"Due South" (1994)TV series 1994-1996

Creator:

Paul Haggis
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

15 September 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Comedy | Drama

Plot:

The cases of a cynical American police detective and a upright Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable in the city of Chicago.

Plot Keywords:

Police Officer | Wolf Hybrid | Rcmp | Mounted Police Officer | Chicago Illinois

Awards:

17 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

Paul Gross	...	Constable Benton Fraser (40 episodes, 1994-1996)
David Marciano	...	Ray Vecchio / ... (40 episodes, 1994-1996)
Catherine Bruhier	...	Elaine Besbriss (40 episodes, 1994-1997)
Beau Starr	...	Lt. Harding Welsh / ... (34 episodes, 1994-1996)
Tony Craig	...	Jack Huey (31 episodes, 1994-1996)
Daniel Kash	...	Louis Gardino / ... (26 episodes, 1994-1996)

(more)

Series Directed by
George Bloomfield		(10 episodes, 1995-1996)
David Warry-Smith		(5 episodes, 1995-1996)
Steve DiMarco		(3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Richard J. Lewis		(3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Paul Haggis		(3 episodes, 1995)
Gilbert M. Shilton		(3 episodes, 1996)
Lyndon Chubbuck		(2 episodes, 1994)
Paul Lynch		(2 episodes, 1994)
Jim Kaufman		(unknown episodes)
Larry A. McLean		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Paul Haggis		(34 episodes, 1994-1996)
Jeff King		(11 episodes, 1994-1996)
Kathy Slevin		(8 episodes, 1994-1996)
David Shore		(6 episodes, 1994-1996)
Peter Mohan		(3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Frank Siracusa		(3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Michael Teversham		(3 episodes, 1996)
Peter Lefcourt		(2 episodes, 1995)
Seth Freeman		(2 episodes, 1996)
Paul Gross		(2 episodes, 1996)
Jim Kramer		(2 episodes, 1996)
John Krizanc		(2 episodes, 1996)
Phil Bedard		(1 episode, 1995)
Larry Lalonde		(1 episode, 1995)
Jeff Vlaming		(unknown episodes)
George F. Walker		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Jeff King	....	executive producer / co-executive producer / ... (28 episodes, 1994-1996)
George Bloomfield	....	co-producer (27 episodes, 1995-1996)
Kathy Slevin	....	executive producer / co-executive producer (19 episodes, 1995-1996)
Robert Wertheimer	....	producer (18 episodes, 1995-1996)
Paul Haggis	....	executive producer (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Norman Denver	....	line producer (10 episodes, 1995)
Frank Siracusa	....	line producer (4 episodes, 1996)
Peter Bray	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
R.B. Carney	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
David Cole	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Paul Gross	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Adam Haight	....	line producer (unknown episodes)
Robert Lantos	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
John McCarthy		(41 episodes, 1994-1996)
Jack Lenz		(29 episodes, 1994-1996)
Jay Semko		(29 episodes, 1994-1996)

Series Cinematography by
Malcolm Cross		(17 episodes, 1995-1996)
Derick V. Underschultz		(9 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Film Editing by
Eric Goddard		(21 episodes, 1994-1996)
David B. Thompson		(15 episodes, 1994-1996)

Series Casting by
John Buchan		(15 episodes, 1995-1996)
Marissa Richmond		(13 episodes, 1996)
Clare Walker		(2 episodes, 1995)
Diane Kerbel		(2 episodes, 1996)

Series Production Design by
Harold Thrasher		(39 episodes, 1994-1996)

Series Art Direction by
Raymond Lorenz		(4 episodes, 1994-1995)
Mario Mercuri		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Jerri Thrasher		(41 episodes, 1994-1996)

Series Costume Design by
Suzette Daigle		(12 episodes, 1995-1996)
Sara Schilt		(1 episode, 1996)
Kei Yano		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Cheree Van Dyk	....	makeup artist: Alaska (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Terry Gould	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1995)
Stéphane Reichel	....	executive in charge of production (2 episodes, 1995)
Jean Desormeaux	....	executive in charge of production (unknown episodes)
Thom J. Pretak	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Larry A. McLean	....	second unit director (10 episodes, 1995-1996)
Woody Sidarous	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1995-1996)
Michael J. Bowman	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1996)
Marcel Saumure	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1996)
Frank Siracusa	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1995)
David Warry-Smith	....	second unit director (2 episodes, 1995)
Jill Compton	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1996)
Mark Tataryn	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1996)
T.J. Scott	....	second unit director (1 episode, 1994)
Eric Banz	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)
Bruce Speyer	....	first assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Michelle Taddei	....	trainee assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Shelley Nieder	....	property master (2 episodes, 1995)
Brandt Gordon	....	first assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Garry Honcharuk	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Allen Ormerod	....	sound re-recording mixer (41 episodes, 1994-1996)
Erika Schengili-Roberts	....	boom operator: second unit (unknown episodes, 1993-1996)
Peter Clements	....	sound mixer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Gavin Coford	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Paula Fairfield	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Andy Koyama	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Alan Zielonko	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Tim Good	....	special effects foreman (1 episode, 1994)
Brock Jolliffe	....	special effects supervisor (1 episode, 1994)
Jeff Skochko	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes, 1994-1997)
John MacGillivray	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Dave McGhie	....	visual effects supervisor (41 episodes, 1994-1996)

Series Stunts
John Stoneham Jr.	....	utility stunts (5 episodes, 1994-1995)
Ken Quinn	....	stunt coordinator / stunts (3 episodes, 1995)
John Stead	....	lead stunt double / stunt performer (2 episodes, 1994-1995)
Randy Butcher	....	stunts (1 episode, 1995)
Erin Jarvis	....	stunts (1 episode, 1995)
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunts (1 episode, 1995)
Robert Racki	....	stunts (1 episode, 1995)
Paul Rutledge	....	stunts (1 episode, 1995)
Marco Bianco	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Matt Birman	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Eric Bryson	....	assistant stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Tommy Chang	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Michael Chan	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Shelley Cook	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Mary Fallick	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Mike Gow	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Angelica Lisk	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt rigger / utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Larry A. McLean	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Rick Parker	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Helen Scott	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Bryan Thomas	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Dave Van Zeyl	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Geoff Williams	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Schillinger	....	grip (3 episodes, 1996)
David Fisher	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 1995)
Alan Thatcher	....	additional photographer: Chicago (2 episodes, 1995)
Michael Storey	....	director of photography: second unit (1 episode, 1995)
Derick V. Underschultz	....	director of photography: second unit (1 episode, 1995)
Sean Bourdeau	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
John Dyer	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)
Joel Guthro	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)
Gail Harvey	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Peter Luxford	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)
John Medland	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Milan Podsedly	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)
Chris Stagg	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Adam Swica	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Lisa London	....	casting: Los Angeles (2 episodes, 1995)
Lori Pumputis	....	additional casting (2 episodes, 1995)
Eve Brandstein	....	casting executive (unknown episodes)
John Buchan	....	casting: Toronto (unknown episodes)
Jon Comerford	....	casting: Toronto (unknown episodes)
Eric Dawson	....	casting: Los Angeles (unknown episodes)
Clare Walker	....	casting: Toronto (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan MacLeod	....	assistant costume designer (1 episode, 1994)
Sara Schilt	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1994)
Jana Stern	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1994)
Alex Kavanagh	....	wardrobe mistress (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Jerry Skavinsky	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Scott Cooper	....	story coordinator (40 episodes, 1994-1996)
Ted Haggis	....	dog trainer (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Joey Young	....	dog trainer (23 episodes, 1995-1996)
Chris Moulson	....	production assistant (22 episodes, 1994-1995)
Paul Haggis	....	executive consultant (18 episodes, 1995-1996)
Peter Mohan	....	creative consultant (18 episodes, 1995-1996)
Michael Teversham	....	story editor (18 episodes, 1995-1996)
Seth Freeman	....	executive consultant (12 episodes, 1996)
Jim Kramer	....	executive consultant (12 episodes, 1996)
Peter Lefcourt	....	creative consultant (8 episodes, 1995)
Carla Kettner	....	story editor (6 episodes, 1995)
David Shore	....	story editor (6 episodes, 1995)
Elizabeth Comici	....	program consultant (6 episodes, 1996)
Luciano Comici	....	program consultant (6 episodes, 1996)
George Walker	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1995-1996)
Melissa Warry-Smith	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1996)
Kimberly Hill	....	creative consultant (3 episodes, 1995)
Jackie Alexander	....	production coordinator: second unit (unknown episodes)
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	armorer (unknown episodes)
Robin Brinsmead	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
David Cole	....	executive story consultant / story editor (unknown episodes)
Mary Fraser	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Aine Furey	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Joanna Tracey Heaton	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jeff King	....	executive consultant (unknown episodes)
John Krizanc	....	program consultant (unknown episodes)
Julie Lacey	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Ray McMillan	....	projectionist: rear projection (unknown episodes)
Stephen Neigher	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Jerome Persaud	....	cue cards (unknown episodes)
Paul Quarrington	....	program consultant (unknown episodes)
Heather Roscorla	....	assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
Dave Tommasini	....	helicopter pilot (unknown episodes)
John Wade	....	dog trainer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Alliance Atlantis Communications
• Baton Broadcasting Incorporated (BBS)
• CBS Productions
• CTV Television Network
• Paul Haggis Productions

Distributors

• Alliance Communications Corporation
• CBS Television (1994-1996) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Canadian Television (CTV)
• PolyGram Television
• Rank Film Organization

Also Known As:

Direction: Sud (Canada: French title)
Due South: The Series (Canada: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (68 episodes)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

The character of print journalist MacKenzie King, who appeared in two episodes (played by two different actresses) was named for former Canadian prime minister, William Lyon MacKenzie King, who served in the 1920s.

Quotes:

Ray Vecchio: [voice over from sewer] This is a swill pit. You brought me into a swill pit.
Fraser: [voice over from sewer] No, it's not a swill pit, Ray. First of all, swill entails a more pungent odour and a pit is generally a circular indentation with only one entrance from the top. This however fits the definition of a tunnel. A long, straight...
Ray Vecchio: [thud]
[voice over from sewer]
Ray Vecchio: Ow!
Fraser: [voice over from sewer] Correction, a long, meandering tunnel.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Royal Canadian Air Farce: (1997-12-31)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Ride Forever

Watch it to believe the good in humankind

I have long since packed away the Due South videotapes I own and stashed them in an unobtrusive corner, but that didn't stop me from checking out the IMDb entry and the fans' comments while surfing through here. I want to put in my two cents worth because I loved that show and I hope that one or two other persons who read this will seek it out and come to enjoy it too. Other fans have written great things about the overall quality and the subtle humor of the series - two of the best reasons to watch, so I shall stick to how I feel about the show.

Due South is a courageous show. Week after week, the writers put the comically unflappable Mountie Fraser in center court, fighting crime in his bright red ceremonial uniform. This raised eyebrows and started snickers. It was ridiculed for its ostentatiously feel-good storylines and ignored as "another one of those cop buddy series". But those who overcame their initial cynicism and stayed to watch a full hour of the show discovered a gem. The message of the show was - don't be afraid to show what's in your heart and mind. Due South the series, by being on air and gaining a loyal following, led by example.

Due South promotes old fashioned virtues. Mountie Fraser opens doors and helps old ladies cross streets. He always goes the extra mile for everyone he knows. Detractors claimed that the character was cartoonish. But again, they missed the point. I am reminded of a forwarded e-mail that encouraged the reader to wear bright colored clothes to improve the mood, spike the energy level and increase productivity in general. Another e-mail said to smile frequently so that one will feel better about oneself and be attractive to others at the same time. Due South embodies the spirit of those quaint but universally sound advice. You bring out the best in others by exhibiting the best in yourself. In our modern world of depressing grays and browns, Fraser's scarlet served as a flashing reminder that passion, over any issue, causes us to care about others and may yet redeem us from the selfish, individualistic blackhole that society is sleepwalking towards.

And my favorite reason, Due South is about friendship. Fraser and Ray took bullets for each other. I can recall a few other cop and soldier shows that had the lead characters do the same but more often than not, it's done to grandstand the machismo of the protagonists. Due South says what's really important is to be a hero for your loved ones, the people who actually need that from you. In real life, those who were passionate about the show became good friends, making full use of the (then) infant Internet to clamor for the revival of the show after its first season. I made friends with fantastic people who shared my love for Due South, people who understood and placed a high value on the kind of "through thick and thin" relationship that the show emphasized.

Due South resounds with the hope that we will remember to have love in our hearts and empathy in our actions. It doesn't try to shock or sensationalize. Instead, it requires the viewer to reflect a little after the television set is switched off. It appeals to the brain as much as it does to the heart and the funny bone. It will always be one of the best shows I know.