fbpx
Wikipedia

The Champions (miniseries)

May 02, 2024

This article is about the Canadian miniseries. For the 1968 British television series, see The Champions. For other uses, see Champion (disambiguation).

The Champions is a three-part Canadian documentary mini-series on the lives of Canadian political titans and adversaries Pierre Elliott Trudeau and René Lévesque.

The Champions
GenreDocumentary
Directed byDonald Brittain
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes3
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
Release1978 (1978) –
1986 (1986)

Directed by Donald Brittain and co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the series follows Trudeau and Lévesque from their early years until their fall from power in the mid 1980s. The series itself took over a decade to complete. The first two-hour-long episodes Unlikely Warriors and Trappings of Power were released in 1978. The third installment, the 87-minute The Final Battle, was not completed until 1986, after both men had retired from politics.

Episodes edit

Unlikely Warriors explores Lévesque’s and Trudeau’s early years, from their university days through to 1967, when Lévesque left the Liberal party and Trudeau became the federal minister of justice. The episode documents the men’s similarities as well as differences. Though both were from wealthy families and were schooled by Jesuits, Trudeau had a detached intellectual perspective in sharp contrast with Lévesque’s more emotional journalistic approach. At their first meeting at a CBC cafeteria in Montreal, after a series of Socratic questions, Lévesque told Trudeau, "If you’re a goddamned intellectual, I don’t want to talk to you," setting the tone for their relationship to come.[1]

Trappings of Power begins in 1967, when Trudeau, now Justice Minister, is being courted to run for the leadership of the Liberal party, and climaxes with Lévesque and his separatist Parti Québécois winning 1976 Quebec provincial election.[2]

The Final Battle over the years between 1977 and 1986, including Lévesque and Trudeau’s final showdown in the 1980 Quebec referendum and the patriation of the Constitution of Canada. Part Three also follows each man’s fall from political grace.[3]

Production edit

The first two episodes of the series had a budget of $175,433 (equivalent to $678,724 in 2021) and The Final Battle had a budget of $350,659 (equivalent to $756,910 in 2021).[4]

Release and honours edit

Originally broadcast on CBC Television, Parts one and two of The Champions were also released as a feature-length film in 1978, winning four Canadian Film Awards, including Best Feature Documentary and Best Non-Dramatic Script.[1]

The Final Battle won Genie Awards for Best Feature Documentary and Best Direction in a Documentary.[3]

In 2006, the series was designed as a Masterwork by the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada.[5]

The series had been unavailable for several years, due to the expiration of rights for stock footage used in the film.[6] As of 2009, those issues have been resolved and the series has been added to the National Film Board's online Screening Room.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "The Champions, Part 1: Unlikely Warriors". Canadian Film Encyclopedia. Film Reference Library. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  2. ^ "The Champions, Part 2: Trappings of Power". Canadian Film Encyclopedia. Film Reference Library. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  3. ^ a b "The Champions, Part 3: The Final Battle". Canadian Film Encyclopedia. Film Reference Library. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  4. ^ Evans 1991, p. 238-239.
  5. ^ "The Champions". AV Trust. 2006. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  6. ^ Ross, Val (2006-12-06). "Classic docs sent back to the vault". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  7. ^ "The National Film Board of Canada launches The Champions series on its new online Screening Room". NFB press release. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-04-17.

Works cited edit

External links edit

May 02, 2024
champions, miniseries, this, article, about, canadian, miniseries, 1968, british, television, series, champions, other, uses, champion, disambiguation, champions, three, part, canadian, documentary, mini, series, lives, canadian, political, titans, adversaries. This article is about the Canadian miniseries For the 1968 British television series see The Champions For other uses see Champion disambiguation The Champions is a three part Canadian documentary mini series on the lives of Canadian political titans and adversaries Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Rene Levesque The ChampionsGenreDocumentaryDirected byDonald BrittainCountry of originCanadaOriginal languageEnglishNo of episodes3Original releaseNetworkCBC TelevisionRelease1978 1978 1986 1986 Directed by Donald Brittain and co produced by the National Film Board of Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation the series follows Trudeau and Levesque from their early years until their fall from power in the mid 1980s The series itself took over a decade to complete The first two hour long episodes Unlikely Warriors and Trappings of Power were released in 1978 The third installment the 87 minute The Final Battle was not completed until 1986 after both men had retired from politics Contents 1 Episodes 2 Production 3 Release and honours 4 References 5 Works cited 6 External linksEpisodes editUnlikely Warriors explores Levesque s and Trudeau s early years from their university days through to 1967 when Levesque left the Liberal party and Trudeau became the federal minister of justice The episode documents the men s similarities as well as differences Though both were from wealthy families and were schooled by Jesuits Trudeau had a detached intellectual perspective in sharp contrast with Levesque s more emotional journalistic approach At their first meeting at a CBC cafeteria in Montreal after a series of Socratic questions Levesque told Trudeau If you re a goddamned intellectual I don t want to talk to you setting the tone for their relationship to come 1 Trappings of Power begins in 1967 when Trudeau now Justice Minister is being courted to run for the leadership of the Liberal party and climaxes with Levesque and his separatist Parti Quebecois winning 1976 Quebec provincial election 2 The Final Battle over the years between 1977 and 1986 including Levesque and Trudeau s final showdown in the 1980 Quebec referendum and the patriation of the Constitution of Canada Part Three also follows each man s fall from political grace 3 Production editThe first two episodes of the series had a budget of 175 433 equivalent to 678 724 in 2021 and The Final Battle had a budget of 350 659 equivalent to 756 910 in 2021 4 Release and honours editOriginally broadcast on CBC Television Parts one and two of The Champions were also released as a feature length film in 1978 winning four Canadian Film Awards including Best Feature Documentary and Best Non Dramatic Script 1 The Final Battle won Genie Awards for Best Feature Documentary and Best Direction in a Documentary 3 In 2006 the series was designed as a Masterwork by the Audio Visual Preservation Trust of Canada 5 The series had been unavailable for several years due to the expiration of rights for stock footage used in the film 6 As of 2009 those issues have been resolved and the series has been added to the National Film Board s online Screening Room 7 References edit a b The Champions Part 1 Unlikely Warriors Canadian Film Encyclopedia Film Reference Library Retrieved 2009 04 17 The Champions Part 2 Trappings of Power Canadian Film Encyclopedia Film Reference Library Retrieved 2009 04 17 a b The Champions Part 3 The Final Battle Canadian Film Encyclopedia Film Reference Library Retrieved 2009 04 17 Evans 1991 p 238 239 The Champions AV Trust 2006 Retrieved 2009 04 17 Ross Val 2006 12 06 Classic docs sent back to the vault Globe and Mail Retrieved 2009 04 17 The National Film Board of Canada launches The Champions series on its new online Screening Room NFB press release 2009 04 16 Retrieved 2009 04 17 Works cited editEvans Gary 1991 In the National Interest A Chronicle of the National Film Board of Canada from 1949 to 1989 University of Toronto Press ISBN 0802027849 External links editThe Champions Part 1 Unlikely Warriors at the National Film Board of Canada catalog Watch The Champions Part 1 Unlikely Warriors on the NFB website The Champions Part 2 Trappings of Power at the National Film Board of Canada catalog Watch The Champions Part 2 Trappings of Power on the NFB website The Champions Part 3 The Final Battle at the National Film Board of Canada catalog Watch The Champions Part 3 The Final Battle on the NFB website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Champions miniseries amp oldid 1191125690, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.