Rosies of the North

Last updated
Rosies of the North
Rosies of the North poster.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed byKelly Saxberg
Written byBob Lower
Produced byJoe MacDonald
Narrated byMartine Friesen [Note 1]
CinematographyIan Elkin
Edited byKelly Saxberg
Music by Greg Lowe
Production
company
Distributed byNational Film Board of Canada
Release date
  • 1999 (1999)
Running time
46 minutes, 40 seconds
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Rosies of the North (French-language title: Riveuses du nord) is a 46-minute Canadian documentary film made in 1999 by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and directed by Kelly Saxberg. The film recounts the story of the women at the Canadian Car and Foundry in Fort William, Ontario, who built fighter and bomber aircraft needed for the war effort in the Second World War. [1] It also is the story of female engineer Elsie MacGill, who became known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes". [2] The title of the film is an allusion to the wartime iconic image of Rosie the Riveter. [3]

Contents

Synopsis

Engineer Elsie MacGill Elsie macgill.jpg
Engineer Elsie MacGill
Women took over 40% of the workforce at the Canadian Car and Foundry. Screen shot Rosies of the North.png
Women took over 40% of the workforce at the Canadian Car and Foundry.
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver with Margaret Cook, one of the "Rosies" on board. Screen shot Rosies.png
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver with Margaret Cook, one of the "Rosies" on board.

In 1939, Canada joined the worldwide war effort with factories turning out war machines. At the Canadian Car and Foundry (nicknamed "Can-Car") in Fort William, Ontario, a large workforce was recruited to build the Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft, including a preponderance of women. Many of them were young, and came from as far away as the Prairies.

Of the 7,000 workers at Can-Car, 3,000 were women on the shop floor; initially, they were not treated with respect. Men typically were the "lead-hands", more experienced workers who would train, at least at first, the new women trainees. It was soon evident that women reacted much more favourably to other women as their mentors and instructors.

For a while, the animosity between the men and women was palpable. One "old hand" who showed his dislike by refusing to let women sign out before him, ensured the first seats on the buses leaving the factory were then occupied by the men. They steadfastly refused to give up their seats, leaving the women "hanging on by the straps". The obstinate fellow came on board after women welded his lunchbox to a piece of steel.

Eventually, the factory assigned female "matrons" to look after the women, acting as nurses, nannies and "cops". The factory called them "intelligent, likeable, friendly women," while the women knew that the matrons were there to "keep them in line," and not "tempt the men". Women still made less than the men whom they had often trained, and married women were summarily dismissed, but some of them kept their marriages secret and worked anyway.

The one woman "boss" at the factory was Elsie MacGill, who was first in charge of the production of fighter aircraft, and heralded in the press as the "Queen of the Hurricanes". [4] By the time the production line shut down in 1943, Can-Car had produced over 1,400 Hurricanes. [5] Just as the factory was re-tooling for production of Curtiss SB2C Helldiver torpedo and dive bomber aircraft for the United States Navy, MacGill and the works manager, E. J. (Bill) Soulsby, were dismissed. It was later revealed they were having an affair (and subsequently married). [4]

The women on the shop floor continued on until the end of the war, when most of them relinquished their jobs as the men came home. At the refurbished Can-Car plant, now building rolling stock and buses, 60 years later, the women came back to the factory to remember when they "had the greatest experience of their lives". For the reunion, a highlight was the arrival of a restored Curtiss Helldiver which did a flypast with one of the original women factory workers, Margaret Cook (née Nixon) on board. [6] [Note 2]

Cast

(Interview subjects)

Production

Director Kelly Saxberg was able to access archival footage from the NFB wartime archives that showed not only the production effort of aviation companies, but also newsreels such as Night Shift (1942) and To The Ladies (1946) that dealt with the issues of women and men in the workforce. With the return of men from the war, women came under intense pressure to return to running households. [8] Rosies of the North also had the benefit of gathering first-hand interviews at a reunion of Can-Car workers that coincided with the "Thunder in the Air Air Show" held on August 29, 1998, at Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Reception

Rosies of the North quickly found favour with viewers and has been broadcast on at least eight networks in North America. [9] Librarian Joan Payzant, in her review for CM magazine, observed, "Highly recommended viewing, illustrating an important side of life in Canada during the Second World War." She also indicated that seniors "... will appreciate the nostalgia in the film." [10]

In a detailed analysis of Rosies of the North, Professor David Frank, noted: "The film treatment cuts back and forth between present and past as the women review the evidence of their experience and share personal observations. As such it seems very much an exercise in a visual form of oral history." He agreed that the film left it up to the viewer to decide whether the gains made in the industrial workplace were fleeting. One of the most poignant still photographs shown in the film is a postwar image, as the camera closes up on a sign that the formerly employed female workers hold up. It says: "We want work". [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter</i> 1980 film by Connie Field

The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter is a 1980 documentary film and the first movie made by Connie Field about the American women who went to work during World War II to do "men's jobs." In 1996, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss Falcon</span> American multirole aircraft

The Curtiss Falcon was a family of military biplane aircraft built by the American aircraft manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations O-1 and O-11, or as the attack aircraft designated the A-3 Falcon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elsie MacGill</span> First female aircraft designer

Elizabeth Muriel Gregory "Elsie" MacGill,, known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes", was the world's first woman to earn an aeronautical engineering degree and was the first woman in Canada to receive a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. She worked as an aeronautical engineer during the Second World War and did much to make Canada a powerhouse of aircraft construction during her years at Canadian Car and Foundry (CC&F) in Fort William, Ontario. After her work at CC&F, she ran a successful consulting business. Between 1967 and 1970, she was a commissioner on the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, which reported in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss SB2C Helldiver</span> Carrier-based dive bomber aircraft

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver is a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright during World War II. As a carrier-based bomber with the United States Navy (USN), in Pacific theaters, it supplemented and replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A few survivors are extant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosie the Riveter</span> Cultural icon of the US during World War II

Rosie the Riveter is an allegorical cultural icon in the United States who represents the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies. These women sometimes took entirely new jobs replacing the male workers who joined the military. Rosie the Riveter is used as a symbol of American feminism and women's economic advantage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park</span> National Historical Park of the United States

Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park is a United States national historical park located in Richmond, California, near San Francisco. The park preserves and interprets the legacy of the United States home front during World War II, including the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards, the Victory ship SS Red Oak Victory, a tank factory, housing developments and other facilities built to support America's entry into World War II. In particular, the role of women and African-Americans in war industries is explored and honored.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Car and Foundry</span> Transportation vehicle manufacturer in Canada, 1909-1980s

Canadian Car and Foundry (CC&F), also variously known as "Canadian Car & Foundry" or more familiarly as "Can Car", was a manufacturer of buses, railway rolling stock, forestry equipment, and later aircraft for the Canadian market. CC&F history goes back to 1897, but the main company was established in 1909 from an amalgamation of several companies and later became part of Hawker Siddeley Canada through the purchase by A.V. Roe Canada in 1957. Today the remaining factories are part of Alstom after its acquisition of Bombardier Transportation completed in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yanks Air Museum</span> Aviation museum in Chino, California

The Yanks Air Museum is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and museum dedicated to exhibiting, preserving and restoring American aircraft and artifacts in order to show the evolution of American aviation, located at Chino Airport in Chino, California.

The Royal Commission on the Status of Women was a Canadian Royal Commission that examined the status of women and recommended steps that might be taken by the federal government to ensure equal opportunities with men and women in all aspects of Canadian society. The Commission commenced on 16 February 1967 as an initiative of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Public sessions were conducted the following year to accept public comment for the Commission to consider as it formulated its recommendations. Florence Bird was the Commission's chair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veronica Foster</span> Canadian cultural icon during the Second World War

Veronica Foster, popularly known as "Ronnie, the Bren Gun Girl", was a Canadian icon representing nearly one million Canadian women who worked in the manufacturing plants that produced munitions, weapons, and equipment during the Second World War.

<i>The Romance of Rosy Ridge</i> 1947 film by Roy Rowland

The Romance of Rosy Ridge is a 1947 American Western film directed by Roy Rowland, about a rural community bitterly divided during the aftermath of the American Civil War. It stars Van Johnson, Thomas Mitchell, and Janet Leigh in her film debut. It was adapted from the novel of the same name by MacKinlay Kantor.

<i>Wings on Her Shoulder</i> 1943 Canadian film

Wings on Her Shoulder is a 10-minute 1943 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the NFB's The World in Action series. The film, directed by Jane Marsh, depicts the role of the Woman's Division in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War, who freed up men for flying duties.

<i>The Home Front</i> (1940 film) 1940 Canadian film

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.

<i>Women Are Warriors</i> 1942 Canadian film

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.

<i>The Battle of Brains</i> 1941 Canadian film

The Battle of Brains is a 13-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, directed by Stanley Hawes and produced by Stuart Legg, contrasted modern warfare with the First World War. The film's French version title is Sur le front scientifique.

<i>Proudly She Marches</i> 1943 Canadian film

Proudly She Marches is an 18-minute 1943 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 Raymond Spottiswoode, described the work of Canadian women in uniform during the Second World War. The film's French version title is Carrières de femmes.

<i>Inside Fighting Canada</i> 1942 Canadian film

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.

<i>The Front of Steel</i> 1940 Canadian film

The Front of Steel is an 11-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, directed by John McDougall and produced by Stuart Legg, is an account of the value of steel in war production in Canada during the Second World War.

<i>Bombing the Nazis</i> 1943 Canadian film

Bombing the Nazis is a 10-minute 1943 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the World War II newsreels shown at theatres in Canada and abroad. The film describes the Allied air war over Europe during the Second World War, concentrating on attacks in 1942 and 1943 on an automobile factory in Vichy France.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ The deep baritone voice of stage actor Lorne Greene was featured in the narration of Churchill's Island excerpts.
  2. ↑ Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver (83589) from the Commemorative Air Force (West Texas Wing) in Graham, Texas was a late-production Helldiver, built in 1945. [7]

Citations

  1. ↑ Wilson, Jeffrey and Chris McGillvray."Canada Remembers Women on The Home Front." Veterans.gc.ca, February 27, 2014. Retrieved: October 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ Bourgeois-Doyle 2008, p. 157.
  3. ↑ Marcano, Tony. ""Famed Riveter In War Effort, Rose Monroe Dies at 77". The New York Times , June 2, 1997.
  4. 1 2 Wakewich 2006, p. 397.
  5. ↑ Hatch 2006, p. 148.
  6. ↑ Saxberg, Kelly, Director. "Rosies of the North." Documentary National Film Board of Canada, 1999 via IMDb. Retrieved: October 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ "FAA Registry: N92879." FAA.gov Retrieved: October 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ "To the Ladies" National Film Board. Retrieved: October 3, 2014.
  9. ↑ Saxber, Kelly. "Rosies of the North." shebafilms2. Retrieved: October 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ Payzant, Joan. "Rosies of the North". University of Manitoba (originally published in CM, Volume VI, Number 17, April 28, 2000). Retrieved: October 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ Frank, David. "Short Takes: The Canadian Worker on Film." Journal of Canadian Labour Studies, Volume 46, Fall 2000.

Bibliography

  • Bourgeois-Doyle, Richard I. Her Daughter the Engineer: The Life of Elsie Gregory MacGill. Ottawa: NRC Research Press, 2008. ISBN   978-0-660-19813-2.
  • Wakewich, Patricia. " 'Queen of the Hurricanes': Elsie Gregory MacGill, aeronautical engineer and women's advocate." in Cook, Sharon Anne, Lorna R. McLean and Kate O'Rourke, eds. Framing Our Past: Canadian Women's History in the Twentieth Century. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2006, First edition 2001. ISBN   978-0-7735-3159-8.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.