William Weintraub
Encyclopedia
William Weintraub, OC
(born February 19, 1926) is a Canadian
journalist, author, filmmaker and lecturer, best known for his long association with Canada's National Film Board (NFB).
Born and educated in Montreal
, Weintraub graduated from McGill University
where he had worked on the McGill Daily. He began his career as a reporter at The Montreal Gazette in the 1950s, later moving to Weekend magazine. His adventures in journalism provided the basis for Weintraub's 1961
novel Why Rock the Boat? and his 2001
memoir Getting Started. Among Weintraub's contemporaries and friends were authors Mordecai Richler
, Mavis Gallant
, Norman Levine
and Brian Moore
.
Weintraub's satirical 1979
novel The Underdogs provoked controversy by imagining a future socialist republic of Quebec, an economic basket case in which English-speakers were an oppressed minority, complete with a violent resistance movement. One planned stage version was canceled before its premiere.
In a film career spanning decades, Weintraub was involved with more than 150 NFB productions, serving variously as writer, producer and director. Productions ranged from Canada: Beef Cattle to historical documentaries to a portrait of Canadian writer Margaret Laurence
. Perhaps his best remembered—and most controversial—film was the 1993 documentary The Rise and Fall of English Montreal which dealt with the second large Quebec diaspora that began in the 1960s and accelerated rapidly after the 1976 Quebec election
. The National Post
wrote that he said that Toronto
nians should express their gratitude to a major benefactor of the city and erect a very large heroic statue at the head of Bay Street
of former Premier of Quebec
René Lévesque
.
Over the years, some critics expressed regret that Weintraub chose to focus mostly on film work, rather than devoting himself more fully to literature. But Weintraub went on to publish no fewer than four books after his seventieth birthday. City Unique (1996
), an exploration of English Montreal in the 1940s and 50s, is widely admired for its evocative sense of time and place.
In 2003, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. The citation reads: "As a journalist, author, filmmaker and lecturer, William Weintraub has played a major role in our country's artistic and intellectual life".
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born February 19, 1926) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
journalist, author, filmmaker and lecturer, best known for his long association with Canada's National Film Board (NFB).
Born and educated in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Weintraub graduated from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
where he had worked on the McGill Daily. He began his career as a reporter at The Montreal Gazette in the 1950s, later moving to Weekend magazine. His adventures in journalism provided the basis for Weintraub's 1961
1961 in literature
The year 1961 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*First English production of Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui*Michael Halliday publishes his seminal paper on the systemic functional grammar model....
novel Why Rock the Boat? and his 2001
2001 in literature
The year 2001 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* The film version of J. R. R. Tolkien's classic book, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is released to movie theaters...
memoir Getting Started. Among Weintraub's contemporaries and friends were authors Mordecai Richler
Mordecai Richler
Mordecai Richler, CC was a Canadian Jewish author, screenwriter and essayist. A leading critic called him "the great shining star of his Canadian literary generation" and a pivotal figure in the country's history. His best known works are The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Barney's Version,...
, Mavis Gallant
Mavis Gallant
Mavis Leslie Gallant, , née Mavis Leslie Young is a Canadian writer.-Biography:An only child, Gallant was born in Montreal, Quebec. Her father died when she was young, and her mother remarried. Gallant received her education at seventeen different public, convent, and French-language boarding...
, Norman Levine
Norman Levine
Norman Levine was a Canadian short-story writer, novelist and poet. He is perhaps best remembered for his terse prose. Though he was part of the St. Ives artistic community in Cornwall, and friends with painters Patrick Heron and Francis Bacon, his written expression was not abstract, but concrete...
and Brian Moore
Brian Moore
Brian Moore may refer to:*Brian Moore *Brian Moore *Brian Moore , Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, England...
.
Weintraub's satirical 1979
1979 in literature
The year 1979 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*V.C...
novel The Underdogs provoked controversy by imagining a future socialist republic of Quebec, an economic basket case in which English-speakers were an oppressed minority, complete with a violent resistance movement. One planned stage version was canceled before its premiere.
In a film career spanning decades, Weintraub was involved with more than 150 NFB productions, serving variously as writer, producer and director. Productions ranged from Canada: Beef Cattle to historical documentaries to a portrait of Canadian writer Margaret Laurence
Margaret Laurence
Jean Margaret Laurence, CC was a Canadian novelist and short story writer, one of the major figures in Canadian literature.- Early years :...
. Perhaps his best remembered—and most controversial—film was the 1993 documentary The Rise and Fall of English Montreal which dealt with the second large Quebec diaspora that began in the 1960s and accelerated rapidly after the 1976 Quebec election
Quebec general election, 1976
The Quebec general election of 1976 was held on November 15, 1976 to elect members to National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled only by the 1960 general election, and caused major repercussions in the rest of Canada...
. The National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
wrote that he said that Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
nians should express their gratitude to a major benefactor of the city and erect a very large heroic statue at the head of Bay Street
Bay Street
Bay Street, originally known as Bear Street, is a major thoroughfare in Downtown Toronto. It is the centre of Toronto's Financial District and is often used by metonymy to refer to Canada's financial industry since succeeding Montreal's St. James Street in that role in the 1970s...
of former Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
.
Over the years, some critics expressed regret that Weintraub chose to focus mostly on film work, rather than devoting himself more fully to literature. But Weintraub went on to publish no fewer than four books after his seventieth birthday. City Unique (1996
1996 in literature
The year 1996 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is removed from an advanced placement English reading list in Lindale, Texas because it "conflicted with the values of the community."* In the United Kingdom, the first...
), an exploration of English Montreal in the 1940s and 50s, is widely admired for its evocative sense of time and place.
In 2003, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. The citation reads: "As a journalist, author, filmmaker and lecturer, William Weintraub has played a major role in our country's artistic and intellectual life".
Filmography
- A Matter of FatA Matter of FatA Matter of Fat is a 1969 documentary film by William Weintraub chronicling the efforts of a 358-pound man, Gilles Lorrain, to lose half his body weight as part of a hospital supervised weight loss program....
(1969) - Nahanni (1962) (script)