What Was Wojeck With John Vernon ,a Canadian Television Drama?
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Wojeck is perhaps best remembered as the show that changed the face of Canadian television drama. Up until the time of the series, Canadian dramas had been rather staid little affairs that rarely captured the interest of Canadian television viewers. But, when Wojeck appeared on CBC in 1966, Canadian television forever changed.
Wojeck was based on the exploits of real life Toronto coroner Dr. Morton Shulman and starred John Vernon as Dr. Steve Wojeck. Created by Phillip Hersch, the real-life cases of Dr. Shulman inspired each weekly episode. Shulman who was renowned as a health and safety crusader was well known in Toronto. Shulman extended the influence of his office through his inquiries into deaths caused by institutional and industrial negligence and forced issues of improved safety standards. Each week, over 3 million viewers tuned in as the title character addressed such issue as: abortion, drug abuse, poor working conditions, police brutality, abuse of the elderly, Native rights, auto safety, etc. And each week, viewers were gripped to their television sets.
The barriers that the series broke down were thematic as much as stylistic or technical. Under the guidance of Executive Producer Ronald Weyman and Associate Producer David Peddie, the writers explored issues that had rarely been confronted so directly in television drama. In fact the issue at their centre can categorize many of the programs as much as by the actual story.
Part of the success of Wojeck was as a result of its visual style. It was the first time the CBC had produced a filmed dramatic series for its national audience. Executive producer Ronald Weyman drew upon his experience at the National Film Board to deliver stories, which had the look of authenticity. This was especially true in the first season when each episode was in black and white. Weyman and Director of Photography Grahame Woods shot the black-and-white film production on location with a lightweight camera. Cameras were hand held and conventional production values were sacrificed for a down-and-dirty naturalism in the style of documentaries. The program, and the series that ensued, tried to confront contemporary social issues through Wojeck’s inquiries. The program’s documentary style and the roots of the stories in the headlines of the day established standards and format that has filtered through CBC television drama ever since.
John Vernon played Wojeck – stalwart, quiet and understated, Wojeck was frustrated or driven to outrage by people, officials, and institutions that failed to provide answers or acknowledge responsibility. He regularly questioned the decisions he had to make and though he was in many sense of the word, your typical hero, Wojeck was invested with a greater vulnerability and depth than most television heroes. Wojeck was of Polish descent and Catholic.
Patricia Collins played Wojeck’s wife Marty. Their marriage was very normal complete with typical problems most married couples would face. Oddly enough, the characters had been separated a few years when a reunion movie was made in 1992. Together they lived in the typical Canadian home of the time complete with plumbing problems and kitchen clutter. There was no up market fancy lifestyle for this family. Also seen were their two children Steve and Judy played by Jamey Weyman and Tanis Montgomery.
Other members of the cast included Ted Follows as Crown Attorney Arnie Bateman, and Carl Banas as Detective Sergeant Bryon James.
The series first hit Canadian television screens on March 9, 1966 as part of The Bob Hope Theatre with the pilot episode, “Tell Them The Streets Are Dancing”. Wojeck investigates the death by caisson disease of an Italian worker, who had been working on the construction of underground tunnel. The ultimate investigation into the workers death leads Wojeck to file charges over unsafe working conditions.
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http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/wojeck.htm
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