Charlie Grant's War Explained

Genre:Drama
Director:Martin Lavut
Starring:R. H. Thomson
Country:Canada
Language:English
Producer:William Gough
Editor:Myrtle Virgo
Cinematography:Vic Sarin
Runtime:125 minutes
Network:CBC Television

Charlie Grant's War is a Canadian television film, directed by Martin Lavut and broadcast by CBC Television in 1985.[1] Set during World War II, the film stars R. H. Thomson as Charlie Grant, a Canadian activist and humanitarian who was living in Austria at the time of the war, and helped to smuggle over 600 Jews out of the country for their safety.[2]

The film's cast also included Jean Archambault, Anthony Bekenn, Peter Boretski, Douglas Campbell, Marigold Charlesworth, Peter Dvorsky, Jan Rubeš, Vlasta Vrána, Louis Negin, Joan Orenstein and John Friesen.

The film had its television premiere on January 27, 1985.[1]

Plot

Shocked and horrified by the rising tide of anti-Semitism in war-torn Vienna, Grant uses his position as a diamond broker to obtain illegal passports and safe passage for hundreds of Jews. He is discovered, arrested by the Gestapo, and imprisoned in some of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps in Europe.[3]

Cast

Accolades and awards

The film received several ACTRA Award nominations at the 15th ACTRA Awards in 1986, including for Best TV Program, Best Actor (Thomson), Best Supporting Performance (Dvorsky, Rubeš) and Best Writing (Anna Sandor).[4] It won the awards for Best Program and Best Writing.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Donald Martin, "A Canadian hero finally gets his due". The Globe and Mail, January 26, 1985.
  2. "Charlie Grant's War". Halifax Chronicle-Herald, January 26, 1985.
  3. [Gibraltar Chronicle]
  4. Henry Mietkiewicz, "Charlie Grant's war leads ACTRA race". Toronto Star, March 18, 1986.
  5. Adele Freedman, "Charlie Grant's War is ACTRA's top show of the year: Nellie makes last stand brisk but chummy". The Globe and Mail, April 4, 1986.