Famous Scots
- John Grierson (1898-1972)
Born in Stirlingshire and a graduate of Glasgow University, Grierson, he studied communications and moved into filming. His first film about herring fishermen, called "Drifters" was a success and he went on to establish himself as the "father of the documentary". Indeed, he was the first to use the term "documentary".
Working for the Post Office, he made "Night Mail" with a commentary by the poet W H Auden.
During World War II he headed the National Film Board of Canada and made that organisation recognised around the world. Later, he was head of film and communications at UNESCO. A towering figure in documentary film making, he reached a new audience when his films were televised in the 1950s and 1960s.
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