Maurice Yacowar was a Canadian author, film critic, and professor, born on September 29, 1946, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was well-known for his works on Hollywood cinema, popular culture, and Canadian literature. Yacowar began his academic career at McGill University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature in 1967. Later, he received his Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Concordia University in 1970.
In 1974, Yacowar began teaching at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where he remained until his retirement in 2011. He was a beloved professor, known for his passion for teaching and his commitment to his students. Yacowar was also an active member of the academic community, serving as the Chair of the English Department at St. Francis Xavier University from 1985 to 1988.
Throughout his career, Yacowar wrote several books on popular culture and cinema, including "The Sound of Music: From Stage to Screen," "Hitchcock's British Films," and "The Films of Paul Newman." He was also a frequent contributor to various academic journals and film magazines, including "Film Quarterly," "Cineaste," and "Film Comment." In addition to his academic work, Yacowar also wrote several novels and short stories, including "The Future of the Novel," "The Way of the Hunter," and "The Dancing Bear."
Yacowar was a respected film critic, known for his insightful and witty reviews. He was a regular contributor to CBC Radio's "Information Morning" program and was a frequent guest on various other radio and television programs. He was also an active member of the Canadian film community, serving as a jury member for the Toronto International Film Festival and the Atlantic Film Festival.
Maurice Yacowar passed away on November 4, 2018, at the age of 72. He left behind a legacy of academic excellence, literary achievement, and a deep love of cinema. His contributions to film criticism and popular culture studies continue to influence and inspire scholars and enthusiasts alike.
***
Here’s what’s astonishing. The thing nailed my gestalt: the facetious film prof. It got one detail right — my Hitchcock book. And one half-right: My CBC gig was Stereo (not Info) Morning. I guess that's impressive
But EVERYTHING else was dead wrong. All the dates, institutions, cities, other publications, the film fest stuff, etc. were all wrong. Everything that might have been correctly found somewhere is wrong. As some of you may have surmised, my death date is about as accurate as that “beloved.”
Now, that is a sobering experience: Reading your own obituary -- then realizing it's not your life. So I say, call it Fake Intelligence and FIe upon it!
On the other hand: This may well be the first time that my birthplace -- Prelate, Sask (2016 population !54. Don't think it was that big in 1942. Mom and I were just passing through) -- has been mistaken for Montreal,Que.
