Amanita Pestilens

Ottawa: Crawley Films Limited, 1963-1966. Archive of press material and photographs for the 1963 Canadian film, and for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the production company, Crawley Films.

F.R. "Budge" Crawley was Canada's answer to Hollywood's Sam Goldwyn, and he produced hundreds of films during his 40-year career, including the Academy Award-winning 1975 documentary, "The Man Who Skied Down Everest." "Budge" and his wife Judith founded Crawley Films in 1938 and won the first Canadian film award in 1950. Crawley has been referred to as "the Godfather of Canadian cinema," and rightfully so.

Included in the archive are 27 film still photographs with mimeo snipes affixed to the versos (several on-the-set images and a few with director Bonniere); a folder containing 25 letters ("to salute 25 Years") from various French, American, British and Canadian film and government associations (including former Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, and Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America), all dated 1963 with reproduced signatures for press purposes; a promotional brochure on the "new and improved" Crawley Films Limited; 2-page press memos (19) on Crawley parchment (nearly all flat-signed by the company vice president, Graeme Fraser); 3-page press information on the World's Fair in Montreal; French and English film credits sheets; a "how-to" booklet from Crawley discussing the proper ways to produce one's own motion picture (housed in printed company envelope); 2-page "facts" on Crawley Films' 25th anniversary; a letter from Fraser to Jean Vinant, asking her to be the production company agent; 3-page company property breakdown (camera department, script department, sound stages, etc.); several letters to-and-from studio secretary Maryse Martres, signed by persons involved with the film, including director Bonniere; a 27-page ditto-style mimeograph French version of the script; and various telegrams, receipts, and synopses relating to the film.

The film itself was the first Canadian feature to be shot in both French and English using the same actors, the first Canadian film shot in color, and an early career appearance for actress Bujold. A man obsessed with his lawn in the suburbs of Montreal has a surprise awakening when mysterious mushrooms start to grow and become impossible to eradicate. He stops at nothing, including a deadly confrontation with his neighbor, to protect his lawn and his reputation.

Shot on location in Quebec.

Film still photographs 8 x 9.75 inches, most mimeo snipes loose but present, and many photographs with tape stains as a result of having been stacked. Letters, press material, interoffice material, and other ephemera varying sizes, with most being 8 x 11 inches.

[Book #140536]