One Canadian: The Political Memoirs of the Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker
Encyclopedia
One Canadian: The Political Memoirs of the Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker was a Canadian
biographical television miniseries which aired on CBC Television
from 1976 to 1977.
in late 1974. Episodes included this footage combined with historic photographs and other film footage of Diefenbaker. As a memoir, the series provided little critical examination of Diefenbaker's political career.
supplied narration in place of the actual interviewers such as Thomas Van Dusen. Wilfred Doucette was the series director of photography. Herbert Helbig composed the series music, and its theme was performed by the Canadian Brass
.
Television in Canada
Television in Canada officially began with the opening of the nation's first television stations in Montreal and Toronto in 1952. As with most media in Canada, the television industry, and the television programming available in that country, are strongly influenced by the American media, perhaps...
biographical television miniseries which aired on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
from 1976 to 1977.
Premise
John Munro filmed more than nine hours of interviews with former Canadian Prime Minister John DiefenbakerJohn Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
in late 1974. Episodes included this footage combined with historic photographs and other film footage of Diefenbaker. As a memoir, the series provided little critical examination of Diefenbaker's political career.
Production
Douglas RainDouglas Rain
Douglas Rain is a Canadian actor and narrator. He is primarily a stage actor, but his best known film role was as the voice of the HAL 9000 computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequel 2010 ....
supplied narration in place of the actual interviewers such as Thomas Van Dusen. Wilfred Doucette was the series director of photography. Herbert Helbig composed the series music, and its theme was performed by the Canadian Brass
Canadian Brass
The Canadian Brass is a brass quintet founded by Dr. Charles Daellenbach and Gene Watts in 1970. In addition to maintaining a heavy international touring schedule, the Canadian Brass have recorded over 80 CDs and DVDs...
.
Scheduling
This half-hour series was broadcast on Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. from 6 October 1976 to 6 January 1977.Episodes
- 1, 2: childhood and early legal career
- 3, 4: political career since 1919, to his 1940 election to the House of Commons of Canada after a series of unsuccessful election attempts, until his 1956 election as leader of the Progressive Conservative PartyProgressive Conservative Party of CanadaThe Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
- 5 to 11: from opposition leader to election as Prime Minister, then his return to opposition
- 12: loss of the Progressive Conservative party leadership in 1967
- 13: Diefenbaker's summary of his career and observations on government