Wojeck
20 (+ 1992 TV Movie)
David Peddie
Paul Almond
Ron Weyman
60 minutes
September 13, 1966 –
March 12, 1968
Production[edit]
The show was inspired by the career of Dr. Morton Shulman.[2][3]
Although it was one of the highest-rated shows on Canadian television in its time, only 20 episodes of the series were made, because Vernon was lured to Hollywood by the promise of more money than the CBC could offer. He only returned to the role once, for a TV movie Wojeck: Out of the Fire (1992). The first season (1966-67) was filmed in black and white, while season two (1967–68) was shot in colour.
Wojeck was the first TV series to feature forensic pathology in the investigation of crime and has been the central theme of several other TV mystery-suspense dramas, beginning with the BBC's The Expert in 1968. Other programs include:
Reunion movie[edit]
In 1992, CBC aired a sequel television movie, Wojeck: Out of the Fire in which Wojeck returns to Toronto after working in a medical clinic in The Congo for 21 years, reunites with his daughter and estranged wife, and becomes involved in the plight of a family of refugees from Guatemala.[6][7]
Awards[edit]
- At the 19th Canadian Film Awards in 1967, Episode 1, "The Last Man in the World", tied for Best Film for TV. Cinematographer Grahame Woods won the award for best Black-and-White Cinematography and Ron Kelly won for Best Director.
- In 2002, Wojeck became a MasterWorks honouree by the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada.