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The Sun Makers (TV story): Difference between revisions
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* Hade's epithets for the Collector gradually go from flattering ("Your Highest", "Your Sublimity", "Your Eminence" and so on) to insulting ("Your Corpulence" and "Your Grossness"). | * Hade's epithets for the Collector gradually go from flattering ("Your Highest", "Your Sublimity", "Your Eminence" and so on) to insulting ("Your Corpulence" and "Your Grossness"). | ||
* This story marks the last appearance of Leela's darker outfit. For the next two serials — her last — she would continue to wear the lighter (and more revealing) one. | * This story marks the last appearance of Leela's darker outfit. For the next two serials — her last — she would continue to wear the lighter (and more revealing) one. | ||
* The ''[[Radio Times]]'' programme listing for part one was accompanied by a black-and-white photograph of the Doctor in one of the tunnels of the Megropolis underworld, with the accompanying caption "A new adventure for ''Dr. Who'' when he lands on a distant planet: 6.5 p.m." | * The ''[[Radio Times]]'' programme listing for part one was accompanied by a black-and-white photograph of the Doctor in one of the tunnels of the Megropolis underworld, with the accompanying caption "A new adventure for ''Dr. Who'' when he lands on a distant planet: 6.5 p.m." ''(original published text)'' | ||
* On the [[DVD]] commentary, director [[Pennant Roberts]] says that the positions in the chess match between the Doctor and K9 were based on the endgame of a match between {{w|Bobby Fischer}} and {{w|Garry Kasparov}}. However, Kasparov never played Fischer. | *On the [[DVD]] commentary, director [[Pennant Roberts]] says that the positions in the chess match between the Doctor and K9 were based on the endgame of a match between {{w|Bobby Fischer}} and {{w|Garry Kasparov}}. However, Kasparov never played Fischer. | ||
* Some textures of the walls are enlarged photographs of a die of an {{w|Advanced Micro Devices|AMD}} microprocessor. The logo of AMD is large and visible. | *Some textures of the walls are enlarged photographs of a die of an {{w|Advanced Micro Devices|AMD}} microprocessor. The logo of AMD is large and visible. | ||
* Actor [[Richard Leech]] saw his character, Gatherer Hade, as a version of Pooh-Bah from the [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] operetta {{wi|The Mikado}}. ([[INFO]]: ''The Sun Makers'') Hade's remark that giving the Doctor a thousand talmars "added a touch of verisimilitude" echoes Pooh-Bah's famous line describing an element he has added to a cover story as "merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative." | *Actor [[Richard Leech]] saw his character, Gatherer Hade, as a version of Pooh-Bah from the [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] operetta {{wi|The Mikado}}. ([[INFO]]: ''The Sun Makers'') Hade's remark that giving the Doctor a thousand talmars "added a touch of verisimilitude" echoes Pooh-Bah's famous line describing an element he has added to a cover story as "merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative." | ||
* The exchange between Mandrel and the Doctor, "What have we got to lose?" "Only your claims," riffs on a common paraphrase of the final lines of {{wi|The Communist Manifesto}} by [[Karl Marx]] and {{w|Friedrich Engels}}, "What have you got to lose? Only your chains." The official English translation of the line is "The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains." | *The exchange between Mandrel and the Doctor, "What have we got to lose?" "Only your claims," riffs on a common paraphrase of the final lines of {{wi|The Communist Manifesto}} by [[Karl Marx]] and {{w|Friedrich Engels}}, "What have you got to lose? Only your chains." The official English translation of the line is "The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains." | ||
[[File:FourAndLeelaCrackSafe.jpg|thumb|right|Safe tumblers or ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|Hitchhiker's Guide]]''?]] | [[File:FourAndLeelaCrackSafe.jpg|thumb|right|Safe tumblers or ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|Hitchhiker's Guide]]''?]] | ||
* Unusually, [[Paddy Kingsland]] did the [[special sounds]] on this episode. He was also responsible for special sounds on the radio adaptation of ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''. Hence, as [[Louise Jameson]] pointed out in the DVD commentary, there was some crossover of sounds. Most notably, the sound of the Doctor fiddling with the combination lock in part four is the same as the sound of the ''Guide'' being consulted in the original ''Hitchhiker's'' radio drama. | *Unusually, [[Paddy Kingsland]] did the [[special sounds]] on this episode. He was also responsible for special sounds on the radio adaptation of ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''. Hence, as [[Louise Jameson]] pointed out in the DVD commentary, there was some crossover of sounds. Most notably, the sound of the Doctor fiddling with the combination lock in part four is the same as the sound of the ''Guide'' being consulted in the original ''Hitchhiker's'' radio drama. | ||
* At one point in scripting, the scene in which Leela is stunned when entering the large safe was to have been her death scene. However, the production team decided against killing Leela, in part because to have [[Tom Baker]]'s Doctor shown grieving midway through a story would have been inappropriate both for the story and Baker's version of the character. ([[INFO]]: ''The Sun Makers'') | *At one point in scripting, the scene in which Leela is stunned when entering the large safe was to have been her death scene. However, the production team decided against killing Leela, in part because to have [[Tom Baker]]'s Doctor shown grieving midway through a story would have been inappropriate both for the story and Baker's version of the character. ([[INFO]]: ''The Sun Makers'') | ||
* The joke involving the Doctor accidentally [[Hypnotise|hypnotising]] Leela was devised on the set by the two actors. ([[INFO]]: ''The Sun Makers'') | * The joke involving the Doctor accidentally [[Hypnotise|hypnotising]] Leela was devised on the set by the two actors. ([[INFO]]: ''The Sun Makers'') | ||
* When the story was first screened by ABC in [[Australia]] in 1979, a small edit was made to part one by the Australian Film Censorship Board (now the Australian Classification Board) to remove the "Stuff the Company!" insult delivered by Mandrel in response to Cordo's rather nervous "Praise the Company!" Strangely, a repeat transmission of the story in 1979 was in uncut form — i.e. with Mandrel's line intact — as well as subsequent screenings in 1982 and the late 1980s. | *When the story was first screened by the ABC in [[Australia]] in 1979, a small edit was made to part one by the Australian Film Censorship Board (now the Australian Classification Board) to remove the "Stuff the Company!" insult delivered by Mandrel in response to Cordo's rather nervous "Praise the Company!" Strangely, a repeat transmission of the story in 1979 was in uncut form — i.e. with Mandrel's line intact — as well as subsequent screenings in 1982 and the late 1980s. | ||
* [[Veet]]'s lines originally went to a character named Rashif, who was dropped from the script. | *[[Veet]]'s lines originally went to a character named Rashif, who was dropped from the script. | ||
* [[Michael Keating]] makes his only on-screen appearance in ''Doctor Who'' in this serial. He would become perhaps best known for his regular role in another British sci-fi series, [[Terry Nation]]'s ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]''. In fact, it was [[Pennant Roberts]] who recommended him for the series. Also, the episode ''Ultraworld'' saw Keating return to this story's filming location in Bristol. | *[[Michael Keating]] makes his only on-screen appearance in ''Doctor Who'' in this serial. He would become perhaps best known for his regular role in another British sci-fi series, [[Terry Nation]]'s ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]''. In fact, it was [[Pennant Roberts]] who recommended him for the series. Also, the episode ''Ultraworld'' saw Keating return to this story's filming location in Bristol. | ||
* The initialism PCM may be a play on ''Per Calendar Month'' ([[DWM 503]]) | *The initialism PCM may be a play on ''Per Calendar Month'' ([[DWM 503]]) | ||
* [[Douglas Adams]] suspected that [[Robert Holmes]] may have borrowed the idea for PCM from a script they were working on at the time, involving an aggression-reducing machine. | *[[Douglas Adams]] suspected that [[Robert Holmes]] may have borrowed the idea for PCM from a script they were working on at the time, involving an aggression-reducing machine. | ||
* The Collector was originally conceived as a large, corpulent figure, which is why Hade calls him things like "Your Immensity". | *The Collector was originally conceived as a large, corpulent figure, which is why Hade calls him things like "Your Immensity". | ||
* [[Pennant Roberts]] had originally intended that the giant credit | *[[Pennant Roberts]] had originally intended that the giant credit card — referred to as a consumcard — should resemble the current Barclaycards design, and so used the same coloured stripes of blue, white and orange. This was vetoed by [[Graham Williams]], who said that the BBC would be giving Barclaycard free publicity, and so green bands were added to disguise the prop. | ||
* [[Pennant Roberts]] encouraged the inclusion of more female characters. He decided to make Marn a woman, and excised a male member of the Others named Rashif, giving his dialogue to Veet. | *[[Pennant Roberts]] encouraged the inclusion of more female characters. He decided to make Marn a woman, and excised a male member of the Others named Rashif, giving his dialogue to Veet. | ||
* Leela and the Doctor are identified as "terrorists." In real life, Leela's character was partially based on Palestinian revolutionary Leila Khaled. | * Leela and the Doctor are identified as "terrorists." In real life, Leela's character was partially based on Palestinian revolutionary Leila Khaled. | ||
*[[Robert Holmes]] was aware of [[Tom Baker]] and [[Louise Jameson]]'s difficult relationship, so he structured the script to keep them apart for most of the story. | *[[Robert Holmes]] was aware of [[Tom Baker]] and [[Louise Jameson]]'s difficult relationship, so he structured the script to keep them apart for most of the story. | ||
*Pluto was chosen as the story's setting because the Greek prefix “pluto-” referred to wealth and riches. | *Pluto was chosen as the story's setting because the Greek prefix “pluto-” referred to wealth and riches. | ||
*[[Graham Williams]] was reluctant to present such a barbed commentary in the context of a family programme, and was wary that the story might be accused of leftist indoctrination. He particularly disliked the reference to the Collector's race as the Userers, which simply adopted an old-fashioned term for a moneylender. A reluctant [[Robert Holmes]] briefly changed their name to the Saurians, before a compromise was reached with Usurians. | *[[Graham Williams]] was reluctant to present such a barbed commentary in the context of a family programme, and was wary that the story might be accused of leftist indoctrination. He particularly disliked the reference to the Collector's race as the Userers, which simply adopted an old-fashioned term for a moneylender. A reluctant [[Robert Holmes]] briefly changed their name to the Saurians, before a compromise was reached with Usurians. | ||
*The production time had difficulty finding a building to portray Megropolis One. After they couldn't find anywhere suitable in [[London]], production assistant [[Leon Arnold]] recommended the WD & HO Wills Tobacco Factory in Hartcliffe, Bristol. | *The production time had difficulty finding a building to portray Megropolis One. After they couldn't find anywhere suitable in [[London]], production assistant [[Leon Arnold]] recommended the WD & HO Wills Tobacco Factory in Hartcliffe, Bristol. | ||
*[[Graham Williams]] was under pressure from his superiors to control the show's budget and wasn't keen on travelling to [[Bristol]] for just a handful of scenes, and suggested that they should instead be performed in the studio, via [[CSO|chroma key]]. However, [[Pennant Roberts]] discovered that the Wills Tobacco Factory offered other locations which could replace studio sets -- such as a very long tunnel, for scenes in the P45 return route | *[[Graham Williams]] was under pressure from his superiors to control the show's budget and wasn't keen on travelling to [[Bristol]] for just a handful of scenes, and suggested that they should instead be performed in the studio, via [[CSO|chroma key]]. However, [[Pennant Roberts]] discovered that the Wills Tobacco Factory offered other locations which could replace studio sets -- such as a very long tunnel, for scenes in the P45 return route — and this enabled him to justify the cost of the trip. | ||
*Filming in [[Bristol]] was hit by mist, forcing [[Pennant Roberts]] to delay filming on the roof of the Tobacco Factory and focus on other scenes. | * Filming in [[Bristol]] was hit by mist, forcing [[Pennant Roberts]] to delay filming on the roof of the Tobacco Factory and focus on other scenes. | ||
*An extra playing one of the Megro | *An extra playing one of the Megro guards was taken ill during location filming and Ron Rogers, who was an employee of the Tobacco Factory, agreed to take his place. However, Rogers' scene was ultimately cut at the editing stage. | ||
*[[Robert Holmes]] evisioned the Collector as an expansive figure in the mould of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Greenstreet Sydney Greenstreet]. The five-feet tall [[Henry Woolf]] was cast instead. | *[[Robert Holmes]] evisioned the Collector as an expansive figure in the mould of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Greenstreet Sydney Greenstreet]. The five-feet tall [[Henry Woolf]] was cast instead. | ||
*Already uneasy with Leela's confinement in a straitjacket, [[Louise Jameson]] was aghast when she was left in her restraints while the rest of the team went on break. | *Already uneasy with Leela's confinement in a straitjacket, [[Louise Jameson]] was aghast when she was left in her restraints while the rest of the team went on break. | ||
*Visual effects designer AJ “Mitch” Mitchell was so disappointed with the rushed effect of the Collector's liquidation that he was driven to quit the BBC to work as a freelancer. | *Visual effects designer AJ “Mitch” Mitchell was so disappointed with the rushed effect of the Collector's liquidation that he was driven to quit the BBC to work as a freelancer. | ||
=== Ratings === | ===Ratings=== | ||
* Part one - 8.5 million viewers | *Part one - 8.5 million viewers | ||
* Part two - 9.5 million viewers | *Part two - 9.5 million viewers | ||
* Part three - 8.9 million viewers | * Part three - 8.9 million viewers | ||
* Part four - 8.4 million viewers | *Part four - 8.4 million viewers | ||
=== Filming locations === | ===Filming locations=== | ||
* WD and HO Wills Tobacco Factory (now known as Imperial Park), Hartcliffe Way, Hartcliffe, [[Bristol]] | *WD and HO Wills Tobacco Factory (now known as Imperial Park), Hartcliffe Way, Hartcliffe, [[Bristol]] | ||
* Camden Town Deep Tube Shelters, Stanmore Place, Camden Town, London | *Camden Town Deep Tube Shelters, Stanmore Place, Camden Town, London | ||
* [[BBC Television Centre]] (TC3 and TC6), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]] | *[[BBC Television Centre]] (TC3 and TC6), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]] | ||
=== Production errors === | ===Production errors=== | ||
{{discontinuity}} | {{discontinuity}} | ||
* At the start of part two, the shadows of the extras playing the security guards are visible awaiting their cue to enter. | *At the start of part two, the shadows of the extras playing the security guards are visible awaiting their cue to enter. | ||
* A car park insignia is visible on the | *A car park insignia is visible on the rooftop. | ||
* In part two, the Doctor offers Hade a [[Humbug (sweet)|humbug]], but he actually takes a green [[Jelly baby]]. | *In part two, the Doctor offers Hade a [[Humbug (sweet)|humbug]], but he actually takes a green [[Jelly baby]]. | ||
* A microphone enters the screen for a few seconds in upper left corner at minute 18 of part three. | *A microphone enters the screen for a few seconds in upper left corner at minute 18 of part three. | ||
* Near to the end of part three after K9 has exited the steamer, the Doctor praises K9 with his [[The Doctor's scarf|scarf]] rolled out and lengthened down his body, yet less than a second after when he is given a communicator, it is rolled up over his shoulders. | *Near to the end of part three after K9 has exited the steamer, the Doctor praises K9 with his [[The Doctor's scarf|scarf]] rolled out and lengthened down his body, yet less than a second after when he is given a communicator, it is rolled up over his shoulders. | ||
== Continuity == | ==Continuity== | ||
* When [[Mandrel (The Sun Makers)|Mandrel]] says that the Doctor had better have a good story, the Doctor begins, "Once upon a time, there were three sisters..." This is a paraphrase of a story begun by the Dormouse in ''[[Alice in Wonderland|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]''. The Doctor previously began this story upon being revived in the Kraal Disorientation Centre, though on that occasion he combined it with the title characters from the play ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'' by [[Anton Chekhov]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Android Invasion (TV story)|The Android Invasion]]'') | *When [[Mandrel (The Sun Makers)|Mandrel]] says that the Doctor had better have a good story, the Doctor begins, "Once upon a time, there were three sisters..." This is a paraphrase of a story begun by the Dormouse in ''[[Alice in Wonderland|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]''. The Doctor previously began this story upon being revived in the Kraal Disorientation Centre, though on that occasion he combined it with the title characters from the play ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'' by [[Anton Chekhov]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Android Invasion (TV story)|The Android Invasion]]'') | ||
== Home video and audio releases == | ==Home video and audio releases== | ||
=== Video releases === | ===Video releases=== | ||
This story was released as ''Doctor Who: The Sun Makers''. | This story was released as ''Doctor Who: The Sun Makers''. | ||
Released: | Released: | ||
* [[UK]] July 2001 | * [[UK]] July 2001 | ||
* [[US]] February 2002 | *[[US]] February 2002 | ||
* [[Australia]] September 2001 | *[[Australia]] September 2001 | ||
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=== DVD releases === | ===DVD releases=== | ||
Originally planned for release in a boxset with ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'', ''The Sun Makers'' was released on DVD on its own in Region 2 on [[1 August (releases)|1 August]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]], followed by a Region 1 release on [[9 August (releases)|9 August]]. The DVD's special features were: | Originally planned for release in a boxset with ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'', ''The Sun Makers'' was released on DVD on its own in Region 2 on [[1 August (releases)|1 August]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]], followed by a Region 1 release on [[9 August (releases)|9 August]]. The DVD's special features were: | ||
* Commentary with [[Tom Baker]], [[Louise Jameson]], [[Michael Keating]] and [[Pennant Roberts]]. | *Commentary with [[Tom Baker]], [[Louise Jameson]], [[Michael Keating]] and [[Pennant Roberts]]. | ||
* ''[[Running from the Tax Man (documentary)|Running from the Tax Man]]'' - the making of this story. | *''[[Running from the Tax Man (documentary)|Running from the Tax Man]]'' - the making of this story. | ||
* Outtakes | *Outtakes | ||
* ''[[The Doctor's Composer (documentary)|The Doctor's Composer - Part Two]]'' - a look at the career of [[Dudley Simpson]] | *''[[The Doctor's Composer (documentary)|The Doctor's Composer - Part Two]]'' - a look at the career of [[Dudley Simpson]] | ||
* Photo gallery - Includes unreleased incidental music by [[Dudley Simpson]] and Special Sound by [[Paddy Kingsland]]. | *Photo gallery - Includes unreleased incidental music by [[Dudley Simpson]] and Special Sound by [[Paddy Kingsland]]. | ||
* BBC Trailer | *BBC Trailer | ||
* Coming soon | *Coming soon | ||
* ''[[Radio Times]]'' listings | *''[[Radio Times]]'' listings | ||
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=== Digital releases === | ===Digital releases=== | ||
* The story is available for streaming in the US through Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video in the UK. | *The story is available for streaming in the US through Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video in the UK. | ||
== External links == | ==External links== | ||
* {{bbcepguideclassic|sunmakers/|The Sun Makers}} | *{{bbcepguideclassic|sunmakers/|The Sun Makers}} | ||
* {{radiotimes|2010-11-06/the-sun-makers}} | *{{radiotimes|2010-11-06/the-sun-makers}} | ||
{{dwcast}} | {{dwcast}} | ||
{{dwrefguide|who_4w.htm|The Sun Makers}} | {{dwrefguide|who_4w.htm|The Sun Makers}} | ||
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* [http://www.timelash.com/tardis/display.asp?882 The Tardis Library: Video release information for The Sun Makers] | * [http://www.timelash.com/tardis/display.asp?882 The Tardis Library: Video release information for The Sun Makers] | ||
== Footnotes == | ==Footnotes== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
{{DWTV}} | {{DWTV}} | ||
