R.C.M.P. (TV series)

R.C.M.P. was a Canadian television drama series about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The series ran a single season, consisting of 39 weekly half-hour episodes that aired from 28 October 1959 to 19 October 1960 on CBC.

R.C.M.P.
GenreCrime drama
Created byF. R. Crawley
StarringGilles Pelletier
Don Francks
Trent Gough
Theme music composerBill McCauley
Country of originCanada
United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes39
Production
Executive producerF. R. Crawley
ProducersHarry Horner
Bernard Girard
Running time30 mins.
Production companiesCrawley Films
CBC
BBC
Australian Broadcasting Commission
DistributorNBC Films
Release
Original networkCBC
Original release28 October 1959 (1959-10-28) –
19 October 1960 (1960-10-19)

Cast

It starred French-Canadian actor Gilles Pelletier as Corporal Jacques Gagnier and English-Canadian actor Don Francks as Constable Bill Mitchell, who were working at a detachment in rural northern Saskatchewan.

Actors in supporting roles were Hugh Webster, Murray Westgate, Robert Christie, James Doohan, John Drainie, Katherine Blake, and Alfie Scopp.[1]

Production

The series was created by Canadian film-maker F. R. Crawley in collaboration with Crawley Films, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC in the United Kingdom and Australian Broadcasting Commission.[2] It was shot on a new soundstage at Old Chelsea, a community of Chelsea, Quebec, and on location in Aylmer, Quebec and Outlook, Saskatchewan.[1] The series took place in the fictional western Canadian town of Shamattawa, a Cree name meaning the meeting of the rivers.[3] R.C.M.P. was endorsed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[4]

Writers for the series were George Salverson, Munroe Scott, Raymond Bowers, and Vincent Tilsey of the BBC, who acted as script editor. Music was composed by Bill McCauley.[1] The CBC aired the series at a cost of $8,000 per episode, and the BBC paid $10,000 per episode.[1]

R.C.M.P. was realistic in portraying small-town Canadian life, and often had the look of a documentary. [2] The series used the characters’ rural isolation, the changing weather conditions, and the cultural differences between whites and natives as focal points for episode stories.[1]

Crawley had hoped to sell the series to a United States television network, and was disappointed with needing to settle for less profitable syndication status, but the American television networks weren't interested in buying a foreign series unless they were involved in its production. Though Crawley had hired Hollywood-based Bernard Girard as head of production, that did not satisfy the U.S. networks, who wanted more control over the series they broadcast,[2] so the series was syndicated to United States television stations.[1]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Crash on 21"George GormanGeorge Salverson28 October 1959 (1959-10-28)
Corporal Jacques Gagnier risks his life to help a man trapped in his overturned gasoline tanker.
2"Poison Pen"George GormanTBA4 November 1959 (1959-11-04)
An anonymous letter writer creates fear and distrust among the people of Shamattawa. Corporal Gagnier investigates.
3"The Accused"Harry HornerGeorge Salverson11 November 1959 (1959-11-11)
Constable Frank Scott is accused of assaulting one of Shamattawa’s leading citizens.
4"Husband Trouble"George GormanTBA18 November 1959 (1959-11-18)
Vera Cord’s evidence sent her husband to jail. Now he’s being released, and she fears revenge.
5"The Ten-Mile Tombstone"George GormanTBA25 November 1959 (1959-11-25)
Townspeople are suspicious when Stephen Ford buys an expensive headstone for his wife’s grave, because everyone knows she made his life miserable.
6"David and Goliath"Don HaldaneTBA2 December 1959 (1959-12-02)
Constable Mitchell disguises himself as a beatnik to convict a narcotics peddler.
7"The Smiling People"Bernard GirardGeorge Salverson9 December 1959 (1959-12-09)
An Eskimo woman is charged with murder, and a plane carrying the basic requirements for a British court hearing arrives at Seal Bay in the Arctic.
8"The Safeman Cometh"Harry HornerGeorge Salvers-on16 December 1959 (1959-12-16)
A safecracker has been working his way across Ontario, and Constable Mitchell states that the man will come to Shamattawa.
9"Little Girl Lost"Fergus McDonellVincent Tilsley23 December 1959 (1959-12-23)
Gerta and Bart are having marital problems, and are using their young daughter as a weapon against each other.
10"The Replacement"Bernard GirardTBA30 December 1959 (1959-12-30)
While tracking a killer Corporal Gagnier becomes involved with the troubles of a murdered constable’s widow.
11"Gunslinger"George GormanBernard Girard6 January 1960 (1960-01-06)
The teenage son of an abusive father wants a Wild West gunfight on the main street of Shamattawa at high noon.
12"The Counterfeiter"George GormanTBA13 January 1960 (1960-01-13)
When Allison Andrews comes to Shamattawa Corporal Gagnier receives a marriage proposal.
13"Bad Medicine"Don HaldaneGeorge Salverson20 January 1960 (1960-01-20)
On a visit to trappers near Muskrat River Corporal Gagnier discovers two criminals hiding out in a cabin.
14"Three Big Men"Don HaldaneVincent Tilsley10 February 1960 (1960-02-10)
Corporal Gagnier tries to find out why three gangsters have come to Shamattaw.
15"Trackdown"Fergus McDugalGeorge Salverson17 February 1960 (1960-02-17)
When Corporal Gagnier tries to locate a missing priest he discovers a murderer.
16"Johnny Wolf"Paul AlmondGeorge Salverson24 February 1960 (1960-02-24)
Johnny Wolf’s father had been an artist and a war hero. Why had Johnny turned violent?
17"The Marked Man"Paul AlmondMunroe Scott2 March 1960 (1960-03-02)
The owner of a paper mill has had several bad accidents. Corporal Gagnier attempts to find out what’s happening at the mill.
18"The Hunt"George GormanVincent Tilsley16 March 1960 (1960-03-16)
When Corporal Gagnier investigates the theft of a truck the investigation takes an unusual turn.
19"Tourist Trap"Harry HornerTBA23 March 1960 (1960-03-23)
Well-armed bank robbers arrive in Shamattawa. They are looting the vault when Constable Scott walks into the bank.
20"Moonshine"Bernard GirardMunroe Scott30 March 1960 (1960-03-30)
Constable Scott is sent to an Indian Reserve to investigate illegal alcohol and discovers a murder.
21"The Extortionist"Don HaldaneVincent Tilsley6 April 1960 (1960-04-06)
Matthew Standing took the law into his own hands when an extortionist threatened his family. Corporal Gagnier knows one of the jury members at Standing’s trial is the extortionist.
22"The Longest Week of the Year"George GormanBernard Girard13 April 1960 (1960-04-13)
A trapper is caught in a blizzard with a frozen foot. When his family report him missing Gagnier and Scott travel by dog sled to rescue him.
23"Number Thirty Four"George GormanTBA20 April 1960 (1960-04-20)
Jack Reardon is convinced everyone is against him and decides to protect himself with a rifle.
24"Back to School"George GormanTBA27 April 1960 (1960-04-27)
Corporal Gagnier attends a refresher training course in Ottawa. Before the course is over he is warned about breaking regulations.
25"Target For the Law"George GormanTBA4 May 1960 (1960-05-04)
A man whose wife plans to divorce him is threatened by the man she wants to marry. The husband is then found shot to death.
26"Killer Instinct"Don HaldaneGeorge Salverson11 May 1960 (1960-05-11)
Dave Pickett, a paroled convict, is afraid his instinct to kill will overpower him again. His parole officer, Corporal Gagnier, tries to help.
27"The Gentle Executioner"George GormanTBA18 May 1960 (1960-05-18)
A case of arsenic poisoning comes to the attention of Corporal Gagnier.
28"Day of Reckoning"Fergus McDonellVincent Tilsley25 May 1960 (1960-05-25)
Ruth Hopwood is attacked on her way home and her family is sure Tony Fletcher is the guilty party, even though Ruth denies it. Her family threatens to take the law into their own hands when the RCMP won’t arrest Tony.
29"Violence at the Wedding"George GormanGeorge Salverson1 June 1960 (1960-06-01)
A former suitor of the bride brings bootleg liquor to the wedding reception that Gagnier is attending.
30"Battle of the Innocents"Harry HornerGeorge Salverson8 June 1960 (1960-06-08)
When Boomer Jackson kills his wife Corporal Gagnier tries to arrest him.
31"The Haystack Murder"Bernard GirardGeorge Salverson15 June 1960 (1960-06-15)
A haystack catches fire and a charred body is found. Corporal Gagnier investigates and finds a second body.
32"Thin Ice"George GormanVincent TIsley13 June 1960 (1960-06-13)
Gagnier and Scott go after bank robber Paul Donnelly. The trail leads them over a frozen lake.
33"Storm O’Brien"Bernard GirardMunroe Scott24 August 1960 (1960-08-24)
Corporal Gagnier must perform an operation while a doctor gives instructions over the telephone.
34"Breakout"Don HaldaneTBA31 August 1960 (1960-08-31)
Convict Pete Mallory breaks out of jail.
35"The Third Question"George GormanCharles Curran and Bernard Girard14 September 1960 (1960-09-14)
Money is missing from the church mission collection box, and a little boy can’t be found.
36"Mop-Out"Harry HornerBernard Girard21 September 1960 (1960-09-21)
A typical day at the Shamattawa RCMP detachment — a stolen police car, a wife-beater, a lost car, bad checks, and bones under a bed.
37"Shotgun Lady"Don HaldaneTBA5 October 1960 (1960-10-05)
Elderly Ann Gowley wlecomes all visitors by firing shots and hurling threats.
38"The Rustler"Paul AlmondGeorge Salverson12 October 1960 (1960-10-12)
The cattle belt of Saskatchewan is plagued by cattle rustling.
39"Piggy-Bank Robbery"George GormanTBA19 October 1960 (1960-10-19)
Constable Scott wonders why a thief stole only a piggy bank from a wealthy home.

Broadcast

The series aired on CBC in Canada, premiering on 28 October 1959, and airing its finale episode on 19 October 1960. In the United Kingdom, the series aired on BBC from 12 July 1960 to 19 May 1961. In the United States the series aired in broadcast syndication.[2]

References
  1. Allan, Blaine, Directory of CBC Television Series, 1952 - 1982, Queen's University, 1996
  2. https://cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/3723-REMEMBERING-THE-R.C.M.P.-ROYAL-CANADIAN-MOUNTED-POLICE-T.V.-SERIES.html
  3. Barrett, Cindy, Seeking a New Direction, Maclean’s, February 2, 1987
  4. http://ctva.biz/Canada/RCMP.htm
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