(hat tip J.C.) This amazing 1966 National Film Board of Canada short The Devil’s Toy from director Claude Jutra depicts the dawn of skateboarding in Montreal. It is hands down the most amazing thing we’ve come across on the internet this week (even better than the Duchess of Cambridge’s boobs).
A new activity frowned upon by police and adults, skateboarding gave youngsters a thrilling sensation of speed and freedom. This film – the first Canadian documentary ever made about the sport – captures the exuberance of boys and girls having the time of their lives in free-wheeling downhill locomotion.
PS. The styling ripper in the trench coat at 5:00 is your new hero.
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I was skateboard up the road in West End Ottawa during this time. During an incident similar to this film involving police harassment for doing nothing wrong. It changed my attitude towards the so called “squares” (anybody in control) . To this day I don’t trust the Police, nothing good happens when they show up. Any time any of us see police cars they slow down and get paranoid immediatly, conditioned respose.
That was my inital feelings on the film, then I remembered fondly the times. Seeing the style of clothes that my fiends were wearing. I will boast now, I won a Skateboard Contest with handstand in 1965. This film ended up being quite emotional ride for me.
Thank you to everyone in and on the film and to those that made this possible now.
This film is amazing. What a time warp, boards of Canada way ahead of their time! No wonder they have a band named after them.