Helicopter Canada

Helicopter Canada
Film poster
Directed by	Eugene Boyko
Produced by	Tom Daly Walford Hewitson Peter Jones
Written by	Donald Brittain (dialogue) Derek May (dialogue)
Narrated by	Stanley Jackson
Music by	Malca Gillson
Cinematography	Eugene Boyko
Edited by	Rex Tasker
Production company	National Film Board of Canada
Distributed by	National Film Board
Release dates	1966 (1966)
Running time	50 minutes
Country	Canada
Language	English
Budget	$300,000

Helicopter Canada (aka Hélicoptère Canada) is a 1966 Canadian documentary film produced by the National Film Board of Canada and directed by Eugene Boyko. The film features aerial photography of all ten of Canada's provinces. Helicopter Canada, sponsored by the Canada's Centennial Commission, was produced for international distribution in both French and English language versions on the occasion of the Canadian centennial.

Synopsis

The short documentary offers a narrated tour from a helicopter of the Canadian provinces in 1966. The bird's-eye view showed both familiar and little-known aspects of the Canadian landscape. Among the featured film locations are: the Badlands, Alberta; Oak Island, Nova Scotia; Ottawa, Ontario; Montréal, Québec; Québec City Québec; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Thousand Islands, Saint Lawrence River, Ontario; Toronto, Ontario; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Cast

• Paul McCartney (cameo)
• Lester B. Pearson

Production

Filmed in Panavision, Helicopter Canada took 18 months to produce and required cinematographer Eugene Boyko to spend 540 hours aloft in a specially outfitted Alouette II helicopter.

Helicopter Canada was made for international distribution during the Canadian centennial. Columbia Pictures bought the rights for a 22-minute version that was distributed internationally, including the USSR, USA, China and Italy. Besides French, the film was translated into 12 languages.

Reception

Although now considered dated, Helicopter Canada, during its initial release, received positive reviews. Joan Fox wrote in The Globe and Mail, "If this film doesn’t stir your Canadian blood, nothing will."

Accolades

Helicopter Canada was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 39th Academy Awards.

The film also received two awards at the Canadian Film Awards: Best Film in the General Information category and a Special Prize "for providing a superbly appropriate and inspiring opportunity for Canadians to view their country in the Centennial Year."

References

Bibliography

• Wise, Wyndham. "Helicopter Canada." Take One's Essential Guide to Canadian Film. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8020-8398-2.

External links

• Helicopter Canada at IMDb
• Watch Helicopter Canada at NFB Web site