North-West Territories. They undertook a trek from Fort Dufferin, south of Winnipeg, to Fort Whoop-up, near present-day Lethbridge, Alberta. The force raised the flag and proclaimed the Queen's Law, ensuring that the Canadian West would not become a lawless, American-style frontier.

The Quest

Stanley Jackson

Leo Ciceri, Dennis Stanway

This short film is a re-enactment of the critical year in Dr. Frederick Banting's life when he discovered insulin for the treatment of diabetes at the University of Toronto. It depicts the odds against which he and his assistant, Charles Best, worked; the scepticism of other doctors and the final victory that gave thousands of diabetics hope for a healthier life.

The Hutterites

Colin Low

Stanley Jackson

A look at the Hutterites, an Anabaptist religious community similar to the Amish or the Mennonites in rural Alberta.

Helicopter Canada

Eugene Boyko

Stanley Jackson

A view from a helicopter of the ten Canadian provinces in 1966. The result is a big, beautiful and engrossing bird's-eye portrait of the country. Nothing here is quite the same as seen before, even Niagara Falls. Canadians will be thrilled by this panoramic view of familiar territory. Made for international distribution for the Canadian centennial.

My Financial Career

Gerald Potterton

Stanley Jackson

A neurotic man relates his unsuccessful attempt to open a simple savings account at a bank.

The Ballot-o-Maniac

Stanley Jackson

Grant Munro

An enthusiastic but naive campaign worker causes trouble for his candidate due to his unorthodox campaign tactics, which turn out to violate the election law.

Profile of a Problem Drinker

Stanley Jackson

This short film is a telling portrait of the discourse about and treatment of alcohol addiction in the middle of the 20th century. In a fictional setting, the film examines the insecurities and inner motivations that cause the protagonist to lean on alcohol. His job and home life are threatened by his addiction, and the doctor to whom he finally turns explains the medical and other resources available to him.

Memory of Summer

Stanley Jackson

An attempt to recapture the magic of childhood as the cameras follow children at play.