Quebec, Path of Conquest (1942)

Interesting facts

Quebec – Path of Conquest is an 11-minute 1942 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada as part of the wartime Canada Carries On series. The film was directed by Radford Crawley and produced by Raymond Spottiswoode. Quebec – Path of Conquest describes the importance of the province of Quebec to Canada and the Allied war effort during the Second World War. The film's French version title is Québec, tremplin stratégique.

Production

Quebec – Path of Conquest was the part of the wartime Canada Carries On propaganda short film series, produced with financial backing from the Wartime Information Board for the Director of Public Information, Herbert Lash. Like Un du 22e, the first NFB film produced by the French-language division about the Royal 22e Régiment, Quebec – Path of Conquest was aimed specifically at encouraging young French-Canadian men to support the war and enlist.

The images of a mythic Quebec, complete with homespun community events was used to create the impression of a populace united in facing a common enemy, a complete departure from the actual resistance to the war that was occurring among the Québécois.

The deep baritone voice of stage actor Lorne Greene was featured in the uncredited narration of Quebec – Path of Conquest. Greene's participation as a narrator was particularly useful in a propaganda film, as he was well known for his work on both radio broadcasts as a news announcer at CBC. In narrating many of the Canada Carries On series, his sonorous recitation led to nickname, "The Voice of Canada", and the "Voice-of-God".

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