John Grierson
Personal Info
Known for
Production
Gender
Male
Birthday
1898-04-26
Day of Death
1972-02-19 (73 years old)
Place of Birth
Kilmadock, Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK
John Grierson
Biography
John Grierson (1898–1972) was a pioneering Scottish filmmaker and producer who shaped the documentary film movement, earning recognition as the father of British and Canadian documentary cinema. He famously coined the term "documentary" in 1926 and championed the idea that film should serve as a tool for social education and reform. As the driving force behind the British documentary movement, he founded the GPO Film Unit, which produced groundbreaking works like Night Mail (1936), and later played a key role in establishing the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) in 1939, turning it into one of the world's most influential documentary institutions. Grierson’s vision and advocacy for documentary as a vehicle for public service and civic engagement left a lasting legacy on global nonfiction filmmaking.
Known For
Acting
Hitchcock on Grierson
as Self
(2024)
A Return to Memory
as Self (archive sound)
(2014)
(1990)
(1959)
John Grierson
as Himself
(1958)
Rivers at Work
as Narrator
(1938)
The Face of Scotland
as John Knox (voice)
(1936)
Night Mail
as Commentary
(1935)
On the Fishing Banks of Skye
as Narrator
Crew
(1965)
Health of a City
Associate Producer
(1962)
Heart of Scotland
Treatment
(1960)
Seawards the Great Ships
Screenplay
(1954)
Devil on Horseback
Producer
(1953)
Man of Africa
Producer
(1952)
The Brave Don't Cry
Executive Producer
(1952)
Miss Robin Hood
Executive Producer
(1951)
You're Only Young Twice
Producer
(1950)
Four Men in Prison
Producer
(1938)
North Sea
Executive Producer
(1937)
A Job in a Million
Producer
(1937)
The Smoke Menace
Producer
(1937)
Daily Round
Producer
(1937)
Children at School
Producer
(1937)
Trade Tattoo
Producer
(1935)
BBC: The Voice of Britain
Producer
(1935)
A Colour Box
Producer
(1935)
Coal Face
Producer
(1935)
On the Fishing Banks of Skye
Director, Producer, Writer
(1935)
(1934)
Weather Forecast
Producer
(1934)
Granton Trawler
Director of Photography, Producer, Director, Writer
(1934)
Post-Haste
Producer
(1934)
6.30 Collection
Producer
(1934)
The Song of Ceylon
Producer
(1933)
Cable Ship
Producer
(1933)
The Coming of the Dial
Producer
(1933)
Spring on the Farm
Producer
(1932)
O'er Hill and Dale
Producer
(1932)
The New Generation
Producer
(1932)
Upstream
Producer
(1931)
Industrial Britain
Producer
(1930)
Tom Mixup
Director
(1930)
(1930)
Kuster Beaton
Director
(1930)
Kerri Cheertum in Jungle-Tungle
Director
(1930)
Our Dumb Friend
Director
(1930)
Conquest
Producer
(1929)
Drifters
Editor, Director