John Grierson

1898 - 1972

Director and film-maker who introduced the term 'documentary'. Born at Kilmadock House near Doune and educated at Glasgow University, Grierson specialised in factual films which documented aspects of British life. His most famous works include Drifters, which examined the life in the fishing industry, and Night Mail which follows the nightly mail train from the South of England to Scotland, with a masterly commentary by the poet W.H. Auden. Grierson took charge of the National Film Board of Canada during World-War II and became Head of Film with UNESCO in 1946.

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