Wojeck (1966)
A coroner searches for truth and justice with the help of his friends, while trying to hold his family together. (inspired by the headlines of Dr. Morton Shulman, chief coroner in Toronto) In the 1960s, Canadian TV underwent a shift led by "Wojeck" and "This Hour Has Seven Days." "Wojeck," influenced by Dr. Morton Shulman's work, explored safety standards through naturalistic filmmaking by Ronald Weyman and Grahame Woods. John Vernon's portrayal of Wojeck, a Polish Catholic confronting moral dilemmas, tackled societal issues like abortion and drug addiction. Guided by Weyman and David Peddie, the show bravely addressed topics like homosexuality and elderly neglect, gaining acclaim and international recognition.
Seasons & Episode
In its second season, the series kicks off with a two-part drama focused on Auto Safety. Coroner Steve Wojeck challenges the ruling of a fatal accident attributed to drunk driving. His concern lies with the auto manufacturer's neglect in creating safer cars, prompting him to take action against this indifference.
Wojeck hits the headlines by demanding that the Prime Minister open a full-scale investigation of the Auto Industry.
A young homosexual is arrested after a hotel killing. During the trial, the prosecutor, Bob Allenburry, (a respected family man and friend of Steve Wojeck) is blackmailed by Harry Richards, a friend of the accused, which jeopardizes Allenburry's career.
Sitting on the Fund Raising Committee for the City of Zion Hospital, coroner Steve Wojeck learns of an emergency admission of an Arab sailor who has a possible case of smallpox. This Arab admission to the Jewish hospital creates a controversial issue for the committee members. Bourgiba, the ship's captain, fights the health authorities when the sailor's ship is quarantined and the ship's owner offers a donation to the hospital in return for the sailor's release. Wojeck is prompted to investigate when he learns that there is a dead man aboard the ship.
This comic script juxtaposes the story of Madame Czerensky, a beautiful but aging woman who fears that someone is trying to kill her, with the story of a museum publicist with a mummy to bury and in need of a death certificate. Coroner Steve Wojeck discovers that the cause of the mummy's death and the source of Madame Czerensky's illness are the same: both used a mud pack from Egypt which contained arsenic; consequently both Madame Czerensky and the mummy suffered from their vanity.