The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content Accessibility
New release
Coming 
None

Grierson

1973 57 min
Leaving soon

This feature film is a portrait of John Grierson, the first Canadian Government Film Commissioner and founder of the National Film Board in 1939. Interweaving archival footage, interviews with people who knew him and footage of Grierson himself, this film is a sensitive and informative portrait of a dynamic man of vision. Grierson believed that the filmmaker had a social responsibility, and that film could help a society realize democratic ideals. His absolute faith in the value of capturing the drama of everyday life was to influence generations of filmmakers all over the world. In fact, he coined the term …

We're sorry, this content is not available in your location.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.
Not available
Share
Grierson

Details

This feature film is a portrait of John Grierson, the first Canadian Government Film Commissioner and founder of the National Film Board in 1939. Interweaving archival footage, interviews with people who knew him and footage of Grierson himself, this film is a sensitive and informative portrait of a dynamic man of vision.

Grierson believed that the filmmaker had a social responsibility, and that film could help a society realize democratic ideals. His absolute faith in the value of capturing the drama of everyday life was to influence generations of filmmakers all over the world. In fact, he coined the term "documentary film."

Film and Video Arts All subjects
  • director
    Roger Blais
  • producer
    Roger Blais
  • executive producer
    David Bairstow
  • commentary
    Donald Brittain
  • photography
    Eugene Boyko
    Lewis McLeod
    Michel Thomas-d'Hoste
    Magi Torruella
    Jacques Fogel
  • animation camera
    Raymond Dumas
  • sound
    Bev Davidson
    Colin Charles
    Gildas LeSausse
    Ron Seltzer
    Hans Oomes
  • editing
    Les Halman
    John Kramer
    Annick de Bellefeuille
  • sound editing
    Bernard Bordeleau
    André Galbrand
  • re-recording
    Jean-Pierre Joutel
  • narrator
    Michael Kane
  • advisor
    James Beveridge

Enjoy the NFB experience on your favourite device

Roku Apple TV Fire TV Android TV Apple App Store Google Play Store

Education

Ages 16 to 17
School subjects
History and Citizenship Education - Culture and Currents of Thought (1500-present) Media Education - Documentary Film Media Education - Film and Video Production Technology Education - Society and Technology
Ask filmmaking students to discuss Grierson's view that reality must be shaped into a narrative in order to be comprehended. Have students practise short documentaries on the same subject, to compare how the message changes with the filmmaker. Ask students to examine the relationship between documentary and democracy, and why Canada was a fertile ground for documentary development. Have students debate Grierson's view that TV is a "domestic instrument of ease."
Grierson
Purchase options
Also available
DVD
Licence information
Already paid to see this film?
Licencing information

Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted. Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.) You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices. DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

Institutional licence

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.

Explore