The Tenth Decade

The Tenth Decade was a Canadian documentary television miniseries which aired on CBC Television in 1971.

The Tenth Decade
Genredocumentary
Written byBrian Nolan
Ed Reid
Christopher Young
Directed byMunroe Scott
Narrated byJon Granik
ComposerLarry Crosley
Country of origin Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producerCameron Graham
Release
Original networkCBC Television
Original release27 October (1971-10-27) –
22 December 1971 (1971-12-22)

Premise

The series presented Canada's political history between 1957 and 1967, or the tenth decade since the nation's Confederation. John Diefenbaker of the Progressive Conservative party became Prime Minister in the 1957 election. He was defeated by Lester B. Pearson and his Liberal party in 1963. The series concentrated on the lives and careers of both Diefenbaker and Pearson, supported by interview and archival footage.

The music score was composed by Larry Crosley and performed by several orchestras which were not credited in the series, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.[1]

Scheduling

This hour-long series was broadcast on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. from 27 October to 22 December 1971. It was rebroadcast on CBC Television at various times in 1972 and 1976.

Episodes
No. Title Original air date
1"Prologue to Power"27 October 1971 (1971-10-27)
Biographical profiles of Diefenbaker and Pearson and documented Diefenbaker's 1957 victory.[2]
2"From Victory to Triumph"3 November 1971 (1971-11-03)
Set during Diefenbaker's initial minority government towards his majority victory in the March 1958 election. Pearson then succeeded Louis St. Laurent as opposition Liberal leader.[3]
3"The Power and The Glory"10 November 1971 (1971-11-10)
Featured Diefenbaker's majority term until the 1962 election when his Progressive Conservatives were scaled back to a minority government.
4"Treason and Transition"24 November 1971 (1971-11-24)
Concerns Diefenbaker's final government term in which Canada supported the Bomarc missile program but rejected nuclear weaponry. This was a key issue in the 1963 election in which Pearson and his Liberals won.
5"Search for a Mandate"1 December 1971 (1971-12-01)
Described Pearson's early years as Prime Minister of another minority government. This era until the 1965 election was marked by controversies of national scandals, the federal budget and the Vietnam War.
6"No Joy in Heaven"8 December 1971 (1971-12-08)
Featured Pearson's second term of government. Controversies during this time included situations in Quebec and revelations of the Gerda Munsinger scandal.
7"Celebration and Success"15 December 1971 (1971-12-15)
Set in 1967, the Canadian Centennial year, during which Diefenbaker resigned as opposition leader.
8"The End of an Era"22 December 1971 (1971-12-22)
Featured Pearson's final term as Prime Minister after which his successor, Pierre Trudeau, won a majority term in 1968 over Robert Stanfield who now led the Progressive Conservatives.

No episode was broadcast on 17 November 1971 due to a Canadian Football League game.

See also

Graham later produced separate miniseries on prime ministers Diefenbaker and Pearson:

References
  1. Corcelli, John (September 2005). "The Tenth Decade". Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. "The Tenth Decade". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  3. "TV Times". The Gazette. Montreal. 30 October 1971. p. TV3. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
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