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The Battle for Oil

Name: The Battle for Oil
Director: James Beveridge
Released: 1942
Duration: 20 min

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Representation Score

0.8/10

Minimal

1942

APPROVED

Director

James Beveridge

Runtime

20 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Produced as a wartime mobilization tool, *The Battle for Oil* prioritizes geopolitical strategy and industrial necessity over human-centric storytelling. The film functions to reinforce the existing social and political order of 1942, focusing on the defense of Western interests and resource security. Its narrative structure is built on traditionalist frameworks, emphasizing state-level logistics and the strategic importance of global territories. By maintaining a colonial perspective, the film adheres to the mid-20th-century institutional norms of the National Film Board of Canada.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Battle for Oil have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories. It focuses solely on industrial logistics and geopolitical resource management.

How does The Battle for Oil portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around masculine-coded military and industrial themes. It reinforces traditional gender hierarchies by focusing on state-driven, male-led logistics.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Battle for Oil?

Limited

The film recognizes the Near-and-Far East as strategic zones for oil. However, it prioritizes the value of these territories over the roles of local populations.

How does The Battle for Oil represent religion and culture?

Minimal

The documentary promotes a singular national purpose and Western interests. It reinforces the existing geopolitical order without offering cultural critique.

Does The Battle for Oil include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of subjects with visible or invisible disabilities. The focus on industrial processes excludes individual character studies.

Present on Screen

Provides a clear historical perspective on the strategic importance of fuel supply chains during World War II.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of diverse identities, focusing instead on state-centric and masculine-coded military themes.
Uses a colonial lens when discussing the Near-and-Far East, prioritizing resource value over local roles.
Does not engage with multi-layered narratives or the subversion of traditional social hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

A Second World War documentary film produced for and by the National Film Board of Canada in 1942 as part of the "Canada Carries On" short documentary series. It uses stock footage, dating back to the First World War, in its theme of showing how dependent modern war vehicles are on having a fuel supply source. In the First World War, Britain's sea power was preserved through the maintenance of a series of coaling stations dotting the Seven Seas. With the change to oil, rather than coal, the necessities for European nations, without home supply, are dependent on the Near-and-Far East where the pipe-lines and oil production have to be defended against attacks by the Axis powers. Canada's role in oil production is also highlighted.

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