| Letter from Overseas | |
|---|---|
 Title Frame | |
| Starring | Lorne Greene |
| Narrated by | Lorne Greene |
| Music by | Lucio Agostini |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Letter from Overseas is a 15-minute 1943 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime The World in Action series. The film describes the training and operational use of Canadian Army soldiers in 1943 during the Second World War. [1]
In 1942, a Canadian soldier stationed in Britain sent an aerogram back home to his mother and father. A terse, and brief account of his recent activities was given. What is not in the letter are the details of the intensive training in which his platoon has been engaged. Once settling into their new barracks, Canadian soldiers have begun a strenuous daily regimen that includes physical exercise, field manoeuvres and becoming proficient with new infantry tactics, weapons and equipment.
The Canadians in England include a detachment of the Canadian Women's Army Corps or WACs who are also playing their part in the overseas mission. The WACs are involved in medical, clerical, and other important work, including bringing in the harvest last fall and volunteering for civilian fire fighting at the height of the Blitz.
The First Canadian Army led by General A.G.L. McNaughton used the training to "toughen up" the troops for a new assignment, an attack on occupied France. After the successful Bruneval Raid in February 1942, the Canadians were again in the forefront of the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. Storming the beaches involved a massive operation that was supported by naval and air forces. After landing and spending nine hours ashore, the surviving troops were evacuated back to England.
While recuperating from the Dieppe Raid, the Canadians sought out entertainment and recreation venues. Playing football English-style and attending dances and music halls were some of the prime after-hours activities.
The intense training re-commenced with emphasis on offensive infantry and armour tactics, played out in the fields and forests of England. There is great anticipation that the future role for Canadian soldiers will take them again into battle against Nazi Germany.
Letter from Overseas was the part of the wartime The World in Action propaganda short film series. [2] The film was produced with financial backing from the Wartime Information Board for the Director of Public Information, Herbert Lash. [3] [4]
Typical of the NFB's series of morale-boosting films, Letter from Overseas used the format of a newsreel, relying heavily on original material shot by the Canadian Army Film Unit in Great Britain, including combat footage of the Dieppe and Bruneval raids. [Note 1] . [2]
The deep baritone voice of stage actor Lorne Greene was featured in the narration of Letter from Overseas, as well as the voice of the soldier who has mailed the aerogram. Greene was known for his work on both radio broadcasts as a news announcer at CBC as well as narrating many of the Canada Carries On series. [6] His sonorous recitation led to his nickname, "The Voice of Canada", and to some observers, the "voice-of-God". [7] When reading grim battle statistics or narrating a particularly serious topic, he was known as "The Voice of Doom". [8]
In early 1942, NFB head John Grierson through his Hollywood contacts, found a new outlet for NFB documentaries, especially the recently launched war-themed The World in Action series. After the success of selling Warclouds in the Pacific , the NFB was able to make a further arrangement with United Artists for additional titles to be distributed in the United States. [9] [10] With distribution in Canada and Great Britain, he now added the United States market. [11]
Letter from Overseas was produced in 35 mm for the theatrical market, and due to its length, shown as a newsreel. Each film in both The World in Action and Canada Carries On series was shown over a six-month period as part of the shorts or newsreel segments in approximately 800 theatres across Canada. The NFB had an arrangement with Famous Players theatres to ensure that Canadians from coast-to-coast could see them, with further distribution by Columbia Pictures of Canada. [9] After the six-month theatrical tour ended, individual films were made available on 16 mm to schools, libraries, churches and factories, extending the life of these films 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 was canceled in 1959. [11]
Churchill's Island is a 1941 propaganda film chronicling the defence of Britain during the Second World War. The film was directed by Stuart Legg and produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) for the Director of Information, Government of Canada.
Warclouds in the Pacific is a 20-minute 1941 Canadian documentary film, part of the Canada Carries On series of short films by the National Film Board of Canada. The film was produced, written and directed by Stuart Legg and narrated by Lorne Greene. Warclouds in the Pacific, which warned of an imminent Japanese attack, was released just one week before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Inside Fighting China is a 1941 22-minute Canadian short documentary film produced by the National Film Board of Canada for distribution by United Artists, as part of the wartime The World in Action series. The film documents China's resistance to Japan's invasion during the Second World War. Inside Fighting China is directed by Stuart Legg, and narrated by Lorne Greene. The film's French version title is La Chine sous les armes.
Ferry Pilot is a film produced in 1942 by Stuart Legg and Ross McLean for the National Film Board of Canada series The World in Action, in cooperation with the United Kingdom Ministry of Information and the Crown Film Unit. The film has an unaccredited narration by broadcaster Lorne Greene.
The Home Front is a 10-minute 1940 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film was produced and directed by Stanley Hawes.
Women Are Warriors is a 14-minute 1942 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series, and dealt with women in war. The film was produced by Raymond Spottiswoode and directed by Jane Marsh. The film's French version title is Les Femmes dans la mêlée.
Inside Fighting Canada is an 11-minute 1942 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film, directed by Jane Marsh and produced by James Beveridge, was an account of the Canadian military during the Second World War. The film's French version title is Canada en guerre.
Inside Fighting Russia is a 1942 22-minute Canadian short documentary film produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) for distribution by United Artists, as part of the wartime The World in Action series. The film documents Russia's fight against Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Inside Fighting Russia is produced by Stuart Legg, and narrated by Lorne Greene. The film's French version title is La Russie sous les armes.
Letter from Aldershot is a nine-minute 1940 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film was directed by John Taylor and produced by Stuart Legg.
Letter from Camp Borden is a 17-minute 1941 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film was directed by Raymond Spottiswoode and produced by Stuart Legg. Letter from Camp Borden chronicles the experiences in 1941 of a number of soldiers training at the Canadian Army's Camp Borden during wartime.
Soldiers All is a 20-minute 1941 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film was produced by Stuart Legg. Soldiers All describes the experiences in 1941 of soldiers, airmen and sailors in Great Britain and Canada during wartime. The film's French version title is Frères d'armes.
The Gates of Italy is a 21-minute 1943 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada as part of both the wartime Canada Carries On and The World in Action series. The film was produced by Stuart Legg and Tom Daly. The Gates of Italy describes the last days of Benito Mussolini's rule over Italy in 1943 during the Second World War.
Trans-Canada Express is a 20-minute 1944 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the World War II Canada Carries On series. The film was produced by Sydney Newman and directed by Stanley Hawes. Trans-Canada Express documents the importance of the railroad in Canada, emphasizing the use of rail transport during World War II. The film's French version title is D'un océan à l'autre.
Back to Jobs is a nine-minute 1945 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the postwar Canada Carries On series. The film describes soldiers in the Second World War returning home and back to a civilian life. The French version title of Back to Jobs is Nos soldats reviennent .
The Voice of Action is a 16-minute 1942 Canadian documentary film, directed by James Beveridge and produced by Raymond Spottiswoode. The short film was made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The Voice of Action describes the importance of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in the Second World War. The French version title of The Voice of Action is Dynamisme des ondes.
The Children from Overseas is a 10-minute 1940 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of its Canada Carries On series.
The War for Men's Minds is a 21-minute 1943 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime The World in Action series. The film was produced by Stuart Legg. The film describes the impact of propaganda from the Axis powers in 1943, during the Second World War. The French version title is À la conquête de l'esprit humain.
Pincer on Axis Europe is a 20-minute 1943 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film describes the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942 during the Second World War.
Zero Hour is a 22-minute 1944 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of both the wartime Canada Carries On and The World in Action series. The film was produced by Stuart Legg. Zero Hour describes the Axis and Allied invasions that have taken place during the Second World War.
Air Cadets is a 15-minute 1944 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film describes the Air Cadet Movement in 1944 during the Second World War. Air Cadets was directed by Jane Marsh, who was also the writer and editor on the production. The film's French version title is Les Cadets de l'air.