The Canadian

Producer: Alva Morrison

Timeframe: 1960s

Locations: Montreal to Vancouver

Length: 47 minutes

Source: 2007 Remaster

Alva Morrison originally produced this film, with Sunday River Productions. Remastered and a re- edit by JMJ in 2007.

The Canadian, is a Transcontinental passenger train on Canadian Pacific. This is the original incarnation. Vancouver to Montreal. Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lake Superior, Banff and Schreiber. Not the later Yellowhead version.

Begins out West. On the waterfront,at Vancouver. A return from Montreal follows. That picks up Lake Superior.

Traversing the best scenery of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Kicking Horse Pass, with it’s tunnel and grades. Scenic canyons and rivers. Quite a trip!

Similar to a PBS style presentation. Nicholas Morant, with at least one photographs used for comparison, along with other vintage pictures. Good history is included in the narrative.

Multiple viewpoints. Onboard the train. Externals, both near and far. Scenery is nicely incorporated.

Soundtrack is music and train sounds. The train sounds are good. The musical interludes are very dated, to the 1960s. Oh well, not a deal breaker. Kicking Horse Pass.

Alva Morrison performs the narrative. He does a fine job. Very knowledgeable.

CP Rail painted FP7A diesels are in charge of the train. Sometimes, GP 7/9 units assist.

On-screen graphics help with locations.

Various views of the equipment.

A group of grain elevators, that show a part of Canada’s huge business.

Some basic maps help out with geography. Higher detail on specific areas, as needed.

Riverfront running in deep valleys.

Famous location on Lake Superior, is Mink Tunnel.

The program is very well put together. A bit long on several transitions. Well, that’s the reviewer talking. No big thing.

Visual quality looks fine. Good colors. Kicking Horse Pass Tunnel.

The Canadian is a fine show. It stays on target. Complete coverage, with a tight focus on the subject. Good pacing, it moves along quickly. Before long, it nears the end! Where did the time go?