| The War Is Over | |
|---|---|
 Title frame | |
| Narrated by | Lorne Greene |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | National Film Board of Canada |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
The War Is Over is a 1945 five-minute Canadian short newsreel produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). [1] The War Is Over documents the end of the Second World War. The French version of the film is titled La guerre est finie. [2]
On August 14, 1945, the United Nations at war with the Axis powers celebrated VJ Day, the day on which Japan surrendered in the Second World War. While Canadians celebrated in the streets, troops ships begin bringing back Canadian military forces, ready to come back to a peaceful and prosperous Canada.
Great mobilization of the Canadian domestic workforce in mining, agriculture and industrial sectors had led to a significant war effort. Building on its industrial prowess, and harnessing the nation's rich natural resources, Canada was about to embark on a new, brighter future of unlimited horizons.
The War Is Over was part of the NFB's series of short newsreel films that dealt with war news as well as contemporary issues in Canada. [3] The film used the format of a compilation documentary film edited to provide a coherent story, that relied heavily on newsreel material in order to provide the background to the dialogue. [4] Principal photography took place in less than 72 hours. [5]
The deep baritone voice of stage actor Lorne Greene was featured in the narration of The War Is Over. 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, he was known as "The Voice of Doom". [8]
The War Is Over was primarily a newsreel intended for theatrical showings and was shown on "all the screens of the country on the eve of the day of the armistice with Japan". [Note 1] [5]
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.
Wings of a Continent is a 1941 Canadian short documentary film, part of the wartime Canada Carries On series of short films by the National Film Board of Canada, produced for the Office of Public Information. The film was directed by Raymond Spottiswoode—father of filmmaker Roger Spottiswoode—written and produced by Stuart Legg and narrated by Lorne Greene.
Atlantic Patrol is a 1940 Canadian short documentary film, part of the Canada Carries On series of short films by the National Film Board of Canada, produced for the Office of Public Information.
Pincers on Japan(Piège à Nippon)is a 19-minute 1943 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). The film was directed by James Beveridge, who also produced and directed a similar NFB documentary, Look to the North (1944). Its companion film, Road to Tokyo, was produced in 1942.
Look to the North is a 22-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 was produced and directed by James Beveridge. The title of the film's French version is Vers le Nord.
Guards of the North is a 10-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 Raymond Spottiswoode, documented the defences of Iceland during the Second World War. The film's French version title is Avant-garde du Nord.
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.
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, written and 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 is titled Canada en guerre.
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.
The Battle for Oil is a 19-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 was produced by Raymond Spottiswoode and directed and edited by Stuart Legg.The Battle for Oil describes the strategic value of oil in modern warfare. The film's French version title was La Bataille du pétrole.
Break-through is an 11-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 documents the attack on Fortress Europe during the Second World War and the advance of Allied forces to the borders of Nazi Germany. Break-through was produced by James Beveridge. The film's French version title is L'assaut.
Heroes of the Atlantic is a 1941 15-minute Canadian short documentary film, part of the Canada Carries On series of wartime films by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), produced for the Office of Public Information. The film documented the work of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Merchant Marine during the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War. Heroes of the Atlantic was directed by J.D. Davidson and produced by Stanley Hawes.
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.
Food - Weapon of Conquest is a 22-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 written, directed and produced by Stuart Legg. Food - Weapon of Conquest shows the food shortage in Nazi-occupied countries in the Second World War, contrasted with the Allied response to the global food crisis. The film's French version title is Une armée marche sur son estomac.
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.
Gateway to Asia is a 10-minute 1945 Canadian documentary film, directed and produced by Tom Daly for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film documents the importance of British Columbia during the Second World War as a "gateway" to Asia and the Pacific. The French version of Gateway to Asia is Au seuil du Pacifique.
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.