After studies at Oxford University and the London School of Economics , Spry began his filmmaking career in 1964 at the National Film Board in Montreal , earning a place on its payroll in 1965 and remaining there until stepping down in 1978 . While at the NFB Spry built a reputation as a documentarist engaged with the issues of the day , with films on abortion , youth rebellion , and contemporary politics . His '' Prologue '' documented the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago , weaving narrative with archival footage to become , in 1969 , the first Canadian film to appear at the Venice Film Festival . His Canadian Film Award-winning documentary '' Action : The October Crisis of 1970 '' ( 1973 ) used a similar approach to tell the story of the kidnapping of British diplomat James Richard Cross and the murder of Pierre Laporte . Spry also tried his hand at other aspects of the film trade , acting as a producer , filmmaker , screenwriter , actor , cinematographer and film editor , and appearing in several colleagues ' films , including Denys Arcand 's '' Québec , Duplessis et après " '' ( 1972 ) , reading out sections of the 1837 Durham Report . Spry starred in the 1981 hostage film '' Kings and Desperate Men ''
1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
Robin Spry