A Capital Plan 1949
Step back to 1949 Ottawa with this crisp 11-minute documentary that captures the capital at a crossroads. Director Bernard Devlin turns the lens on a city straining under its own growth: clogged streets, sooty skies, and rail lines slicing through neighborhoods.
Director: Bernard Devlin
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Capital Plan (1949) about?
This 11-minute documentary documents Ottawa's mid-century growing pains, from traffic jams to industrial sprawl, and profiles Jacques Gréber's bold master plan to reorganize the city for generations to come.
Who directed A Capital Plan?
The film was directed by Bernard Devlin, a filmmaker known for his documentaries on Canadian urban and social landscapes.
Who stars in A Capital Plan?
The documentary features narration by Lorne Greene, the iconic Canadian actor and broadcaster.
Is A Capital Plan (1949) worth watching?
Though unrated on IMDb, this historical short offers a fascinating snapshot of urban planning history and Canadian mid-century life. Its concise runtime and archival value make it ideal for history buffs and film enthusiasts.
How long is A Capital Plan?
A Capital Plan runs 11 minutes.
About A Capital Plan (1949) — How a 1949 short film reshaped Ottawa's future
Step back to 1949 Ottawa with this crisp 11-minute documentary that captures the capital at a crossroads. Director Bernard Devlin turns the lens on a city straining under its own growth: clogged streets, sooty skies, and rail lines slicing through neighborhoods. Against this backdrop, French urbanist Jacques Gréber crafts a sweeping vision to untangle the chaos, moving tracks, relocating factories, and weaving green space back into the urban fabric. Shot in black-and-white with a keen eye for civic pride, A Capital Plan (1949) blends stark realism with quiet optimism, offering a time-capsule peek at the birth of modern urban planning in Canada.
Featuring Canadian broadcasting legend Lorne Greene's authoritative narration, this short film pairs historical insight with the rhythmic pulse of a capital in motion. Themes of renewal, foresight, and the balance between progress and livability shimmer beneath every frame, making it a must-see artifact for architecture buffs and history lovers alike.