NFB Collection
The Battle of Vimy Ridge - Part 1: Setting the Stage
199722 min 53 secFilm: Documentary
Direction: John Bradshaw
Production: Don HaigRichard NielsenDeanne JudsonDoug Steeden
Script: Richard NielsenJames Wallen
Co-produced by Norflicks Productions Limited and the NFB, in association with Western International Communications Ltd. through Calgary Television, and with the assistance of the No Price Too High Foundation.
The first part of The Battle of Vimy Ridge series traces the nation's wartime experience from the 1914 outbreak of World War I, through the grim reality of the Somme, to Canada's being assigned the daunting mission of capturing Vimy Ridge. While Canadians were initially eager to do their part to win the war, three years of fruitless combat had resulted in a staggering number of casualties for a country as small as Canada. Vimy Ridge in the north of France was one of the German's strongest positions, and its capture was vital to the Allies' campaign. As the Canadian troops moved into the trenches facing Vimy, the Germans greeted them with mocking sign that read: "Welcome Canadians". Both sides knew another bloody assault was about to begin. Part 1 of the four-volume The Battle of Vimy Ridge series.
Availability
Subject categories
- Foreign Countries > FranceHistorical Perspectives
- War, Conflict and Peace > Memoirs and MemorialsWorld War I
- History - Canada - 1867-1919 > World War I
- History and Citizenship Education > Canadian Federation (1850-1929)
- History > World War I
Credits
- director
- John Bradshaw
- producer
- Don Haig
- Richard Nielsen
- Deanne Judson
- executive producer
- Don Haig
- Doug Steeden
- Richard Nielsen
- script
- Richard Nielsen
- James Wallen
- camera
- Adam Swica
- editing
- Marta Nielsen-Hastings
- Gina Binetti
- sound editing
- Alison Clark
- Elma Bello
- re-recording
- Dino Pigat
- Lou Solakofski
- narrator
- Paul Gross
- music
- Aaron Davis
- John Lang