Canada Vignettes (NFB short series)
Canada Vignettes is a series of memorable shorts produced by the National Film Board of Canada. About 40 are available on their website/YouTube account/or app (free).
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- DirectorJudith PottertonRosemarie ShapleyThis film profiles a physiotherapist and follows her work with a patient.
- DirectorJudith PottertonRosemarie ShapleyStarsSelma Bryant-FournierA fashion designer's life is profiled and she is seen at work.
- DirectorJudith PottertonRosemarie ShapleyProfiling a Quebec veterinarian and his trip to a farm, to worm one of the owners colts.
- DirectorColette BlanchardStarsJohn BoylanExploring the quadrille, a traditional dance of Acadia.
- DirectorJudith PottertonRosemarie ShapleyStarsMichael KaneA recently emigrated Russian ballet master, who opened a ballet school to teach young Canadians classical and folk dancing is profiled.
- DirectorRick ButlerProfiling the Dominion Carillonneur, Gordon Slater and the Canadian Brass.
- DirectorMarv NewlandStarsJoe AustinThe story of Bill Miner and the bungled train robbery that got him caught.
- DirectorBarry HelmerThe story of Captain James Cook's discovery of the west coast of Canada and the beginning of the sea otter trade.
- DirectorKris PatersonSchool crossing guards are seen at work and we listen to comments about their work.
- DirectorJudith PottertonRosemarie ShapleyStarsMichael KaneA Japanese-Canadian dentist talks about his life while he works on a patient.
- DirectorYurij LuhovyStarsYuri KelebayA film about Ukrainian easter eggs, their religious and cultural significance and how they are made.
- DirectorPaul BochnerVarious human faces shift from one to another.
- DirectorTina HorneStarsDavid BairstowMichael KaneThe story behind the Canadian city of Flin Flon's unusual name.
- DirectorBrad CaslorStarsLen CariouCliff GardnerBrian RichardsonA humourous short lived history of an English fort.
- DirectorKenneth McCreadyStarsRichard GilbertThe story of the early days of mining in Cobalt, Ontario, Canada.
- DirectorJoseph MacDonaldStarsLorna BrownIn a Canadian pioneer home, the process of turning flax to linen is explained and demonstrated.
- DirectorRonald BlumerStarsMichael KaneAllan LairdAllan Laird teaches people how to become ham radio operators.
- DirectorBlake JamesA painter recalls the farm work she did as a child during summer holidays.
- DirectorRon WebberStarsJohn HoweA history of the beaver in Canada and it's importance as a symbol and icon to both natives and white settlers.
- DirectorMichael MillsStarsVlasta VranaThe story of the impact that the introduction of the horse had on the North American West.
- DirectorEva SzaszStarsWalter MasseyThrough original artwork, a humorous Irish folktale is told using cartoon characters.
- DirectorChristopher HintonStarsLen CariouA humorous account of the pioneering journey of Lady Frances Simpson, along with her piano, from England to Manitoba.
- DirectorGeorge GeertsenAn illustration of the predominate anthroplogical theory of how humans came to the Americas.
- DirectorRon WebberStarsHoward RyshpanA look at the importance of the red maple leaf in Canadian history, society and culture.
- DirectorAl SensThe history of the development of modern logging techniques.
- DirectorPaul BochnerA series of related images modeled after the maple leaf symbol on the Canadian national flag.
- DirectorSandra DudleyA chorus group of miners sing about the history of coal mining on Cape Breton Island.
- DirectorGeorge GeertsenStarsMichael KaneA examination of the Viking explorers who were the first Europeans to discover Canada.
- DirectorYossi AbolafiaStarsEarl PenningtonKelly RicardHoward RyshpanA profile of late 19th century Canada presented as a TV newscast.
- DirectorRobert HachéSmelt fishers are profiled, in the fishing village, Maisonnette in New Brunswick.
- StarsMargaret LaurenceProfiling highly esteemed Canadian novelist and short story writer, Margaret Laurence.
- DirectorEva SzaszStarsGail GarfinkleA traditional folk tale about a man's venture to introduce onions to a far away kingdom and a disreputable man's attempt to exploit that.
- DirectorNorma BaileyStarsRoger DoucetBefore a hockey game in the Montreal Forum, Tenor Roger Doucet performs the Canadian national anthem (O' Canada).
- DirectorJudith PottertonRosemarie ShapleyStarsMichael KaneReuben ShulmanTwo children's portrait photographers are profiled and seen at work.
- DirectorRobert DoucetThe story of the first difficult winter of Samuel Champlain's colony in Canada.
- DirectorJanice BrownStarsJohn BoylanA cinematic portrait of a preserved landlord residence of Louis Joseph Papineau.
- StarsKatharine Kreiner-PhillipsThe training of Kathy Kreiner, the skier who won the only gold medal gained by Canada in the 1976 Winter Olympics.
- A Canadian prairie farm family has a tough beginning on their new farm.
- DirectorBrad CaslorStarsLen CariouCliff GardnerBrian RichardsonThe humourous history of the short lived tiny Republic of Manitobah.
- DirectorLois SiegelA family of 12 work in the movie stunt business.
- DirectorBlake JamesA farmer tells the story of his farm's struggle for survival during the drought of the 1930's.
- DirectorCarlos MarchioriThe development of Canada's largest city from its founding in the early 19th century to the 1970's.
- StarsMichael KaneAn illustration of a typical 18th-19th fur trade post where Native Americans traded furs and received only a fraction of their true value.
- DirectorRobert DoucetStarsRod ConeybeareMichael KaneAs we see a maple tree go through the cycle of the seasons, a narrator notes of various opinions about trees.
- DirectorRonald BlumerStarsMichael KaneHugh RitchieAn ex-Spitfire pilot gives an art class to veterans and youngsters.
- DirectorJudith PottertonRosemarie ShapleyStarsMichael KaneJules Saint-MichelKatherine TrowellHungarian violin maker, Jules Saint-Michel is shown at work and explains the process of crafting a violin.
- StarsMichael KaneA cinematic portrait of the fur trading teams that transported materials throughout much of the interior of 18th-19th century Canada.
- DirectorMichèle PauzéTwo symbolic characters sway to the popular French-language song, Alouette.
- DirectorJack LongA cinematic portrait of the Canadian artist.
- DirectorJoseph MacDonaldRita RoyStarsStephen BloomerA traditional blacksmith is seen at work shoeing a horse..
- DirectorRichard ToddStarsMichael KaneA short history of Canada's greatest sailing ship.
- DirectorRichard ToddStarsMichael KaneThe story of the construction of a latter day copy of the great Canadian sailing ship.
- DirectorTony IanzeloStarsRichard GilbertProfiling Cree hunters of northern Quebec, Canada.
- DirectorLise-Hélène LarinAn animated celebration of the human need to dance in all its forms.
- DirectorRaymond GauthierStarsJohn BoylanThree men walking in the frozen woods at night experience a strange and wonderous happening.
- DirectorHubert NeaultNicole RobertAn animated/live-action short showing the emotions that one has while hang gliding with a Delta Plane.
- DirectorMartin DefalcoStarsCharlie ChamberlainA cinematic portrait of the traditional Canadian musician and his lead musician, Charlie Chamberlain
- DirectorMartin DefalcoStarsCharlie ChamberlainOne of six in the series of Don Messer vignettes. Featured in this installment is Charlie Chamberlain, a key performer of the band.
- DirectorMartin DefalcoStarsCharlie ChamberlainMarg OsburneOne of six of the Don Messer Canada vignettes series. Featuring principal performers Marg Osburne and Charlie Chamberlain.
- DirectorMartin DefalcoStarsDon MesserOne of six of the Don Messer Canada vignettes series. Featuring one of the key performers, Don Messer.
- DirectorMartin DefalcoStarsCharlie ChamberlainDon MesserMarg OsburneSinger Marg Osburne sings with Don Messer's band.
- DirectorMartin DefalcoStarsMarg OsburneAnother performance of Marg Osburne with Don Messer's band is featured.
- DirectorRobert BélisleJean-François PouliotAn egg desperately tries to prevent being hatched.
- DirectorRichard ToddStarsErik DavidsonA cinematic portrait of a blind auto mechanic.
- DirectorRudi WrenchA veteran World War I fighter pilot's story is told as he takes his weekly spin on a biplane in his retirement.
- Three traditional Native American headdresses are displayed to traditional tribal music
- DirectorJennifer HodgeThrough the eyes of her first-generation Canadian son, Mrs. Helen Law, a Chinese immigrant to Canada is profiled.
- StarsVlasta VranaA Native American religious concept illustrated on a smoking pipe is described as the carving is displayed.
- DirectorAndré LeducStarsRod CharleboisA parody ad for the perfect device for someone who has trouble learning the French language.
- A traditional Inuit pipe and its carvings are examined.
- DirectorJohn WeldonStarsAnna McGarrigleKate McGarrigleA short illustrating a traditional Canadian folk song about a woman's admiration for the agility for her boyfriend, the log driver.
- DirectorBen LowIan RankinThis short fiction film tells the love story between a young anglophone and a young francophone who unite their destinies in roller skates.
- DirectorSuzanne OlivierStarsElizabeth LesieurExplores 1905-1910 in Montreal, Quebec with vintage hand-painted postcards.
- DirectorWilliam PettigrewStarsDiana MagorEarl PenningtonWe follow a Canadian marine biologist who works on a project studying the Amazonian Manatee.
- DirectorTina HorneStarsDon ArioliRobert A. DuncanThe story of the creation of the popular breed of apple.
- DirectorPhil ComeauExploring the life of the Acadian people that live in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada.
- StarsVlasta VranaThe decorative pattern style of a traditional Metis coat is explored.
- A pair of traditional Native-American moccasins and its decoration are displayed.
- DirectorMalca GillsonMusicians of different varieties are seen performing.
- DirectorJoseph MacDonaldRita RoyStarsStephen BloomerJ. Léo GagnonÉric GaudryThe milling/gristing of wheat into flour is shown at a pioneer grist mill. Later in a pioneer kitchen, a woman is seen baking homemade bread with the flour.
- The life of a lion in a Canadian zoo is described.
- DirectorRichard ToddTwo Polish friends discuss the Polish influence that it's had on Canadian culture and the influence Canadian culture has had on the Polish culture, while having a meal together.
- DirectorJack LongStarsStan PetersA Native American community hold a ceremony to raise a totem pole.
- DirectorRoger HartThe lives of the Inuit community of Northern Labrador are profiled.
- StarsVlasta VranaAn ancient Native American wood carving that seems to resemble a European priest is examined.
- DirectorAlanis ObomsawinWild rice, an important food source, is frequently harvested by many Anishinaabe people. Sometimes traveling as far as 100 kilometers away, Anishinaabe people are seen in this installment harvesting grain in the area around Kenora, Ontario, Canada.
- DirectorGerald PottertonStarsDorian BoyleAndrea HerschlerJoel ThingvallA man gets ready to face the Canadian winter, putting on many layers of clothing. But, runs into trouble when opening the door to leave.
- DirectorGerald PottertonStarsDorian BoyleAndrea HerschlerJoel ThingvallA man has trouble starting up his car on a cold winter day in Canada.
- DirectorJoseph MacDonaldRita RoyStarsLorna BrownShowing the process of how the pioneers would spin sheep's wool in skeins to use for knitting their clothing.
- DirectorBill MayloneStarsStan PetersThe theorized nature of the North American Wolly Mammoth is shown while one such animal has a close call with some thin ice.
- DirectorBlake JamesStarsDonald BrittainA film about the life and career of Canada's greatest bush pilot and his greatest adventure.
- DirectorMargaret WescottProfiling Canada's first woman Member of Parliament, Agnes Campbell MacPhail.
- DirectorRon WebberStarsDaisy de BellefeuilleWalter MasseyThrough newspaper headlines and archival photographs, the Toronto Daily Star's 1912 fly-swatting contest is shown in an amusing manner. Organized to raise awareness on the dangers flies have to public health.
- DirectorJoan HensonStarsJoe MacInnisVlasta VranaA team of divers assemble a big bubble in the Arctic Ocean.
- DirectorJoan HensonStarsVlasta VranaA NFB Canada Vignettes entry about the depths of the Arctic Ocean.
- Exploring a historical house in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is the former residence of former Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald.
- Exploring a historical house in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. It is the birthplace of famous Canadian physician, Dr. Henry Norman Bethune.
- StarsElizabeth Leigh-MilneThe birthing experience on the prairies in the early pioneer days is shown in this installment, taken from the film Great Grand Mother (1975).
- DirectorTony IanzeloThe Ropeleski family are profiled. Inheriting the bakery shop from their father, three brothers are seen running the business and dealing with customers.
- DirectorJoan HensonKenneth McCreadyStarsVlasta VranaIn Northern Canada, the building process of a bridge for the Dempster Highway, built by the Canadian Armed Forces is profiled.