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The Celestial Toymaker (TV story): Difference between revisions
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a little fine-tuning
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In the depths of the Toyroom, the Toymaker alludes to a time when the Doctor has been here but left before the Toymaker could engage him in competition. The Toymaker explains that he specifically brought the Doctor to his world because he's been bored, and if he can trap the Doctor, he'll have a brilliant mind to play against for all time — unlike Steven and Dodo, who will be kept here as toys if they lose. The game he assigns to the Doctor is called the [[Trilogic game]]. This is a series of 10 blocks piled in ascending order using two other points on the board. The Doctor has to rearrange them in that exact order on point C., but he can only move one block at a time and cannot put a larger block on top of a smaller one. The Toymaker tells the Doctor he has exactly 1023 moves to complete the game; one wrong move, and he will lose and be kept there forever. He points out a counter to keep track of how many moves the Doctor has taken. He tells the Doctor that he specifically chose this game as he feels travelling has made his mind old, lazy and weak. When the Doctor argues with this, the Toymaker says it was easy enough to trick him into leaving the TARDIS this time compared to his last visit. | In the depths of the Toyroom, the Toymaker alludes to a time when the Doctor has been here but left before the Toymaker could engage him in competition. The Toymaker explains that he specifically brought the Doctor to his world because he's been bored, and if he can trap the Doctor, he'll have a brilliant mind to play against for all time — unlike Steven and Dodo, who will be kept here as toys if they lose. The game he assigns to the Doctor is called the [[Trilogic game]]. This is a series of 10 blocks piled in ascending order using two other points on the board. The Doctor has to rearrange them in that exact order on point C., but he can only move one block at a time and cannot put a larger block on top of a smaller one. The Toymaker tells the Doctor he has exactly 1023 moves to complete the game; one wrong move, and he will lose and be kept there forever. He points out a counter to keep track of how many moves the Doctor has taken. He tells the Doctor that he specifically chose this game as he feels travelling has made his mind old, lazy and weak. When the Doctor argues with this, the Toymaker says it was easy enough to trick him into leaving the TARDIS this time compared to his last visit. | ||
Steven and Dodo, meanwhile, are pitted against the two clowns, called Joey and Clara, in "[[Blind man's buff]]". One teammate will move around an obstacle course blindfolded, being guided only by coded buzzes from their partner in a soundproof booth. If the blindfolded person falls over, they lose. The obstacle course consists of a swing, stepping stones, a plank, a tube and a ladder. The Doctor tries to call out to warn Steven and Dodo about the game, but the Toymaker cuts him off, and, as punishment, makes him invisible and intangible once more, except for the Doctor's right hand — bearing his blue-stoned [[the Doctor's signet ring|signet ring]] — so he can still play his game. Joey goes first and effortlessly succeeds. Steven goes next, but has a hard time, especially because Joey has moved some obstacles around. Steven seems to fail and Clara is exultant that they've won. However, Steven and Dodo inspect Joey's discarded blindfold, and find it's transparent — meaning the clowns have been cheating all along. They demand a re-match, this time with Joey wearing Steven's blindfold, and Joey topples off the plank, while Clara collapses lifelessly over the buzzer in the booth. A TARDIS appears, but it's a fake, containing only a door behind it. Steven and Dodo find a piece of paper with a riddle on it: "Four legs, no feet; Of arms no lack; It carries no burden on its back; Six deadly sisters, seven for choice; Call the servants without voice." They move on through the door, leaving Joey and Clara — who have now reverted to dolls — behind. | Steven and Dodo, meanwhile, are pitted against the two clowns, called Joey and Clara, in "[[Blind man's buff]]". One teammate will move around an obstacle course blindfolded, being guided only by coded buzzes from their partner in a soundproof booth. If the blindfolded person falls over, they lose. The obstacle course consists of a swing, stepping stones, a plank, a tube and a ladder. The Doctor tries to call out to warn Steven and Dodo about the game, but the Toymaker cuts him off, and, as punishment, makes him invisible and intangible once more, except for the Doctor's right hand — bearing his blue-stoned [[the Doctor's signet ring|signet ring]] — so he can still play his game. Joey goes first and effortlessly succeeds. Steven goes next, but has a hard time, especially because Joey has moved some obstacles around. Steven seems to fail and Clara is exultant that they've won. However, Steven and Dodo inspect Joey's discarded blindfold, and find it's transparent — meaning the clowns have been cheating all along. They demand a re-match, this time with Joey wearing Steven's blindfold, and Joey topples off the plank, while Clara collapses lifelessly over the buzzer in the booth. A TARDIS appears, but it's a fake, containing only a door behind it. Steven and Dodo find a piece of paper with a riddle on it: "''Four legs, no feet; Of arms no lack; It carries no burden on its back; Six deadly sisters, seven for choice; Call the servants without voice.''" They move on through the door, leaving Joey and Clara — who have now reverted to dolls — behind. | ||
=== The Hall of Dolls (2) === | === The Hall of Dolls (2) === | ||
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Steven notices and rushes to Dodo. She says she suddenly feels cold and cannot move. Steven forces Dodo to concentrate on him and eventually pulls her free from the chair. | Steven notices and rushes to Dodo. She says she suddenly feels cold and cannot move. Steven forces Dodo to concentrate on him and eventually pulls her free from the chair. | ||
Meanwhile, the King and Queen try to convince the Joker to test a chair for them, but he catches on to their plan when the Knave laughs at his stupidity; the Joker resigns his position and runs away. The Queen gestures for the Knave to sit in the chair, but he runs off after the Joker. Unable to agree on who should try a chair next, the King and Queen decide to sit in one of the two remaining chairs together. For a moment, nothing happens, and it appears they have won until the chair suddenly collapses and traps them. Dodo and Steven enter and realise there's only one chair left and sit in it, winning the game. The TARDIS lights up, but it's another fake. Recalling that they haven't solved the entire riddle, they try to "call the servants without voice" and call the remaining three dolls to them. Just then, the police box telephone rings. Steven answers, and it is the Toymaker. He tells them that they are doing better than he expected, but warns them not to get complacent; the Doctor is progressing through his game faster than they are and they're running out of time and luck. He then delivers the next clue: "Hunt the key to fit the door; That leads out on the dancing floor. Then escape the rhythmic beat; Or you'll forever tap your feet." There is a click, and then a dial tone. Steven and Dodo notice the King and Queen have become playing cards once more. As the two continue on, the three remaining ballerina dolls come to life and start to pursue them. | Meanwhile, the King and Queen try to convince the Joker to test a chair for them, but he catches on to their plan when the Knave laughs at his stupidity; the Joker resigns his position and runs away. The Queen gestures for the Knave to sit in the chair, but he runs off after the Joker. Unable to agree on who should try a chair next, the King and Queen decide to sit in one of the two remaining chairs together. For a moment, nothing happens, and it appears they have won until the chair suddenly collapses and traps them. Dodo and Steven enter and realise there's only one chair left and sit in it, winning the game. The TARDIS lights up, but it's another fake. Recalling that they haven't solved the entire riddle, they try to "call the servants without voice" and call the remaining three dolls to them. Just then, the police box telephone rings. Steven answers, and it is the Toymaker. He tells them that they are doing better than he expected, but warns them not to get complacent; the Doctor is progressing through his game faster than they are and they're running out of time and luck. He then delivers the next clue: "''Hunt the key to fit the door; That leads out on the dancing floor. Then escape the rhythmic beat; Or you'll forever tap your feet.''" There is a click, and then a dial tone. Steven and Dodo notice the King and Queen have become playing cards once more. As the two continue on, the three remaining ballerina dolls come to life and start to pursue them. | ||
=== The Dancing Floor (3) === | === The Dancing Floor (3) === | ||
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=== The Final Test (4) === | === The Final Test (4) === | ||
[[File:TARDIS hopscotch.jpg|thumb|right|[[TARDIS hopscotch]].]] | [[File:TARDIS hopscotch.jpg|thumb|right|[[TARDIS hopscotch]].]] | ||
The next game is "[[TARDIS hopscotch]]". Each player rolls a die at their turn and moves the number of triangles indicated. First to reach the TARDIS, which stands on the "home" triangle, is the winner. Steven is very suspicious at the apparent simplicity but is pleased at the 2 to 1 odds. Cyril warns that the area between the triangles is electrified. | The next game is "[[TARDIS hopscotch]]". Each player rolls a die at their turn and moves the number of triangles indicated. First to reach the TARDIS, which stands on the "home" triangle, is the winner. Steven is very suspicious at the apparent simplicity, but is pleased at the 2 to 1 odds. Cyril warns that the area between the triangles is electrified. | ||
The Toymaker taunts that Cyril hates to lose, so he makes sure he never does. He pushes the Doctor's game to move 930 and further taunts that Steven and Dodo's places in the dolls' house are prepared; sure enough, there are two chairs inside labelled <small>STEVEN</small> and <small>DODO</small>. | The Toymaker taunts that Cyril hates to lose, so he makes sure he never does. He pushes the Doctor's game to move 930 and further taunts that Steven and Dodo's places in the dolls' house are prepared; sure enough, there are two chairs inside labelled <small>STEVEN</small> and <small>DODO</small>. | ||
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* The Dylan cap that Dodo wears was [[Jackie Lane]]'s own.{{fact}} | * The Dylan cap that Dodo wears was [[Jackie Lane]]'s own.{{fact}} | ||
* 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.{{fact}} | * 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.{{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}} | * 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]]''.{{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]]''.{{fact}} | ||
* In an interview, [[Peter Cushing]] stated that he believed that [[Dr. Who|his incarnation of the Doctor]] was canon. According to his theory, the Celestial Toymaker had kidnapped a future incarnation of The Doctor, wiped his memory and made him relive all his past adventures. This theory preceded the establishmnent of the concept of regeneration.{{fact}} | * In an interview, [[Peter Cushing]] stated that he believed that [[Dr. Who|his incarnation of the Doctor]] was canon. According to his theory, the Celestial Toymaker had kidnapped a future incarnation of The Doctor, wiped his memory and made him relive all his past adventures. This theory preceded the establishmnent of the concept of regeneration.{{fact}} | ||
* The Trilogic | * The Trilogic game was inspired by the {{w|Tower of Hanoi}}. Although it was actually invented in 1883 by a French mathematician called {{w|Édouard Lucas}}, its popular association with East Asia prompted the depiction of the Toymaker in the garb of a Chinese mandarin.{{fact}} | ||
* The original script featured a complex set-piece in a maze. [[Donald Tosh]] changed this to a game of hunt the key.{{fact}} | * The original script featured a complex set-piece in a maze. [[Donald Tosh]] changed this to a game of hunt the key.{{fact}} | ||
* [[Michael Gough]] enjoyed working on the serial so much that he encouraged his then-wife [[Anneke Wills]] to take the role of [[Polly Wright|Polly]].{{fact}} | * [[Michael Gough]] enjoyed working on the serial so much that he encouraged his then-wife [[Anneke Wills]] to take the role of [[Polly Wright|Polly]].{{fact}} | ||
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Davis, therefore, had to tackle the scripts ''again''. These rewrites got Savory's approval, but the old production team were left wondering what had happened to their scripts. Tosh opined that Davis' approach was "much lighter, more pantomime" than his own. The results were no more pleasing to John Wiles, who wrote a memo to Savory on [[25 February (production)|25 February]] 1966, after he had technically left the ''Doctor Who'' production office. In it, he claimed that the central battle of wills between the Doctor and the Toymaker had been downplayed to the benefit of new elements involving a more childish confrontation between the companions and the Toymaker's creations. Ultimately, Wiles would have liked to have seen the entire production halted, since its commissioning producer and script editor had gone — and with them, the original, more adult intent of the story.<ref name="tfdh"/> | Davis, therefore, had to tackle the scripts ''again''. These rewrites got Savory's approval, but the old production team were left wondering what had happened to their scripts. Tosh opined that Davis' approach was "much lighter, more pantomime" than his own. The results were no more pleasing to John Wiles, who wrote a memo to Savory on [[25 February (production)|25 February]] 1966, after he had technically left the ''Doctor Who'' production office. In it, he claimed that the central battle of wills between the Doctor and the Toymaker had been downplayed to the benefit of new elements involving a more childish confrontation between the companions and the Toymaker's creations. Ultimately, Wiles would have liked to have seen the entire production halted, since its commissioning producer and script editor had gone — and with them, the original, more adult intent of the story.<ref name="tfdh"/> | ||
However, the story's problems weren't over even after Davis's script had been recorded. After the transmission of "The Dancing Floor", the BBC had to field charges from the estate of {{w|Charles Hamilton (writer)|Charles Hamilton}} that the character of [[Cyril (The Celestial Toymaker)|Cyril]] was in fact meant to be his popular children's character, {{w|Billy Bunter}}. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that actor [[Peter Stephens]] had ad-libbed the line "My friends call me Billy" during recording. | However, the story's problems weren't over even after Davis's script had been recorded. After the transmission of "The Dancing Floor", the BBC had to field charges from the estate of {{w|Charles Hamilton (writer)|Charles Hamilton}} that the character of [[Cyril (The Celestial Toymaker)|Cyril]] was in fact meant to be his popular children's character, {{w|Billy Bunter}}. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that actor [[Peter Stephens]] had ad-libbed the line "My friends call me Billy" during recording. Therefore, the BBC were forced to take a step never taken before or since: they had to have a special [[continuity announcement]] at the end of "The Final Test" which declared that the character of Cyril was not meant ''to be'' Billy Bunter, but merely a character ''like'' him.<ref>[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/y.html Shannon Sullivan on ''The Celestial Toymaker'']</ref> | ||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
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== Home video and audio releases == | == Home video and audio releases == | ||
* The surviving episode, "The Final Test", was released on VHS as part of ''[[The Hartnell Years]]'' (with the "Next Episode" caption rather clumsily cut from the cliffhanger scene, as it was at the time missing from the existing 16mm black & white film telerecording). | * The surviving episode, "The Final Test", was released on VHS as part of ''[[The Hartnell Years]]'' (with the "Next Episode" caption rather clumsily cut from the cliffhanger scene, as it was at the time missing from the existing 16mm black & white film telerecording). | ||
* "The Final Test" was also released in digitally re-mastered form on the ''[[Lost in Time (DVD box set)|Lost in Time]]'' DVD box set (with the "Next Episode" caption reconstructed and restored, although incorrect as it reads "Next Episode HOLIDAY FOR THE DOCTOR" when it should say "A Holiday for the Doctor"). | * "The Final Test" was also released in digitally re-mastered form on the ''[[Lost in Time (DVD box set)|Lost in Time]]'' DVD box set (with the "Next Episode" caption reconstructed and restored, although incorrect as it reads "Next Episode: HOLIDAY FOR THE DOCTOR" when it should say "A Holiday for the Doctor"). | ||
** Editing of the surviving episode's DVD release was completed by the [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]]. | ** Editing of the surviving episode's DVD release was completed by the [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]]. | ||
* The soundtrack for the story was released on CD, with linking narration by [[Peter Purves]], on [[2 April (releases)|2 April]] [[2001 (releases)|2001]]. This edition was re-released in [[2011 (releases)|2011]] as part of the box set ''[[The Lost TV Episodes - Collection Two|Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes - Collection Two]]''. | * The soundtrack for the story was released on CD, with linking narration by [[Peter Purves]], on [[2 April (releases)|2 April]] [[2001 (releases)|2001]]. This edition was re-released in [[2011 (releases)|2011]] as part of the box set ''[[The Lost TV Episodes - Collection Two|Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes - Collection Two]]''. | ||
