Vincent and the Doctor (TV story): Difference between revisions

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 {{real world}}
 {{ImageLinkTV}}
-{{Infobox Story
+{{Infobox Story SMW
 |image = VincentAndTheOtherDoctor.jpg
 |series = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
-|season number = Series 5 (Doctor Who)
+|season number = Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)
 |series episode number = 10
 |story number = 210
+|scripturl        = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/doctor-who-5-episode-10-vincent-and-the-doctor-yellow-revisions-18122009.pdf
 |doctor = Eleventh Doctor
 |companions = [[Amy Pond|Amy]]
-|featuring = [[Vincent van Gogh]]
+|featuring = [[Vincent van Gogh|Vincent]], [[Henry Black|Black]]
 |enemy = [[Krafayis (Vincent and the Doctor)|Krafayis]]
 |setting = {{il|[[Auvers-sur-Oise]], [[France]], [[1 June|1]]-[[3 June]], [[1890]]|[[Paris]], [[2010]]}}
-|writer = [[Richard Curtis]]
+|writer = Richard Curtis
 |director = [[Jonny Campbell]]
 |producer = [[Tracie Simpson]], [[Patrick Schweitzer]]
 |confidential = A Brush with Genius (CON episode)
-|broadcast date = [[5 June (releases)|5 June]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]]
+|broadcast date = 5 June 2010
-|network = [[BBC One]]
+|network = BBC One
 |format = 1×47 minute episode
 |production code = 1.10
@@ Line 27: / Line 28: @@
 |trailer = Doctor Who - Vincent and the Doctor trailer - BBC One
 |clip = Vincent Van Gogh Visits the Gallery - Doctor Who Series 5 - BBC
-}}
+|thwr=100}}
-'''''Vincent and the Doctor''''' was the tenth episode of [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)|series 5]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
+'''''Vincent and the Doctor''''' was the tenth episode of [[Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 5]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
 It saw the Doctor befriend another famous figure in [[Vincent van Gogh]] and explored the lead-up to his [[suicide]].
@@ Line 34: / Line 35: @@
 In ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]'', it's said that this episode shows how ''Doctor Who'' has heart unlike most science fiction stories, which leave out the compassion/humanity. It was also the intention to introduce the concept of mental illness to a younger audience, so they could grow up with the knowledge that they needed to be patient and understanding with those who were afflicted with it. It also marked another of the few times that the Doctor was unable to save a life; although in this case, it was because Vincent was tormented by inner demons that even the Time Lord couldn't reach. "The Doctor cannot [always] save someone from [themselves]."
-Along with ''[[Amy's Choice (TV story)|Amy's Choice]]'', this story neither features a [[Time Field|crack in time]], nor does it make any mention to [[the Silence]]. However, [[Rory Williams|Rory]]'s absence is alluded to, giving the episode a defined place in the season's [[story arc]].
+Along with ''[[Amy's Choice (TV story)|Amy's Choice]]'', this story neither features a [[Time field|crack in time]], nor does it make any mention to [[the Silence]]. However, [[Rory Williams|Rory]]'s absence is alluded to, giving the episode a defined place in the season's [[story arc]].
 The episode's addressment of [[mental health]] prompted the inclusion of a [[BBC Action Line]] tag at the end of the episode upon its original broadcast.
@@ Line 384: / Line 385: @@
 |InMemoryOf=
 |Note=This was the first episode of the [[BBC Wales]] series to have two credited script editors.  Oddly, [[Emma Freud]] was credited at the end of the roll, suggesting she was considered more "senior" than [[Brian Minchin]].
-|Note2=As on ''[[The Vampires of Venice]]'', [[Patrick Schweitzer]] was double-credited as both [[producer]] and [[line producer]].
+|Note2=As on ''[[The Vampires of Venice (TV story)|The Vampires of Venice]]'', [[Patrick Schweitzer]] was double-credited as both [[producer]] and [[line producer]].
 <!--There are note variables from Note2 to Note20, but these are probably only necessary for the odd case of "The End of Time".  This set of variables are the only ones which aren't automatically linked; it's just a freeform note field.  All Notes mass together in a single paragraph at the end of the table created by this template.  Thus, each individual note should be a full sentence ending with a period, and should have any links enclosed in [[brackets]].
 --><!--The following credits are generally more "American", and thus almost exclusively limited to the 1996 Paul McGann movie. -->
@@ Line 402: / Line 403: @@
 }}
-== References ==
+== Worldbuilding ==
 * The exhibit is called [[Vincent van Gogh: The Great Innovator]].
 * The Doctor uses [[crosactic energy]] to stun the Krafayis.
 * The Doctor makes a reference to the film ''[[Field of Dreams]]'', saying "If you paint it, he will come..."
 * The Doctor has taken Amy to visit [[Arcadia (planet)|Arcadia]] and the [[Trojan Gardens]].
+* The title came from the film ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_%26_Theo Vincent and Theo],'' which was about the relationship between van Gogh and his younger brother Theodorus.
 === The TARDIS ===
-*The paper placed on the exterior of the TARDIS is incinerated once it is brought into the [[time vortex]].
+* The paper placed on the exterior of the TARDIS is incinerated once it is brought into the [[time vortex]].
 * The Retro-version of the TARDIS console has a [[friction contrafibulator]], two switches with a red and yellow head that the Doctor notes are "Ketchup" and "Mustard", and near these two switches is a Type V 310-A AC/DC receiver constructed by [[Magpie Electricals]].
 === People from the real world ===
-*The Doctor has met [[Michelangelo]] and [[Pablo Picasso]].
+* The Doctor has met [[Michelangelo]] and [[Pablo Picasso]].
 * The Doctor expresses frustration with van Gogh's style, suggesting that this would "never happen with [[Thomas Gainsborough|Gainsborough]]".
 == Story notes ==
+* [[Richard Curtis]]' preferred title for the adventure was ''Eyes That See the Darkness''. It drew upon the description of van Gogh as having “eyes that know the darkness in my soul” in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_McLean Don McLean]'s 1971 song ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_(Don_McLean_song) Vincent]'', which was itself inspired by ''[[Starry Night]]''. [[Steven Moffat]], however, preferred a less abstruse title.
 * Unlike most stories in this series, this story focuses much more on characters than plot, and has hints and references to van Gogh's struggle with bipolar disorder and suicide, something the series has not explored deeply before. A message and phone number for the "BBC Action Line" was broadcast following the "Next Time" trailer for those wanting more information on "issues raised in this program".
-* Pictures of the [[First Doctor|First]] and [[Second Doctor]]s are printed on the TARDIS' typewriter.
+* Pictures of the [[First Doctor|First]] and [[Second Doctor]]s are printed on the TARDIS's typewriter.
-* The accordion player in the café is clearly playing a version of "I Am The Doctor" from the series 5 soundtrack.
+* The accordion player in the café is clearly playing a rendition of "[[I Am the Doctor|I Am The Doctor]]" from the series 5 soundtrack.
-* This is the second story in the series to lack any cracks, silence, or other foreshadowing of the series finale, the first being ''[[Amy's Choice (TV story)|Amy's Choice]]''). However, it does tie in to [[Rory Williams|Rory]]'s death and establishes that, on some level, Amy is aware he has died.
+* This is the second story in the series to lack any cracks, silence, or other foreshadowing of the series finale, the first being ''[[Amy's Choice (TV story)|Amy's Choice]]''. However, it does tie in to [[Rory Williams|Rory]]'s death and establishes that, on some level, Amy is aware he has died.
-* [[Bill Nighy]] was not credited for his role.
+* [[Bill Nighy]] agreed to take the part on condition that he was not credited, no publicity photos were taken of him, and he did not have to give any interviews.
-* The song used for the scenes of Van Gogh in the museum is "[[Chances]]" by [[Athlete (band)|Athlete]].
+* The song used for the scenes of Van Gogh in the museum is "[[Chances]]" by [[Athlete (band)|Athlete]]. This was [[Matt Smith]]'s idea, as he was a fan of the band.
 * This is the first episode since 1963 to end on a [[wiktionary:cut to black|cut to black]].
-* Van Gogh works referenced in the episode include: ''[[Church at Auvers]]'' (1890), ''[[Bedroom in Arles]]'' (1887), ''[[The Café Terrace]]'' (1888), ''[[Vase with Twelve Sunflowers|Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers]]'' (1888), ''[[Portrait of Dr. Gachet]]'' (1890), ''[[The Starry Night]]'' (1889), ''[[Wheatfield with Crows]]'' (1890), ''[[Vincent's Chair with His Pipe]]'' (1888), ''[[Self-Portrait with Straw Hat]]'' (1887), and  ''[[Almond Blossoms]]'' (1890).
+* Van Gogh works referenced in the episode include: ''[[Church at Auvers]]'' (1890), ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedroom_in_Arles Bedroom in Arles]'' (1887), ''[[The Café Terrace]]'' (1888), ''[[Vase with Twelve Sunflowers|Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers]]'' (1888), ''[[Portrait of Dr. Gachet]]'' (1890), ''[[The Starry Night]]'' (1889), ''[[Wheatfield with Crows]]'' (1890), ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Gogh%27s_Chair Vincent's Chair with His Pipe]'' (1888), ''[[Self-Portrait with Straw Hat]]'' (1887), and ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almond_Blossoms Almond Blossoms]'' (1890).
 * During the ''[[Doctor Who: Lockdown!]]'' tweetalong of this episode in [[2020 (releases)|2020]], [[Matt Smith]] opined that "[[Henry Black|Doctor Black]]" may in fact be an alias of a future incarnation of [[the Doctor]] checking back on his younger self and helping him along, quite like [[the Curator]]. This would retrospectively make ''Vincent and the Doctor'' a backdoor [[List of multi-Doctor stories|multi-Doctor story]], although such an identity is not known to have been anybody's intent in the filming, and has yet to be confirmed by any sources deemed [[Tardis:Valid sources|valid]] on this Wiki.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/LockdownWho/status/1244686573167403008 |title=#TheUltimateGinger |author = Smith, M. |date of source=30 March 2020|website name=Twitter |accessdate=24 November 2020}}</ref>
+* The self-portrait of Vincent is not an exact replica; it is altered slightly to resemble [[Tony Curran]]. This painting would later show up as an image in an historical archive in ''[[Smile (TV story)|Smile]]''.
+* [[Richard Curtis]] had been fascinated by the life of Vincent Van Gough. Though it was a subject he knew "quite a lot" about, he still read a 200-page biography of Van Gogh, which was more research than he normally would have done if working on other projects; he took Van Gogh very seriously. As such, he wanted to be "truthful rather than cruel" and refused to write any jokes about Van Gogh's ears after he famously cut one of them off.
+* [[Bill Nighy]] filmed his key cameo in a day.
+* The scene with the Doctor, Amy and Vincent lying in a field was inspired by the painting ''Starry Night''.
+* [[Steven Moffat]] named this as his favourite [[Eleventh Doctor]] episode.
+* To write the script, [[Richard Curtis]] and his wife [[Emma Freud]], who routinely worked as his script editor, took their four children to Italy for a month. After a week in which little headway was made, the family had the idea to arrange a spare room in their rented former schoolhouse in the manner of van Gogh's 1888 painting ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedroom_in_Arles Bedroom in Arles]''. Curtis then enjoyed quick progress, bolstered by nightly viewings of past ''Doctor Who'' episodes. Input came from his children, with daughter [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlett_Curtis Scarlett] suggesting that it could be ''[[The Church at Auvers]]'' in which the Krafayis appeared. The family had seen the original masterpiece in the collection of the [[Musée d'Orsay]].
+* Due to time constraints, several scenes were cut. These included several scenes involving Madame Vernet - the mother of the slain Giselle - as well as the revelation that the Doctor knows of the Krafayis from a book of scary stories he read as a child on Gallifrey. The latter plot strand would have caused the Doctor to be jittery throughout his time in Auvers, and would also have presaged the climactic revelation about the Krafayis' handicap, since the book was titled ''Blind Fury''.
+* When writing the script, [[Richard Curtis]] put up prints of Van Gogh paintings around the house as well as a board with index cards outlining the plot.
+* [[Richard Curtis]] asked [[Steven Moffat]] to criticise "anything and everything" and later said he was very honest. Moffat told Curtis that it needed to "start quicker" and that the meeting with the Doctor and Vincent was "dull" and needed to be something "cute" like Curtis had done in his films. He also noted that the Doctor did not talk as much as Curtis had written and recommended Curtis watch some episodes to see he was "rather efficient in the way that he talked". Curtis enjoyed the experience, commenting that it was "fun" to work within boundaries rather than doing it all himself. After seeing a read-through performed by [[Matt Smith]] and [[Karen Gillan]], Curtis made more changes. He commented that it was easy to write for them as they were "so delightful and modern and relaxed".
+* The producers have stated that they cast someone as high profile as [[Bill Nighy]] for such a small part was because they needed the audience to listen to what the character said (which in this case were important biographical information about Vincent Van Gogh).
+* [[Bill Nighy]] and [[Tony Curran]] have both appeared in the ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underworld_(film_series) Underworld]'' series, playing elder vampires Vincent and Marcus.
+* It was [[Steven Moffat]]'s idea that the Krafayis be invisible.
+* When the Doctor and Amy say goodbye to Vincent and he stands in the field, the wide shot of him as the TARDIS fades has two branches cut through the middle of the frame which somewhat resemble half of the crack from Amy's bedroom.
+* The original script was a pure character piece where the Doctor and Amy visit Van Gogh and spend an uneventful few days with him. The execs insisted they needed to fight a monster.
+* [[Richard Curtis]] wanted to write for the show because he thought it would be "something my kids would like."
+* In [[2020]], [[Karen Gillan]] later revealed on [[Twitter]] that her father got her a Van Gough ''Sunflowers'' painting for her [[birthday]].
+* [[Matt Smith]] named this as one of his favourite episodes because it was shot in Croatia.
+* [[Steven Moffat]] met [[Richard Curtis]] at [[Red Nose Day 1999]], where Moffat contributed [[The Curse of Fatal Death (TV story)|''The Curse of Fatal Death''.]]
+* [[Steven Moffat]] knew that [[Richard Curtis]] wasn't a fan of the series and the writer pondered his offer to contribute a script for some time. However, he happened to live next door to [[David Morrissey]], who was co-starring in ''[[The Next Doctor (TV story)|The Next Doctor]]''. Their families watched the broadcast together, after which Curtis' children demanded that he accept Moffat's invitation.
+* [[Richard Curtis]] had enjoyed the show's historical episodes and felt comfortable writing one. He had the idea of a story centred on van Gogh for "a long while" and was particularly interested in the fact van Gogh never knew he would be famous, as well as his inspirational story. [[Steven Moffat]] was initially cool to this approach, which he worried would be inappropriate for the programme's audience, but he was eventually persuaded by Curtis' ideas for the script. Nonetheless, it was agreed that the story would avoid focusing on the more sordid aspects of van Gogh's life, such as the amputation of a portion of his left ear.
+* [[Richard Curtis]] chose to fictionalise some aspects of van Gogh's history; for example, he set his script at the Yellow House which van Gogh had rented in Arles from 1888 to 1889, but he reimagined the associated events as taking place in June 1890, when van Gogh was actually living in Auvers-sur-Oise.
+* Krafayis was originally spelled Crafayis.
+* For much of the story's development, there were in fact two Krafayis, with the second committing suicide after van Gogh inadvertently killed its mate, rather than face the agony of loneliness.
+* This episode formed Block Five of season five, along with ''[[The Vampires of Venice (TV story)|The Vampires of Venice]].''
+* Although principal photography was scheduled to take place in November and December 2009, [[Jonny Campbell]] made the unusual decision to film material for one scene months earlier. This was the shot of the wheat field used at the beginning of the episode, which would have been out of season in late autumn.
+* A six-foot turntable was used for the sequence where van Gogh realised the enormous impact which his artwork had had upon the world.
+* [[Bill Nighy]] collaborated with [[Richard Curtis]] on the films ''[[Love Actually]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boat_That_Rocked The Boat That Rocked]'' and ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/About_Time_(2013_film) About Time].''
+* The first day of filming in Trogir was hit by rain, so the cast and crew travelled ten kilometres west, to the village of Vrsine, where, [[Jonny Campbell]] taped the scene of the Doctor, Amy and Vincent lying in a field.
+* Though it was a subject he knew "quite a lot" about, [[Richard Curtis]] still read a 200-page biography of van Gogh, which was more research than he normally would have done if working on other projects; he took van Gogh very seriously. As such, he wanted to be "truthful rather than cruel" and refused to write any jokes about van Gogh's ears after he famously cut one of them off. However, he did incorporate other humour as he naturally wanted to "try to make things funny".
+* [[Richard Curtis]] stated that casting an actor to play van Gogh was done carefully, as he wanted him to feel to the audience as van Gogh, not "like a bloke they've seen acting lots of other parts, in an orange wig".
+* [[Richard Curtis]] called [[Tony Curran]] a "wonderful actor" who "really could not look more like" van Gogh.
+* [[Tony Curran]], [[Matt Smith]] and [[Karen Gillan]] got to know each other very well, which Gillan hoped would be evident in their chemistry in the episode.
+* The cafe was modelled after the painting ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Terrace_at_Night Café Terrace at Night]''. This proved challenging for the art department, which looked extensively for a suitable building in Croatia to use. Once the artists found the one they wanted, they had to redesign it to look like the painting; this involved putting an awning up, changing the windows, and adding a platform with tables and chairs.
+* [[Richard Curtis]] stated that the climactic scene in the art gallery has transcended the episode.
+* It was [[Matt Smith]] who suggested "[[Chances]]" by [[Athlete]] be used in the ending, as he was a big fan of the band.
+* During his commentary for the 2020 Doctor Who Lockdown watchalong of the episode, [[Richard Curtis]] said that the episode was inspired by and a tribute to a family member who had struggled with depression.
+* [[Bill Nighy]] had previously been rumoured as a candidate for the [[Ninth Doctor|Ninth]] or [[Tenth Doctor|Tenth]] Doctors. He joked that he lost the latter because [[David Tennant]] was better looking.
 === Ratings ===
@@ Line 463: / Line 502: @@
 == Home video releases ==
 [[File:Series-5-volume-4-dvd-cover.jpg|thumb|Series 5 Volume 4 DVD Cover]]
-[[BBC Video]] - ''Doctor Who Series Five - Volume Four'' was released on Monday [[6 September (releases)|6 September]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]] (UK Only) on DVD and Blu-ray, featuring ''Vincent and the Doctor'', ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'', ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'' and ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]''.
-The story was later included in the Series 5 boxset, released [[8 November (releases)|8 November]] 2010.
+=== DVD & Blu-ray releases ===
+* Series 5, Volume Four was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in region 2/B on [[6 September (releases)|6 September]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]] and region 4/B on [[7 October (releases)|7 October]] 2010. The volume features ''Vincent and the Doctor'', ''The Lodger'', ''The Pandorica Opens'' and ''The Big Bang'', and the featurette ''The Monster Diaries''.
+* The episode was later released in the Complete Fifth Series boxset on both DVD and Blu-ray, in region 1/A on [[9 November (releases)|9 November]] 2010, in region 2/B on [[8 November (releases)|8 November]] 2010 and in region 4/B on [[2 December (releases)|2 December]] 2010.
+* A DVD-only release of Series 5, Part Two, containing the latter seven episodes of the series, was released in region 1 on [[26 July (releases)|26 July]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]].
+=== Digital releases ===
+* In the United Kingdom, this story is available on [[BBC iPlayer]].
 == External links ==