“Universe” was released in 1960 and was directed by Roman Kroitor and Colin Low. It is a Canadian black-and-white English language documentary short made for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).
Narrated by Douglas Rain, the film explores the universe and where we are in it. Featured in the film is Dr. Donald MacRae, professor of astronomy at the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The film starts out with Dr. MacRae positioning the huge telescope to view distant stars during the night. Dr. MacRae demonstrates how the telescope is set up and the procedure used to photograph the selected stars.
The film also explores the heavens starting with the Earth’s Sun and expanding out into the solar system and beyond. The filmmakers take the observer on an imagined journey through the stars and accompany its narration with amazing images of other planets and galaxies. The film uses actual photographs as well as artist renderings of various aspects of the universe.
Stanley Kubrick was impressed by the images seen in the film so much that he hired Douglas Rain as the voice for HAL 9000, the computer in “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Kubrick also hired the film’s special effects creator, Wally Gentleman, to work on “2001” as well. The short film was basically used as a model for Kubrick’s vision of “2001”.
Even though the film is in black and white and a little dated, it is an impressive film. The information in it was based on the most current knowledge at the time. For example, the film talks about the solar system having nine planets. The film was made after the discovery of Pluto, but prior to Pluto being demoted. Even though some of the information is old, the visuals are remarkable, especially for the time.
The film won numerous awards all over the world and is definitely worth checking out. It was also nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 33rd Academy Awards, the only award it did not win.