NFB Collection
War at Sea: The Black Pit
199548 min 4 secFilm: Documentary
Direction: Brian McKenna
Production: Arnie GelbartGene AllanMarie NatansonDon RichardsonMark StarowiczKenneth HirschDon HaigD'Arcy O'ConnorTerence McKenna
Script: Terence McKennaBrian McKenna
Co-produced by Galafilm Inc and the NFB in association with the CBC, with the participation of Telefilm Canada and the Gouvernement du Québec and with the assistance of the Cable Production Fund.
Using a dynamic mix of archival footage, interviews with veterans, and dramatization, War at Sea documents the role of the Royal Canadian Navy and Merchant Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic. Part II: The Black Pit highlights the story of slow convoy SC 107 and recalls the infamous area in the middle of the Atlantic where air cover was not provided for convoy protection. As slow convoy SC 107 entered the "Black Pit," her ships became sitting ducks for the pack of U-boats which converged on it. The terrible sacrifice of Canadian sailors and ships illustrated behind-the-scenes allegations of negligence and incompetence which swirled around top naval staff. A secret government memo prophesied: "Someday this story will be out." By mid-war, the Canadian Navy was providing more than half the convoy escort service across the Atlantic. Though hampered by overstretched resources, lack of training, and primitive equipment, courageous Canadian seamen held the line during the battle's dark winter months and played a crucial role in the victories to come.
Subject categories
- History - Canada - 1920-1945 > Canadian Military ForcesWorld War II Military Operations
- Transportation > Military Ships
- War, Conflict and Peace > World War II
Credits
- director
- Brian McKenna
- producer
- Arnie Gelbart
- Gene Allan
- Marie Natanson
- Don Richardson
- Mark Starowicz
- Kenneth Hirsch
- executive producer
- Don Haig
- associate producer
- D'Arcy O'Connor
- Terence McKenna
- script
- Terence McKenna
- Brian McKenna
- cinematography
- Zoe Dirse
- sound
- Philippe Scultéty
- Hans Oomes
- Jacques Drouin
- editing
- Markham Cook
- sound editing
- Martin Pinsonnault
- Lucie Fortier
- Wojtek Klis
- re-recording
- Serge Boivin
- Jean Paul Vialard
- narrator
- Terence McKenna
- cast
- Carl Marotte
- Mathew MacKay
- Danette Mackay
- Ashley Billard
- Frank Schorpion
- Alain Goulem
- Martin Neufeld
- Martin Watier
- Paul Hopkins
- Derwin Jordan
- Charles Powell