Radisson
Genre: historical biography
Language: French, English. Turning bilingual.
Format: 30 min.
Episodes: 26
Distribution: Sunday at 17:30, 3 February 1957 to 16 December 1959 CBFT
Budget: $ 1,012,000 for 52 programs (26 in English - 26 French)
Directed Pierre Gauvreau
Scenario: John Lucarotti, English, French adaptation: Renee Normand
Producer: Jean-Yves Bigras
Production: Omega Productions - Radio-Canada
Images: Dennis Mason
Sound: Eric Reed
Sets: Leo Jacques
Costumes Monique Charbonneau
Interpretation : Jacques Godin (Radisson), Rene Caron (Des Groseilliers), Percy Rodriguez, Benoit Girard, Julien Bessette, Francoise Faucher, Camille Ducharme, Pierre Boucher, Bertrand Gagnon, Lionel Villeneuve, Buddha Bradon, Bill Fournier, Guy L'Ecuyer, Pierre Dufresne.
Synopsis: Telefilm for young people. The adventures of Pierre-Esprit Radisson who, with the help of his brother and fellow Des Groseilliers, opened the way to Hudson Bay. Series conceived as the story of a man, but not in kind "super hero", and as the story of a glorious era, the discovery of New France.
The first series (1-13) tells the exploits of Radisson in Hudson Bay until about 1665 while living with the Indians and establish alliances with them so useful for the repose and prosperity of the colony.
The second set (14-26) recounts her adventures in New England with the English merchants of Boston
Project History: The French network Radio-Canada had strongly felt the need de proposer aux jeunes téléspectateurs des émissions d’aventures. Les expériences tentées en studio avaient, à une ou deux expressions près, fait la preuve qu’il nous était impossible de compétitionner les séries américaines dites « syndicates » que le réseau anglais offrait au même public par le truchement de CBMT.
(…) Il s’est agit pour nous de trouver des héros qui passionneraient notre public de jeunes et qui, également, help to make them aware that Canada is a country that has its own values and personal traditions. It seemed successful search among the characters in our history. We stopped on our Radisson, first because his life was full of adventures and heroic deeds that may fascinate the young and because we Radisson emerged as the first of our ancestors who have had a deep love for Canada out of disputes between European countries bickered around our country. Fernand Doré - June 25, 1958
Lucarotti John was inspired by the Journal of Radisson and the story of his life as known today.
" course, Radisson is not a perfect production. However, on balance, it's a production that will meet the goals that we had proposed: to highlight the opportunities in Canada as a country producer of television films and create interest around Canada's history through a combination of history and romance. (...) I was very pleased that Radisson has attracted considerable press attention. This, I believe, a concrete proof that a keen interest in exploiting this new field in our country and we follow closely the steps of Radio-Canada, in addition, this acceptance of the press contributes greatly to excite the public about de cette émission » (E.-L. Bushnell – directeur général adjoint de Radio-Canada)
La presse:
« C’est un autre genre de cinéma et du plus rabâché qui va illustrer pour les semaines à venir dans la série hebdomadaire des aventures de Radisson. On se croirait revenu au temps du film muet avec ses naïves intrigues de violence et de dangers multiples. Il n’y a là no stamp of authenticity or of interest. "(Mr. Valois, La Presse, February 9, 1957)
" Paul Coucke considers the excellent first issue "(La Patrie Montreal, February 9, 1957)
" For Eloi de Grandmont c is there a formula for the future "(The Journal of the stars)
Source: Cinematheque Quebecois - press
Casting and summary of the episodes (English): http://www.angelfire.com/retro/cta/Can/RadissonTomahawk.htm
