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The Gates of Italy
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Wikipedia article
'The Gates of Italy' is a 21-minute 1943 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada as part of both the wartime 'Canada Carries On' and 'The World in Action' series. The film was produced by Stuart Legg and Tom Daly.Lerner 1987, p. 75. 'The Gates of Italy' describes the last days of Benito Mussolini's rule over Italy in 1943 during the Second World War.Khouri 2007, pp. 132133.
Synopsis
In 1943, Allied forces are being assembled for an assault on Axis-held Italy. This military expedition marks the end of a troubled era for Italy during the 20th Century. Despite its origins as an early civilization and nearly 3,000 years of advances in arts and culture, Italians have faced an uncertain future.
During the turn-of-the-century, impoverished Italians left their homeland to settle in the United States and Canada, making their mark in many ways, including as scientists, artists and sports figures. In Italy, after the First World War, chaotic economies led to the rise of fascism. The emergence of Benito Mussolini as the new political and military dictator thrust Italy into a series of foreign entanglements, in an attempt to reinvigorate the nation.
After invasion and conquest of Ethiopia, Mussolini aligned with Adolf Hitler in a campaign of aggression in the Mediterranean and North Africa during the Second World War.
By 1943, Italian defeats in Africa with the resulting massive numbers of captured troops by Allied forces, have been characterized as the "African disease". Naval and aerial armadas massing for an attack on Italy, mean the end for Mussolini's deluded dreams of a new Italian empire.
Cast
* Benito Mussolini as Himself (archival footage)
* Bruno Mussolini as Himself (archival footage)
* Rachele Mussolini as Herself (archival footage)
* Pope Pius XII as Himself (archival footage)
* Victor Emmanuel III as Himself (archival footage)
* Adolf Hitler as Himself (archival footage)
* Joseph Goebbels as Himself (archival footage)
* Galeazzo Ciano as Himself (archival footage)
* General Pietro Badoglio as Himself (archival footage)
* Joe DiMaggio as Himself (archival footage)
* Tony Canzoneri as Himself (archival footage)
* Arturo Toscanini as Himself (archival footage)
* Joachim von Ribbentrop as Himself (archival footage)
* Governor General arl of Athlone as Himself (archival footage)
* Calvin Coolidge as Himself (archival footage)
Production
'The Gates of Italy' was the part of the wartime 'Canada Carries On' and 'The World in Action' propaganda short film series, produced with financial backing from the Wartime Information Board for the Director of Public Information, Herbert Lash.[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/37352863/ "Recognize leadership of Winnipeg women."]'The Winnipeg Tribune', April 18, 1941. Retrieved: March 14, 2016.Aitken 2013, p. 880.
Typical of the NFB's series of morale-boosting films, 'The Gates of Italy' used the format of a compilation documentary, relying heavily on newsreel material, including "enemy" footage, in order to provide the background to the dialogue..
The deep baritone voice of stage actor Lorne Greene was featured in the narration of 'The Gates of Italy'. Greene, known for his work on both radio broadcasts as a news announcer at 'CBC' as well as narrating many of the 'Canada Carries On' series.Bennett 2004, p. 254. His sonorous recitation led to his nickname, "The Voice of Canada", and to some observers, the "voice-of-God".Rist 2001, p. 84. When reading grim battle statistics or narrating a particularly serious topic, he was known as "The Voice of Doom".[https://tkmorin.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/bonanzas-canadian-lorne-greene/ "Bonanza's Canadian Lorne Greene."] 'Bite Size Canada'. Retrieved: March 12, 2016.
Reception
In early 1942, National Film Board of Canada head John Grierson through his Hollywood contacts, found a new outlet for documentaries, especially the recently launched war-themed 'The World in Action' series. After the success of selling 'Warclouds in the Pacific', the National Film Board of Canada was able to make a further arrangement with United Artists for additional titles to be distributed in the United States.Ellis and McLane 2005, p. 122.Cox, Kierwan. [http://cinemacanada.athabascau.ca/index.php/cinema/article/viewFile/1832/1888 "The Grierson Files."] 'Cinema Canada' Number 56, June/July 1979. Retrieved: March 14, 2016. With distribution in Canada and Great Britain, he now added the United States market.Ohayon, Albert. [http://blog.nfb.ca/blog/2009/09/30/propaganda-cinema-the-world-in-action/ "Propaganda Cinema at the NFB The World in Action."] 'National Film Board of Canada', September 30, 2009. Retrieved: March 14, 2016.
'The Gates of Italy' was produced in 35 mm for the theatrical market. Each film in both 'The World in Action' and 'Canada Carries On' series was shown over a six-month period as part of the shorts or newsreel segments in approximately 800 theatres across Canada. The National Film Board of Canada had an arrangement with Famous Players theatres to ensure that Canadians from coast-to-coast could see them, with further distribution by Columbia Pictures. After the six-month theatrical tour ended, individual films were made available on 16 mm to schools, libraries, churches and factories, extending the life of these films for another year or two. They were also made available to film libraries operated by university and provincial authorities. A total of 199 films were produced before the series was canceled in 1959.
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
* Aitken, Iann. 'The Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of the Documentary Film'. London: Routedge, 2013. .
* Bennett, Linda Greene. 'My Father's Voice: The Biography of Lorne Greene'. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse, Inc., 2004. .
* Ellis, Jack C. and Betsy A. McLane. 'New History of Documentary Film'. London: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005. .
* Khouri, Malek. 'Filming Politics: Communism and the Portrayal of the Working Class at the National Film Board of Canada, 1939-46.' Calgary, Alberta, Canada: University of Calgary Press, 2007. .
* Lerner, Loren. 'Canadian Film and Video: A Bibliography and Guide to the Literature'. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1997. .
* Rist, Peter. 'Guide to the Cinema(s) of Canada'. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001. .
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