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The Most Picturesque Spot in North America

Accession number: 
1918.0004
Production Years: 
1918
Film Properties: 
Length (feet): 
350 (28mm); 491 (35mm)
Length (minutes): 
7
Holding Institutions: 

Library and Archives Canada: 28mm, 35mm, VHS, Digibeta.
"This film shows many of the natural sights around Banff, Alberta. The film begins with a man picking a flower with the impressive scenery of Bow Lake and Glacier rising up behind him. Connected to these are Bow River, and Crowfoot, one of the many glaciers in the Bow River valley. A series of shots shows off the scenery of the lakes, mountains and trees. Also found in this area is Chateau Lake Louise, shown in a long pan. The viewer is shown a couple enjoying the view and food in the Chateau's dining room, and later looking at the scenery through a telelscope. A woman plays "He loves me - not" with a daisy, and then the film shows many "glimpses" of life on and about Lake Louise, including rowing, hiking and riding in the mountains, and many impressive vistas from a high altitude. The efforts made by the Canadian government to lure immigrants to Canada were made more successful through the use of film to present the vast and picturesque areas of Canada. This film shows the natural sights around Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta. A couple enjoying the view and food from Chateau Lake Louise are pictured along with a glimpse of life in the mountains. This film is from the "Seeing Canada" series, which was produced by Bernard E. Norrish beginning in February 1919. "Seeing Canada" was the first major series of films about Canada. The films were successful in showcasing Canada to an international audience and were critically acclaimed for their technical quality.
Reference
Morris, Peter. Embattled Shadows: A History of Canadian Cinema, 1895-1939. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1978, p. 134.