A Little Fellow from Gambo: The Joey Smallwood Story

This feature length documentary invites viewers into the life of Joey Smallwood, the Newfoundland politician whose push for joining Canada defined a generation. Filmmaker Julian Biggs assembles a portrait that moves beyond hero worship, mixing candor with public record to show the man behind the political legend. Over a span of weeks marked by intense backstage maneuvering and a stormy Liberal leadership convention, the film traces Smallwood’s public persona and the strains inside his circle. It captures his stubborn confidence, sharp wit, and the stubborn resolve that helped shape Confederation while also hinting at the misunderstandings that linger among allies and critics alike. The result is a direct, human look at a formative moment in Canadian history.

Directed by Julian Biggs, this 1970 Canadian documentary uses archival footage and interviews to profile Joey Smallwood, the man behind Newfoundland's Confederation. It presents a portrait built from real conversations, private reflections, and public records rather than staged performances, with Budd Knapp appearing as himself.

Box office data for this archival documentary isn't widely reported, reflecting its status as a historical record rather than a mass market feature. It circulated primarily in Canada through film festivals, universities, museums, and public broadcasting rather than wide commercial releases.

As an early screen portrait of a foundational figure in Canadian politics, the film helped shape how audiences remember Newfoundland during Confederation. It records the era's tensions, debates, and personalities with restraint, while signaling the complexity of leadership under the glare of public scrutiny. Its documentary style influenced later political portraits.

Reception among critics is that the film offers a measured and often challenging portrait that avoids easy hero worship. Its themes include political image management, the tension between personal conviction and party loyalty, and the way media framing helps shape national memory for generations. It remains a reference point.