Henry Smithers: Difference between revisions

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{{Update|''[[Imaginary Friends (novel)|Imaginary Friends]]'' information needs to be added.}}
{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
|image   = Smithers.jpg
|image       = Smithers.jpg
|species = Human
|species     = Human
|origin = [[Earth]]
|job        = Scientist
|only   = Planet of Giants (TV story)  
|origin     = [[Earth]]
|actor   = Reginald Barratt
|only       = Planet of Giants (TV story)  
}}
|actor       = Reginald Barratt
'''Smithers''' was a [[scientist]] who developed the insecticide [[DN6]] in [[June]] [[1969]], in the hopes of ending [[famine]], having spent a lot of time working on it.
|voice actor = Paul Jones}}
[[Professor]] '''Henry Smithers''' ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Imaginary Friends (novel)|Imaginary Friends]]'') was a [[scientist]] who developed [[DN6]].


When he found out his business partner [[Forester (Planet of Giants)|Forester]] had [[murder]]ed government official [[Arnold Farrow]] to prevent his negative report on DN6 from being filed, he helped Forester cover up the murder. He turned against Forester when he found out how lethal DN6 was and disarmed Forester, who had had a makeshift bomb — made from an aerosol can of insecticide ignited by a gas tap in the lab — explode in his face.  
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
Professor Smithers began working in [[agriculture|agricultural]] research due to the amount of people starving around [[Earth|the world]]. When he was young, he worked on [[famine]] relief projects for the [[United Nations]] and saw hundreds die as a result of [[locust]]s, the sights that he saw burning into his [[memory]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (novelisation)|Planet of Giants]]'')
 
=== Supposed breakthrough ===
Smithers was "bought" by [[Mark Forester]] during the [[1960s]], who moved him into [[The Old Cottage|a cottage]] and provided him with scientific equipment to develop [[DN6]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (novelisation)|Planet of Giants]]'') His early experiments were welcomed by the Ministry and he spent a year working on it, working fifteen to sixteen hours a day, ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'') but he refused to face the truth when [[Arnold Farrow]] told him of its dangers. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (novelisation)|Planet of Giants]]'')
 
Forester showed Smithers Farrow's body after shooting him dead. Whilst he did not believe that Farrow had been killed accidentally, Smithers bought Forester's story about Farrow attempting to blackmail him and, to ensure that DN6 went into production, he helped to cover up the murder. However, upon finding that a [[cat]] had been killed by DN6, he realised how dangerous his creation was and, when [[Bert Rowse|PC Bert Rowse]] entered the cottage after Forester was left unconscious by an explosion, Smithers began to tell him what had happened ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'') and showed him Farrow's body. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (novelisation)|Planet of Giants]]'')
 
The remaining DN6 was confiscated by [[Colonel]] [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Grandfather Infestation (novel)|The Grandfather Infestation]]'')
 
== Personality ==
Haunted by what he saw whilst working for the [[United Nations]], Smithers was dedicated to eliminating [[famine]]. His obsession resulted in him refusing to face the truth when Farrow told him about the risks of [[DN6]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (novelisation)|Planet of Giants]]'') and willing to assist Forester in covering up his murder. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
 
== Appearance ==
Smithers was a sharp-faced little man who wore a white [[lab coat]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (novelisation)|Planet of Giants]]'')
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* Smithers was finally given a first name almost sixty years after his original appearance, with the [[2023 (releases)|2023]] novel ''[[Imaginary Friends (novel)|Imaginary Friends]]'' dubbing him "Henry".
* [[Paul Jones]] voiced Smithers in the [[2012 (releases)|2012]] reconstruction of parts 3 and 4 on the [[Planet of Giants (home video)|''Planet of Giants'' DVD release]].


They were both arrested by PC [[Bert Rowse]], who had been alerted to the suspicious goings-onby his telephone exchange operator wife [[Hilda Rowse|Hilda]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'').
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[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:Human chemists]]
[[Category:Human chemists]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]

Latest revision as of 06:49, 6 March 2024

This article needs to be updated.

Imaginary Friends information needs to be added.

These omissions are so great that the article's factual accuracy has been compromised. Check out the discussion page and revision history for further clues about what needs to be updated in this article.

Professor Henry Smithers (PROSE: Imaginary Friends) was a scientist who developed DN6.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Early life[[edit] | [edit source]]

Professor Smithers began working in agricultural research due to the amount of people starving around the world. When he was young, he worked on famine relief projects for the United Nations and saw hundreds die as a result of locusts, the sights that he saw burning into his memory. (PROSE: Planet of Giants)

Supposed breakthrough[[edit] | [edit source]]

Smithers was "bought" by Mark Forester during the 1960s, who moved him into a cottage and provided him with scientific equipment to develop DN6. (PROSE: Planet of Giants) His early experiments were welcomed by the Ministry and he spent a year working on it, working fifteen to sixteen hours a day, (TV: Planet of Giants) but he refused to face the truth when Arnold Farrow told him of its dangers. (PROSE: Planet of Giants)

Forester showed Smithers Farrow's body after shooting him dead. Whilst he did not believe that Farrow had been killed accidentally, Smithers bought Forester's story about Farrow attempting to blackmail him and, to ensure that DN6 went into production, he helped to cover up the murder. However, upon finding that a cat had been killed by DN6, he realised how dangerous his creation was and, when PC Bert Rowse entered the cottage after Forester was left unconscious by an explosion, Smithers began to tell him what had happened (TV: Planet of Giants) and showed him Farrow's body. (PROSE: Planet of Giants)

The remaining DN6 was confiscated by Colonel Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. (PROSE: The Grandfather Infestation)

Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]

Haunted by what he saw whilst working for the United Nations, Smithers was dedicated to eliminating famine. His obsession resulted in him refusing to face the truth when Farrow told him about the risks of DN6 (PROSE: Planet of Giants) and willing to assist Forester in covering up his murder. (TV: Planet of Giants)

Appearance[[edit] | [edit source]]

Smithers was a sharp-faced little man who wore a white lab coat. (PROSE: Planet of Giants)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

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