I admit it! I. Am. Canadian.
This announcement is courtesy of our friend – and fellow Canuck – at Speakeasy.
Sorry to break it to you, but the Hollywood movies you love owe a lot to Canada. And so, with glowing hearts as warm as a bowl of piping hot poutine, we announce the O Canada Blogathon, to occur over the week of OCTOBER 4 – 9, 2014. This is your chance to celebrate (or even educate yourself and others) on just how much Canadians have shaped the cinema. Your co-hosts in this tour of cinematic Canada are:
Ruth of Silver Screenings 925screenings [at] gmail.com
Kristina of Speakeasy HQ.Kristina [at] gmail.com
You obviously don’t need to be Canadian to participate – just be a movie lover – because no matter where you come from, you know these people and films, even if you weren’t aware of their heritage. Let’s help you with some suggestions.
Just who are my fellow Canadians?
A lot of your favourite stars came from the Land of the Loonie, people like…
- Norma Shearer
- Mary Pickford
- Raymond Burr
- Rod Cameron
- Jack Carson
- Hume Cronyn
- Glenn Ford
- Yvonne de Carlo
- Marie Dressler
- Douglas Dumbrille
- Deanna Durbin
- Michael J. Fox
- Jonathan Frid
- Lorne Greene
- June Havoc
- Walter Huston
- John Ireland
- Ruby Keeler
- Margot Kidder
- Gene Lockhart
- Raymond Massey
- Leslie Nielsen
- Walter Pidgeon
- Christopher Plummer
- John Qualen
- Ann Rutherford
- Alexis Smith
- Jay Silverheels
- William Shatner
- Ned Sparks
- Donald Sutherland
- Fay Wray
…and many more you can click here to discover, or see a list of silent stars here: male, female. You could write a bio or choose a movie (or more than one) that features their talent. Note: if someone is doing a bio, you are still welcome to focus on a specific movie by that same person.
How about the many moviemakers and behind the scenes high achievers like…
- Douglas Shearer
- Mack Sennett
- Louis B. Mayer
- Jack Warner
- Sidney Olcott
- David Cronenberg
- Norman Jewison
- Arthur Hiller
- Atom Egoyan
…and more like the ones listed here.
A good ol’ New Brunswick boy.
Canadian films/productions, any movie with a story/topic relating to Canada, movies prominently set or even shot here are all fair game for this blogathon, including…
- I Confess
- Canadian Pacific
- River of no Return
- Canadians
- Niagara
- Hudson’s Bay
- The Devil’s Brigade
- The Immortal Battalion
- 49th Parallel
- Corvette K225 (and many other war movies involving Canadian military)
- Island in the Sky
- Rose Marie
- Face-Off
- A Bullet for Joey
- Black Christmas
- The Brood
- The Fly
- The Changeling
- The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
- Atlantic City
- Scanners
- Northwest Trail
- Zero Hour
- Saskatchewan
- Northwest Mounted Police (plus any of the myriad of Mountie movies)
…and that’s just for starters.
You may want to write about some aspect of Canada’s impact on the movies, or something unique to the Canadian movie fan’s experience (Elwy Yost, anyone?). If it has to do with Canada & movies, we’d love to have you join in.
Have a browse through these helpful pages to see more..
notable Canadians in Early Hollywood
films set in Canada
We Canadians are EVERYWHERE!
We ask that you remember these few rules:
- No duplicates please, so that we can cover as many eras and products of this vast land as possible.
- We encourage focusing on classics but certainly won’t exclude picks from the 80’s and 90’s, a great time for Canadian film.
- You don’t need to choose a specific date to post, just please do so starting on the 4th through the 9th.
Now put on your thinking toques and let us know what you wish to write about so we can add you to the list.
Once again, this event will unfold over the week of OCTOBER 4 – 9, 2014.
Here’s some text to paste into your post: This post is part of the O Canada Blogathon hosted by Ruth of Silver Screenings and Kristina of Speakeasy.
That’s right Edna, here are your banners. Now take off, eh! 😉
PARTICIPANTS:
Silver Screenings 
As a fellow Canuck and classic movie lover I look forward to this most excellent blogathon! Cheers, eh!
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Ha ha! Thanks! It should be terrific.
Are you interested in joining us, by any chance?
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Oh please put me down for 49th Parallel! Thank you! Great blogathon idea, too!
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Sounds great! You’re in. I’ve never seen this movie, so I’m looking forward to your review.
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Dibs on Shatner.
http://widescreenworld.blogspot.com
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Excellent! So glad you chose Mr. Shatner.
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You know I am in. Thanks for the invite!
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Oh, and I will take Fay Wray, please.
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Yay! Sounds great! Looking forward to this.
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Thanks! I’d normally choose some Mack Sennett films, but I adore Fay Wray too much…
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Great idea for a blog. Could I do something on John Qualen?
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Oh you bet! Yay! Glad you’re joining us. 🙂
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very cool idea, I’d like to take part. will let you know soon waht I’ll watch
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Woo hoo! Glad you’re joining us! Let us know what topic/movie you’d like to choose. This will be great!
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when I think of someone who represents canada from a movie, I always think of The Terry Fox Story. Last year, I was shocked while watching the Amazing race Canada that they had a task involving him, so if it’s ok, I’d like to review the HBO movie about his life from 1983.
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That would be so great! And very fitting. Can’t wait to read your thoughts on this film.
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Ruth – would it be wrong to do something about Dudley Do Right? I know he’s TV, but shucks… (and they did make that stupid movie). However, if it is not worthy I would like to do an entry about Norma Shearer: The Woman of The Women.
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Oh dear. I’m torn between both your choices!!! I have a particular soft spot for our man Dudley, and would be glad to see him in the blogathon.
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Oh, then Dudley iy is! Thanks for indulging me!
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Sounds fun! I had no idea all those people were from Canada. Looking forward to finding out more about Canadian movies and actors.
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I know! Amazing, isn’t it? This will be a very interesting blogathon. It’s time we promoted the Great White North.
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Kristina, Ruth, I’m all excited about the O Canada Blogathon, and thanks for including me in the fun for Two o’ Clock Courage! My Canadian hubby is most pleased! 😀
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Well well well. I didn’t realize your hubby was a Canadian! All the more reason you should participate. 🙂 And we’re so glad you’re joining us. It wouldn’t be the same without you!
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Hi, I’d love to do a post about Donald Sutherland for the Blogathon.
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Oh yes please!! Hooray! I’m so glad he’s getting an entry. He deserves it. Thank you!
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Last image of Canadian flag is awesome.
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Thanks! It was Kristina at Speakeasy who found all the images.
Are you interested in joining our blogathon, by any chance…?
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Aw, the feeling is mutual, my friends! You know my hubby Vinnie and I sometimes team up as Team Bartilucci, so we were wondering: would you gals mind if we did Two ‘O’Clock Courage AND Strange Brew together as a double-feature? If it’s already completly spoken for, no problem; just figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. in our blog posts Warmest wishes to you gals, as always, and looking for the Blogathon! 😀
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Dor, that is EXCELLENT! We’d love to have the addition of “Strange Brew”. It’s been years and years since I’ve seen that, and it would be good to revisit it again via your post. Great choice!
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Hooray! Kristina, Ruth, we of Team Bartilucci are thrilled that you’re joining forces for our double-feature of Two O’Clock Courage and STRANGE BREW for Tales of the Easily Distracted! Now we’re even more excited than ever for the O Canada Blogathon, as if we weren’t thrilled enough! 😀 Thanks a million, and warmest wishes to all you gals, as always 😀
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Hi! It was a difficult choice, but I decided I want to write about Marie Dressler 😀
Kisses!
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Yay Le! So happy you’re joining us…and with Marie Dressler, too! This will be great! 🙂
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Hi Ruth! Fantastic turnout and exciting entries so far. Shows how “out of it” I’ve been that I totally missed this announcement. Of course, I’d love to participate and, if available, I’d love to write about Glenn Ford in 3:10 TO YUMA. If not I’ll choose something else.
Thanks,
Aurora
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Aurora! That is my absolute favourite Glenn Ford performance. Whee! So glad you’re covering this film for the blogathon. And we’re thrilled to have you aboard.
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Looks like a lot of fun!
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We’re thrilled you could join us with the fabulous Leslie Nielsen. Yay!
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i would love to participate.. i will get back with you with my selection.
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Hooray! So glad you can join us. Just let us know which person/topic might strike your fancy.
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Dawn, so happy to see you here for the O Canada Blogathon! 😀
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How about I write about Mary Pickford’s Bio.
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Sounds great! Can’t wait! 🙂
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Hi! My name is Inge and my blog is Crème de la Crème (http://ingegregusch.blogspot.com/. I would love to do a piece on Alexis Smith, who was a very stylish and versatile Canadian born actress.
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Hi Inge! We’d be glad to have you join us! I was just visiting your blog, and it looks like a lot of fun. Alexis Smith is all yours, and I’m so glad you’ve chosen her as your topic. She is definitely an underrated actress.
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Thanks so much! I will do my best to do justice to your Blogathon and to Alexis Smith.
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Hi. Glad to have found this place. Cool idea for a Blogathon. Please put me down for American Mary, directed by the very Canadian Soska sisters.
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You’re on, Wendell! So glad you could join us. I know nothing about this movie and I’m really looking forward to your review. 🙂
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Hey just noticed you wanted older movies. American Mary was actually released in 2012. If you’d like I’ll find something older. Let me know.
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Oh no, a more recent release is just fine. Really.
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Cool. Thanks.
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May I write about Louis B. Mayer? I’ll be posting on margaretperry.org.
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Sounds wonderful, Margaret! Yay! So glad you’re able to join us with the esteemed Mr Mayer. I am out of town this weekend, but will update the list next Monday.
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Hope it is ok for me to post on October 9th? Only day suitable for me.
Thanks
Vienna
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Absolutely, Vienna! In a move that is VERY uncharacteristic for me, we aren’t asking people to choose certain days. But I’m glad to hear you’re planning on the 9th because I fear fewer people will be posting that day.
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Is it too late to sign up? I post at #TCMParty as @13millionplus and recently started a blog Voiceover (voiceovermovies.wordpress.com). I’ve never participated in a blogathon.
If it’s not too late, I’d like to do Mack Sennett and “Tillie’s Punctured Romance” and post it at Voiceover.
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Never too late! And we are thrilled to have you join us. Yay! I admire “Tillie’s Punctured Romance” – did not expect that ending!
Looking forward to your post. 🙂
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Great! Do I need to do anything once I post it, besides post a link from Twitter?
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Could you add one of the banners to your site? Also, when you do post your article, please link to this page on my site, or the equivalent page on Speakeasy (or both), just to let your readers know where to find more participants. A link from Twitter would be ultra fab.
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I regret that I will not be able to participate. I am Inge Gregusch of Crème de la Crème and my topic was Alexis Smith bio.
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Oh, I am sorry to hear that, but I completely understand. Life gets busy sometimes. I hope we can persuade you to join another blogathon in the future. 🙂
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Absolutely! I’ll be looking forward to it. Thanks for your understanding.
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My post is up…
http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-o-canada-blogathon-american-mary.html
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Excellent! We’ll add it to tonight’s Roundup. Yay!
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I’m going to do that haunting ghost story with George C Scott… The Changeling! You prolific Canadians you!!!!!
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Ooh, that sounds great! I know it’ll be a good one with The Last Drive-in Treatment.
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Ahh I love that you call it The Last Drive In treatment. It makes me feel special…! You’re a peach Ruth…
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