Compilation of footage about Sir Wilfrid Laurier. It begins with the title: "In Memoriam Produced by the Exhibits and Publicity Bureau Department of Trade and Commerce, Ottawa, Canada. On this the 4th anniversary of his passing (it) seems fitting that this film should be presented as (a) tribute to our great Canadian statesman Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Incidentally it demonstrates the value of the motion picture as a medium of historical record".~The visuals start with a still of Laurier on the left-hand side of the screen and a still of the Parliament Buildings prior to the 1916 fire, with the "old" Centre block, on the right-hand side of the screen (split screen effect). The camera then pans to more of the building.~Next is a sequence of Laurier speaking from a covered platform with a bouquet of flowers resting on the ledge of the platform at his right hand. He sometimes picks them up and gestures with them as he speaks. The footage may date from the 1911 election.~Intertitle then states that it was just four years ago this week that Laurier died at his home on Laurier Avenue in Ottawa. There is film of Laurier House in the snow, as people walk by. There are shots of the interior of Laurier House. Next is a text of the telegram from King George V at the time of Laurier's death as well as the text of a quote by Borden about Laurier. Next are more shots of the interior of Laurier House and a still photograph of Lady Laurier. An intertitle explains that one of the shots is of Laurier's office in the Victoria Museum, the temporary headquarters of the House of Commons. Laurier's name plate is on the door. Also shots of his desk. Followed by the text of a quote by Sir George Foster. More shots of his desk. Intertitle states that his body lay in solemn state in the temporary House of Commons and thousands paid tribute at his bier. Still of the invitation to the funeral on February 22, 1919. Footage of soldiers on guard on floral tributes around the coffin. Pan over to closed coffin. Quote from Sir Thomas White, acting Prime Minister. More shots of the coffin and wreath that spells out the word Laurier.~Shot of scene outside the museum, houses in the neighbourhood, man in plumed hat, (the Governor General ?) coffin carried out of museum, mourners following coffin, horse-drawn hearse with no sides, laden with flowers, police, hearse, mourners walking behind hearse, reporter taking notes walks next to a mourner, asking questions and writing in a notebook as he walks along and then speaks to mourner behind, man carrying (Parliamentary ?) mace, lot of mourners in top hat, William Lyon Mackenzie King among the mourners, with walking sticks, sleighs, car, man with mace again, flanked by two men in some sort of uniform, more shots of mourners, this time with the shot running right to left, crowds, Chateau Laurier(?), pan up facade of Notre-Dame Bailica, which is draped in black cloth, crowds standing outside, coffin taken out of hearse and carried into church, text of quote from General Pau of France, mourners file into church, mourners stand, waiting to get through the door, some mourners in robes and three-cornered hats, pan along other side of Sussex Street, opposite the church, giving view of the houses and other buildings, view of thick crowds and buildings, with glimpses of some people sitting in trees to get a better look, lot of people standing outside church, text of quote from Robert Lansing of the U.S., coffin coming out of church, wreaths, burial in Notre-Dame cemetery, crowd at cemetery, intertitle indentifying Reve. W.T. Herridge, coffin, priest praying, crowd around, coffin lowered into grave, fade out, sequence on monument of Sir John A. Macdonald, fence and building behind, intertitle Laurier's Tribute to Macdonald, bust of Laurier, dissolve shot to Union jack at half mast on what appears to be the Parliament Buildings, perhaps the East or West block. <12mn 56s>
