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The Celestial Toymaker (TV story): Difference between revisions
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Steven and Dodo arrive on the Dancing Floor to witness three ballerina dolls performing a dance. They see the TARDIS at the opposite end of the floor, but realise it can't be so easy to get there. When they place their hands curiously over the floor, music plays and the dolls begin to dance. As Rugg and Mrs. Wiggs enter, having "made up", Steven makes a dash for it, but once the music starts, he is forced to dance, and the dolls surround him. Soon Dodo is pulled into the dancing, while Rugg and Mrs. Wiggs scheme to get to the "big cupboard" (the TARDIS) first. As Mrs. Wiggs begins to dance, the dolls change partners. Rugg finds he cannot resist and is soon dancing as well. Steven eventually becomes Dodo's partner, and they successfully jump off the floor and into the TARDIS as Rugg and Mrs. Wiggs dance on, left — as the rhyme says — to "forever tap their feet", or at least until the pair start shrinking to become dolls again. The TARDIS is another fake. Dodo is firmly convinced that these characters are alive, but Steven is doubtful. | Steven and Dodo arrive on the Dancing Floor to witness three ballerina dolls performing a dance. They see the TARDIS at the opposite end of the floor, but realise it can't be so easy to get there. When they place their hands curiously over the floor, music plays and the dolls begin to dance. As Rugg and Mrs. Wiggs enter, having "made up", Steven makes a dash for it, but once the music starts, he is forced to dance, and the dolls surround him. Soon Dodo is pulled into the dancing, while Rugg and Mrs. Wiggs scheme to get to the "big cupboard" (the TARDIS) first. As Mrs. Wiggs begins to dance, the dolls change partners. Rugg finds he cannot resist and is soon dancing as well. Steven eventually becomes Dodo's partner, and they successfully jump off the floor and into the TARDIS as Rugg and Mrs. Wiggs dance on, left — as the rhyme says — to "forever tap their feet", or at least until the pair start shrinking to become dolls again. The TARDIS is another fake. Dodo is firmly convinced that these characters are alive, but Steven is doubtful. | ||
Meanwhile, the Doctor is pleased with his companions, laughing despite the Toymaker being the only one who can see him. The Toymaker is livid with his "too human" characters. He takes out a | Meanwhile, the Doctor is pleased with his companions, laughing despite the Toymaker being the only one who can see him. The Toymaker is livid with his "too human" characters. He takes out a doll, an "innocent, fat, jolly schoolboy" he calls Cyril, who he thinks will lull Steven and Dodo into a false sense of security. | ||
Steven and Dodo find the way out of the cupboard and see another message: "Lady luck will show the way; win the game or here you'll stay." As they emerge from a passageway, Dodo screams when Cyril appears in front of them. Steven thinks he's seen Cyril before, and Cyril confirms this: he was previously the Knave of Hearts and the kitchen boy. As Cyril shakes Steven's hand, Steven is shocked by an electrode and pulls away; Cyril giggles mischievously. As they realise the Doctor has reached move 902, Steven asks where the next game is and Cyril points them to it but warns that they won't find it so easy this time, as they will be playing against him. | Steven and Dodo find the way out of the cupboard and see another message: "Lady luck will show the way; win the game or here you'll stay." As they emerge from a passageway, Dodo screams when Cyril appears in front of them. Steven thinks he's seen Cyril before, and Cyril confirms this: he was previously the Knave of Hearts and the kitchen boy. As Cyril shakes Steven's hand, Steven is shocked by an electrode and pulls away; Cyril giggles mischievously. As they realise the Doctor has reached move 902, Steven asks where the next game is and Cyril points them to it but warns that they won't find it so easy this time, as they will be playing against him. | ||
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* [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]] | * [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* Dodo initially speculates that the Doctor's invisibility is due to the [[Refusian]]s. | * Dodo initially speculates that the Doctor's invisibility is due to the [[Refusian]]s. | ||
* The Toymaker invented the [[memory window]]. | * The Toymaker invented the [[memory window]]. | ||
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* ''[[Radio Times]]'' credits "[[Michael Gough]] as the Toymaker" for all four episodes and "Dancers: Beryl Braham, Ann Harrison, Delia Lindon" for "The Dancing Floor", with the other supporting cast members credited without specific roles under the heading "with" in the programme listings for all four episodes. | * ''[[Radio Times]]'' credits "[[Michael Gough]] as the Toymaker" for all four episodes and "Dancers: Beryl Braham, Ann Harrison, Delia Lindon" for "The Dancing Floor", with the other supporting cast members credited without specific roles under the heading "with" in the programme listings for all four episodes. | ||
* In "The Hall of Dolls", whilst deciding which of the seven chairs — six of which are deadly, while one remains safe — to choose, the King of Hearts recites a version of the children's counting rhyme "[[Eeny, meeny, miny, moe]]" (used to select a person to be "it" for games and similar purposes), which includes the racial slur "n*gger" in the second line. The use of this word was still considered acceptable by the BBC at the time of the story's original 1966 broadcast. Although the rhyme is still present on BBC Audio's CD release of the story's soundtrack, it has been obscured by [[Peter Purves]]'s narration to correspond to modern views on the use of the "n-word". | * In "The Hall of Dolls", whilst deciding which of the seven chairs — six of which are deadly, while one remains safe — to choose, the King of Hearts recites a version of the children's counting rhyme "[[Eeny, meeny, miny, moe]]" (used to select a person to be "it" for games and similar purposes), which includes the racial slur "n*gger" in the second line. The use of this word was still considered acceptable by the BBC at the time of the story's original 1966 broadcast. Although the rhyme is still present on BBC Audio's CD release of the story's soundtrack, it has been obscured by [[Peter Purves]]'s narration to correspond to modern views on the use of the "n-word". | ||
* Similarly, the word "celestial" is itself an old slur used to describe the Chinese. "The Celestial Toyroom" could therefore be the first episode of ''Doctor Who'' to include a slur in its title. However, "celestial" can also be used to refer to something relating to outer space (which is where The Toymaker is from). | * Similarly, the word "celestial" is itself an old slur used to describe the Chinese. "The Celestial Toyroom" could therefore be the first episode of ''Doctor Who'' to include a slur in its title. However, "celestial" can also be used to refer to something relating to outer space (which is where The Toymaker is from). | ||
* [[William Hartnell]] was on holiday for the recording of "The Hall of Dolls" and "The Dancing Floor", and so the Doctor's appearances during the Trilogic game scenes is limited to pre-recorded dialogue for the former and a disembodied right hand (that of extra [[Albert Ward]], sporting the Doctor's signet ring) for both episodes. | * [[William Hartnell]] was on holiday for the recording of "The Hall of Dolls" and "The Dancing Floor", and so the Doctor's appearances during the Trilogic game scenes is limited to pre-recorded dialogue for the former and a disembodied right hand (that of extra [[Albert Ward]], sporting the Doctor's signet ring) for both episodes. | ||
* Though [[Gerry Davis]] and [[Innes Lloyd]] received their first credits for a full [[serial]] with ''The Celestial Toymaker'', both men had in fact worked on ''[[Doctor Who]]'' before. Evidence of Lloyd's presence in the production office extends at least back to [[26 January (production)|26 January]] 1966, when he sent scripts of the first two episodes of ''[[The Gunfighters (TV story)|The Gunfighters]]'' to [[director]] [[Rex Tucker]]. This was the same week that "[[War of God]]" first went in front of the cameras. [[John Wiles]], however, may still have been around for at least some of the recording of ''[[The Massacre (TV story)|The Massacre]]''. By [[14 February (production)|14 February]], a few days before "[[The Steel Sky]]" was recorded, Lloyd was fully in charge of the series. Thus he was known to have at least produced ''[[The Ark (TV story)|The Ark]]'', and perhaps some of ''[[The Massacre (TV story)|The Massacre]]'', before receiving his first on-screen credit for ''The Celestial Toymaker''. Davis, meanwhile, had actually received a credit on "[[Bell of Doom]]". | * Though [[Gerry Davis]] and [[Innes Lloyd]] received their first credits for a full [[serial]] with ''The Celestial Toymaker'', both men had in fact worked on ''[[Doctor Who]]'' before. Evidence of Lloyd's presence in the production office extends at least back to [[26 January (production)|26 January]] 1966, when he sent scripts of the first two episodes of ''[[The Gunfighters (TV story)|The Gunfighters]]'' to [[director]] [[Rex Tucker]]. This was the same week that "[[War of God]]" first went in front of the cameras. [[John Wiles]], however, may still have been around for at least some of the recording of ''[[The Massacre (TV story)|The Massacre]]''. By [[14 February (production)|14 February]], a few days before "[[The Steel Sky]]" was recorded, Lloyd was fully in charge of the series. Thus he was known to have at least produced ''[[The Ark (TV story)|The Ark]]'', and perhaps some of ''[[The Massacre (TV story)|The Massacre]]'', before receiving his first on-screen credit for ''The Celestial Toymaker''. Davis, meanwhile, had actually received a credit on "[[Bell of Doom]]". | ||
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* The original script featured the main characters from [[Gerald Savory]]'s play ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_and_Margaret George and Margaret]''. Although the entire story revolved around the imminent arrival of the eponymous characters at the setting, a country house, during which much was revealed about George and Margaret, the play ended when the couple were mentioned as having arrived so the audience never actually saw them. When permission to use George and Margaret was denied by Savory, their roles were filled by three other sets of two characters: Joey and Clara; the King and Queen of Hearts; and Sergeant Rugg and Mrs. Wiggs. | * The original script featured the main characters from [[Gerald Savory]]'s play ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_and_Margaret George and Margaret]''. Although the entire story revolved around the imminent arrival of the eponymous characters at the setting, a country house, during which much was revealed about George and Margaret, the play ended when the couple were mentioned as having arrived so the audience never actually saw them. When permission to use George and Margaret was denied by Savory, their roles were filled by three other sets of two characters: Joey and Clara; the King and Queen of Hearts; and Sergeant Rugg and Mrs. Wiggs. | ||
* Cyril was originally going to take the form of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artful_Dodger the Artful Dodger] from ''[[Oliver Twist]]''. | * Cyril was originally going to take the form of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artful_Dodger the Artful Dodger] from ''[[Oliver Twist]]''. | ||
*The Dylan cap that Dodo wears was [[Jackie Lane]]'s own. | * The Dylan cap that Dodo wears was [[Jackie Lane]]'s own. | ||
*It is believed the cliffhanger reprise from the fourth episode, "The Final Test", is surviving footage from the preceding episode, "The Dancing Floor", due to the surviving off-air soundtrack of the third episode syncing perfectly with the footage found in the fourth episode. This remains unconfirmed, however. | * It is believed the cliffhanger reprise from the fourth episode, "The Final Test", is surviving footage from the preceding episode, "The Dancing Floor", due to the surviving off-air soundtrack of the third episode syncing perfectly with the footage found in the fourth episode. This remains unconfirmed, however. | ||
* In the script for "The Hall of Dolls", the infamous "Eeny Meeny Miney Mo" scene simply dictates that the King of Hearts closes his eyes and recites the rhyme, without giving any specifics. [[Campbell Singer]] was the one who decided on using a version that included the n-word.{{Fact}} | * In the script for "The Hall of Dolls", the infamous "Eeny Meeny Miney Mo" scene simply dictates that the King of Hearts closes his eyes and recites the rhyme, without giving any specifics. [[Campbell Singer]] was the one who decided on using a version that included the n-word.{{Fact}} | ||
* The Toymaker's robes (a stock outfit from the BBC's wardrobes) were previously worn by [[Mark Eden]] in [[Marco Polo (TV story)|''Marco Polo'']]. | * The Toymaker's robes (a stock outfit from the BBC's wardrobes) were previously worn by [[Mark Eden]] in [[Marco Polo (TV story)|''Marco Polo'']]. | ||
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* On one of Cyril's moves, he's standing next to the dice indicator and it's shown to have settled on 2 before Cyril has even thrown his die. | * On one of Cyril's moves, he's standing next to the dice indicator and it's shown to have settled on 2 before Cyril has even thrown his die. | ||
* There are multiple occasions during TARDIS hopscotch in which the turns are played out of sequence. For example, after Cyril sends both Steven and Dodo back to the start it should be Dodo's turn next, as Cyril landed on her square while taking the previous turn, but instead it's Steven who takes the next turn. | * There are multiple occasions during TARDIS hopscotch in which the turns are played out of sequence. For example, after Cyril sends both Steven and Dodo back to the start it should be Dodo's turn next, as Cyril landed on her square while taking the previous turn, but instead it's Steven who takes the next turn. | ||
*Peter Stephens fluffs a line as Cyril, when he says to Dodo "You can go back to the start for—" and then makes a few garbled noises before finishing with "—for moving out of your triangle." | * Peter Stephens fluffs a line as Cyril, when he says to Dodo "You can go back to the start for—" and then makes a few garbled noises before finishing with "—for moving out of your triangle." | ||
* When the Toymaker teases the Doctor and his companions via a toy robot's chest-mounted video screen, and before he suddenly appears in person, the shadow of a boom microphone falls across the robot during Steven's line "Your power? We won through, didn't we?" | * When the Toymaker teases the Doctor and his companions via a toy robot's chest-mounted video screen, and before he suddenly appears in person, the shadow of a boom microphone falls across the robot during Steven's line "Your power? We won through, didn't we?" | ||
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{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]] | [[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]] | ||
[[Category:First Doctor television stories]] | [[Category:First Doctor television stories]] | ||
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[[Category:Four part serials]] | [[Category:Four part serials]] | ||
[[Category:Doctor-lite stories]] | [[Category:Doctor-lite stories]] | ||
[[he:בונה הצעצועים השמיימי (סיפור)]] | |||
[[ru:Небесный игрушечник (ТВ история)]] | |||
