Watch Prairie Giant - The Tommy Douglas Story For Free

Sadly Over-hyped

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

The comments by people who "hated" this movie were very good comments. There are a few parts of the film which are crafted more for the enjoyment factor than the education factor. In doing so, the filmmakers sacrificed maybe one tenth of this film's historical value. I also agree with the people who loved this movie because it was so well produced and acted. All in all, this is a good film for anyone who cares about good government, family values, whether liberal or conservative. It provides a sound basis for further research if you are at all interested in the history of good government in the 20th Century. Speaking of "liberal," in the movie it is a puzzle why "liberal" seems to mean one thing in Canada and something else in the United States. Ah, well.

Very interesting movie in 2-parts about Tommy Douglas. He's the father of medicare in Canada, but so much more. This mini-series (4 hours total) tells the story of a great Canadian. In fact, he was voted the greatest Canadian by the citizens of this country a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, his work and accomplishments are not well enough known by ordinary Canadians. That's why this mini-series is so important. It helps that Michael Therriault is doing a terrific job as T.C. Douglas. It helps also that the supporting cast is great. And the use of archives adds on to the story. Too bad though that the mini-series focuses almost entirely on the creation of medicare. A longer series was perhaps needed.Seen at home, in Toronto, on March 12th and 13th, 2006.81/100 (***)

This film was OK, but took too many liberties for my liking. Parliamentary debates are not as they were portrayed in the first segment and one quotation attributed to Douglas was actually said by Ontario Premier Mitch Hepburn about a decade earlier.I was disappointed that the second part glossed over Tommy's years as leader of the New Democratic Party. We see him defeated in 1962 and then suddenly it's 1983.That being said, I was glad to see the emphasis on Irma Douglas's role behind the scenes. The NDP was in many ways a family affair, with wives just a vital an influence as their more famous husbands.And anything would beat another show with Ben Mulroney or another episode of Falcon Beach!

I knew him ,loved him,my pals loved him.I cried at his funeral memorial in Vancouver,B.C.A true gentleman in politics in Canada ,a rarity.the father of a world class medical system in Canada.He was a fighter of causes for the little guy against the big bad guys.A pioneer of the socialist movement in Canada,the C.C.F.-N.D.P.,Cooperative Commonwealth Federation-New Democratic Party along with James Woodsworth and James Coldwell.First socialist premier in Canada for the province of Saskatchewan.Went to Ottawa as a Member of Parliament,fed govt,for a B.C. riding.His daughter Shirley Douglas ,an actress married actor Donald Sutherland,his grandson is actor Keifer Sutherland. Keifer wanted to play his grandfather but had other commitments at the time this was filmed. Know you will like this wonderful mini series.