The name says it all – DIEPPE: Don't Call it a Failure. 

Some will say, "Not another film on Dieppe!" It will become clear when you view it why it was so very necessary to take a look at the August 1942 raid - one of Canada's most famous battles - from a different perspective.

The raid on Dieppe, the French seaside port across the channel from England, has been the subject of many books and films. Most of them have labelled the assault, carried out primarily by the Canadian 2nd Division, as a monumental failure. In the minds of many Canadians, Dieppe was a major political blunder and a result of flawed generalship.

Our version tells how the lessons of Dieppe saved thousands of Canadian lives on the D-Day invasion of Normandy nearly two years later. We have not neglected the human side. The faces of the soldiers and the images of Dieppe, combined with music written for this show, reflect the heroism of the troops and the anguish of loved ones at home who received that much-dreaded telegram, "Sorry to inform you..."

• Platinum Award - 2002 Worldfest-Houston (Texas)
  
• Gold Award - 2002 Questar Awards (New York)
  
• Silver Award - 2002 Galaxy Awards (New York)
  
• Bronze Award - 2002 Regional CINDY Competition (California)
  
• Third Place - 2002 US International Film/Video Festival (California)

"I screened the film last night and began telephoning Dieppe veterans. They are overjoyed that their story has been properly told at last."

"Please accept my congratulations and thanks for the excellent job you have done in producing the documentary on Dieppe. I find whenever I view the various documentaries and books on Dieppe, I am somewhat sceptical of their content, but your presentation was so realistic and emotional that it brought tears to my eyes. Once again, I thank you for the documentary on Dieppe and it will take its place at the head of my collection."

"DIEPPE: Don't Call it a Failure was a remarkable effort, and certainly the finest documentary I have seen on the subject. Your efforts and those of your production staff in researching the complexity of the subject and unearthing so much rare photography are most commendable. Many thanks."

"Extremely well-produced - unquestionably your best yet. It is so well done in every way - animation, music, supporting actuality shots of war, the voices used for quotes from veterans, the cunning use of stills, and the total impression of honesty and thorough research, as you touched every base and faced every grim fact of that awful morning. This truly is an award winner."

Charles Comfort
Dieppe Raid
CN 12276
Canadian War Museum