| 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 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—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.
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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 film's French version title is Vers le Nord.
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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.
U.N.R.R.A. presents In the Wake of the Armies ... is a 13-minute 1944 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film, directed by Guy Glover, described the work of the UNRRA during the Second World War and Canada's role in the relief agency. The film's French version title is À la suite de nos armées viendra l'entraide.
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 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.
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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.
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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.
Headline Hunters is an 11-minute 1945 Canadian documentary film, part of the wartime Canada Carries On series, produced by Alan Field. The short film was made by the National Film Board of Canada. The film was a tribute to Canadian war correspondents who reported from the front lines in the Second World War.
Road to the Reich is a 10-minute 1945 Canadian documentary film, directed and produced by Tom Daly for the National Film Board of Canada as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film documents the Allied forces advances, after the Normandy landings, through France and Belgium during the Second World War. The French version of Road to the Reich is Aux portes du Reich.
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.
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