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'.
Grierson (1973) is a documentary film directed by Roger Blais, released on September 13, 1973 with a runtime of 58m. It stars Michael Kane, John Grierson, Norman McLaren and Sydney Newman. Viewers rate it 7.3 out of 10 across 3 ratings.
Michael Kane
as Narrator (voice)
John Grierson
as Self (archive footage)
Norman McLaren
as Self (archive footage)
Sydney Newman
as Self
Basil Wright
as Self
Lorne Greene
as Self
Woodrow Wilson
as Self (archive footage)
Roberto Rossellini
as Self
Joseph McCarthy
as Self (archive footage)
Joris Ivens
as Self
Indira Gandhi
as Self
Margaret Grierson
as Self
Directed by Roger Blais, written by Donald Brittain, produced by Roger Blais.
Average viewer score of 7.3/10 from 3 ratings.
Born in Edinburgh, Jack Grierson grew into an activist on a Clydeside soapbox in his teens advocating improvements in the lives of the poverty stricken shipbuilders struggling to make ends meet in early 20th century Scotland. The Great War took him into the Royal Navy and thence to university where a degree in moral philosophy saw him move to Chicago. This was at a time when Capone and prohibition dominated the…
Reviewed on June 7, 2025
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The main cast of Grierson (1973) includes Michael Kane, John Grierson, Norman McLaren, Sydney Newman and Basil Wright. The film was directed by Roger Blais. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Grierson was released on September 13, 1973 and runs for 58m.
Grierson (1973) holds an average rating of 7.3 out of 10 from 3 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
