The Valour and the Horror Revisited

by David J. Bercuson (Editor), S.F. Wise (Editor)

In January 1992 the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcast The Valour and the Horror, a three-part television series on Canada's role in World War II. It sparked a major controversy among viewers, war veterans, and historians. Brian and Terence McKenna, the authors-producers of the series, were accused of distorting historical facts, maligning individuals such as commanders Arthur Harris and Guy Simonds, presenting a biased account of events, and overstepping the line between journalism and drama. The Valour and the Horror Revisited brings together source documents, original essays, and commentaries to provide an analysis of the specific accusations and of larger questions concerning responsible journalism. Included in the collection are reports by David Bercuson and S.F. Wise, who were asked by the CBC ombudsman to assess the series; the CBC ombudsman's report; the McKennas' response to the ombudsman's report; the ombudsman's commentary on the McKennas' response; and three new essays by historians John Ferris, William McAndrew, and Scot Robertson on the incidents covered in the series - Canadian involvement in the battles in Hong Kong and Normandy, and the bombing of Germany. The Valour and the Horror Revisited addresses such important issues as the dangers of "docudrama," the calibre of the Canadian media, the meaning of the Canadian experience in the war, and the nature of history.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 1994

Reviews

[Michael Dorosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fair coverage of the issues raised by the abysmal TV show The Valour and the Horror. Including the report of the CBC Ombudsman, as well as the rebuttal by Galafilm, the meat of this book is the detailed analysis by several distinguished Canadian historians. Even and balanced, written in a very scholarly way with extensive notes, this book is an effective tool in deconstructing the flawed TV series and understanding the basic objections raised by scholars and enthusiasts alike. An absolutely brilliant book.