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The Big Snows: Canadian Stereotypes in Hollywood
David TrenholmMarch 20
th
, 2007HIST 2483 X2Professor James Snowdon
 
It comes as no surprise that Canadians, in general, enjoy their movies. The near century-old tradition of sitting in a large, dark room while staring placidly at anenormous, animated screen has captivated generation after generation of Canadians.When talking to Canadians of all generations, one might hear of an obvious frustration— a frustration that many films shown in this country rarely involve Canada, and for themost part are central to her southern cousin, the United States. Indeed, the U.S. hasalways dominated the film experience in Canada; the movie-making behemoth that isHollywood continually floods Canada with their creative work and Canadians are alwayseager to consume that American-controlled export. Most American-made films rarelymention Canada, and all too often they hold the United States as central, whether it be part of the setting or the storyline. There are simply no modern-day Hollywood filmsdramatizing significant Canadian moments such as Confederation, the War of 1812,Canadian involvement in either World War, or Canada’s contribution to the world-stage.In an article published in a 1987 issue of 
 Film Quarterly
, Maurice Yacowar suggests thatin film, Canadians are largely an ethnic minority
1
, and this is something that is becomingmore and more evident. Hollywood’s treatment of Canada had not always been this way,though—while Canadians are largely ignored or subverted in the Americanized filmindustry today, the act of including elements of Canada was once considered an exotictreat; a treat enjoyed during Hollywood’s golden era of film. Hollywood, in itsenthusiastic and misguided fascination with Canada, had created nearly six hundred filmsabout the country
2
, a shocking number for any Canadian. In the first half of the twentiethcentury, the American population received Canadian-themed films quite admirably, and
1
Maurice Yacowar. “The Canadian as Ethnic Minority”
 Film Quarterly
40, no. 2 (1986-87) 14.
2
Pierre Berton,
 Hollywood’s Canada: The Americanization of Our National Image
. (Toronto: McClellandand Steward Limited, 1975). 16.
 
although considered by film critics as generally sub-par as far as quality movies went,directors and producers knew that Canadian-themed movies were bound to be a successat the “box-office”. There is an element of similarity here, though, with the way Canadais treated today, as it was several decades ago. The term “Canadian-themed movies” isquite a significant one, as Hollywood and the term “Canada” or “Canadian” have never enjoyed a comfortable relationship. There is certainly no doubt that any film advocate,when sitting down to a screening of 
 Rose-Marie
,
Saskatchewan
or 
Susannah of theMounties
, would know that the film was about Canada, or probably about Canada.Hollywood, though, would rarely directly indicate, in words, the inspiration for the film:Canada
3
. In some cases, a genuine Canadian story that starred Canadians, took place inCanada, and involved Canadian themes, would end up rigorously edited, adapted andconvoluted to erase any mention of Canada; the result being an
 American
story thatstarred
 Americans
, took place in the
United States
, and involved
 American
themes.
4
Canada, according to golden-aged Hollywood, was an exotic treasure to be enjoyed, atreasure to be captured on film and produced as a motion picture for the entertainment of the masses—but it was a treasure that was not to be spoken of, and in some cases, to bemisrepresented as wholly American. Hollywood’s depictions of Canada were also famousfor their limited settings and scenery. Generally speaking, there was very little choice inthe way of scenery for Canadian-themed films. Wild, unkempt rugged forests filled withconifers; Rocky, snow-blown mountains and vast stretches of arctic plains, pummelledwith wind, sleet and snow was the general extent of it. Most of these scenes were shot inthe United States, too, and when a snow-clad arctic was required, Hollywood made use of 
3
Pierre Berton,
 Hollywood’s Canada: The Americanization of Our National Image
. (Toronto: McClellandand Steward Limited, 1975). 19.
4
Berton, 19.
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