It is the actual period footage that makes this short history of aviation in Canada special. Most of the film shows us the actual planes, and sometimes footage from those planes, interspersed with a few modern anecdotes from pilots who had flown in the early days. Double Heritage is part 2 of a three part National Film Board (of Canada) series called collectively Salute to Flight.
The film begins and ends with dramatic cockpit footage from World War II, then goes back to early aerial survey flights of the Canadian wilderness in the 1920's. The focus is on flying in the northern part of the country in often harsh conditions. We also see the departure of the Byrd expedition to the North Pole in 1926 and footage implying cooperation with the USSR to survey that pole in the 1930's.
Although the film was made in 1959, it ends with the development of the industry during the Second World War. It is a good choice as the going further would have seemed anti-climatic after viewing bombing raids from the cockpit. The history lesson does continue in the third film The Golden Age (1959).
This doc will appeal if you are a fan of history or a fan of aircraft. It succeeds because it sits back and gives you the footage to see for yourself.
The film begins and ends with dramatic cockpit footage from World War II, then goes back to early aerial survey flights of the Canadian wilderness in the 1920's. The focus is on flying in the northern part of the country in often harsh conditions. We also see the departure of the Byrd expedition to the North Pole in 1926 and footage implying cooperation with the USSR to survey that pole in the 1930's.
Although the film was made in 1959, it ends with the development of the industry during the Second World War. It is a good choice as the going further would have seemed anti-climatic after viewing bombing raids from the cockpit. The history lesson does continue in the third film The Golden Age (1959).
This doc will appeal if you are a fan of history or a fan of aircraft. It succeeds because it sits back and gives you the footage to see for yourself.