The Man Who Might Have Been: An Inquiry Into the Life and Death of Herbert Norman
98 mins
On April 4, 1957, Herbert Norman, the Canadian ambassador to Egypt, leapt to his death from a Cairo rooftop. During his remarkable life, Norman helped set the course of post-war Japan and played a key role during the Suez crisis. But with all of his talents and achievements, there was something haunting Herbert Norman and following him to every corner of the globe: the accusation that he was a Soviet spy. This documentary takes us back to a time when the Cold War was heating up and when the mere accusation of communist sympathies could destroy a man's career. Using de-classified documents, interviews with key players and dramatizations filmed around the world, the film reconstructs the ordeal that Norman endured for seven long years, as a US Senate subcommittee relentlessly probed his past beliefs and current loyalties.
Gerry Flahive
Producer
Andreas Poulsson
Director of Photography
David Kazala
Editor
Alan Geldart
Sound Editor
Elizabeth Klinck
Production Manager
Nobuko Matsushita
Location Coordinator
Naila Hamdy
Location Coordinator
Lori Longstaff
Assistant Camera
Elizabeth Klinck
Researcher
Nadine Simunic
Researcher
Tanya Fleet
Archival Footage Research
Nadine Simmir
Production Assistant
Tina Hahn
Production Assistant
Enrico Pradal
Production Assistant
Louise Lore
Executive Producer
Dexter Bonaparte
Props
Ivan Sutton
Additional Casting
Tait Ritchie
Casting
Lorena Philp
Administrative Assistant
Ida Di Fruscia
Administration
Peter St. Laurent
Post Production Assistant
Russ McMillen
Post Production Coordinator
Kemp Archibald
Production Supervisor
Joanne Rourke
Colorist
Steve Hammond
Foley Artist
Peter Kelly
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Nobuko Matsushita
Translator
Deirdre Tanaka
Translator
Martha Newbigging
Graphic Designer
John Walker
Still Photographer
John Kramer
Director
John Kramer
Writer