Camille (Red Dwarf episode)

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Red Dwarf episode
"Camille"
Episode № 1
Airdate February 14, 1991
Writer(s) Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Director Ed Bye
Guest star(s) Judy Pascoe
Francesca Folan
Suzanne Rhatigan
Francesca Folan
Rupert Bates
Series IV
February 14 – March 21, 1991
  1. Camille
  2. DNA
  3. Justice
  4. White Hole
  5. Dimension Jump
  6. Meltdown
List of all Red Dwarf episodes...

"Camille" is the first episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series IV,[1] and the nineteenth episode in the series run.[2] It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 February 1991. The episode was planned to be shown third, but was moved forward in the schedule to be shown on Valentine's Day. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye.[3] The episode, a subtle parody of the Casablanca film, sees Kryten rescue and fall in love with an android who appears to be the same model as himself.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Lister's lessons in lying, cheating and all-round rebellion initially seem to be having an effect on Kryten. However, when Cat appears he just can't lie. He can't seem to do it when someone else is there. The lessons are cut short when Kryten obediently takes Rimmer asteroid-spotting in Starbug. When they receive a distress call from a doomed ship Lister's insubordination training allows Kryten to go and search for survivors despite Rimmer's order to keep a safe distance away. On the ship he finds Camille, who appears to be a female 4000 GTi mechanoid and for her and Kryten, it's a case of advanced mutual compatibility at first sight.[4]

Kryten and Camille board Starbug and make their way back to Red Dwarf. When Rimmer sees Camille he doesn't see her as a mechanoid but as a female hologram. However, when Lister sees her he sees the last human female alive. When Rimmer asks Camille, in Lister's presence, if she would like him to talk her through his collection of photographs of twentieth-century telegraph poles he seems to get a different answer from what Lister hears. This makes Lister suspicious so he questions Camille about it and she concedes "that they would have found out eventually". She's a pleasure GELF - a Genetically Engineered Life Form - who appears to each individual as the object of their desire.[4]

When the Cat hears about this he goes to see Camille and finds that his perfect companion is none other than himself. Initially Kryten is hurt, but after Camille reveals that she's actually a slimy green blob with tentacles, he then thinks they can make a go of it. But when Camille's husband Hector turns up, Kryten uses all Lister's teachings, plus plenty of inspiration from the movie Casablanca, and tells her she'll regret it if she stays and stoically waves goodbye.[5]

[edit] Production

For Series IV, recording of the show moved from the studios in Manchester to Shepperton Studios due to the old studio undergoing refurbishment.[6] Shepperton turned out to be blessing to the show as it allowed for use of the sets for rehearsals in addition to recording.[7] Production starting with Series IV also permanently shifted to Grant Naylor Productions.[8]

The droid version of the GELF was played by Judy Pascoe, Robert Llewellyn's then girlfriend (they have since married).[9] She is also the voice of the blob Camille. Robert has often joked how he use to complain to Judy about the amount of make-up he has to endure, and yet when Judy wore it she had no complaints. She also provided the voice of the blob version, which was controlled from inside by effects artist Mike Tucker.[10]

The initial plan was for Camille to appear as Kristine Kochanski in Lister's eyes, while this changed, Suzanne Rhatigan was still credited as "Kochanski Camille".[11] Like Pascoe and Llewellyn, Rhatigan and Craig Charles were in a relationship at the time of the recording.[9] The Hologram Camille was played by Francesca Folan.[3]

Lister watches a vid recording of the television show Tales of the Riverbank: The Next Generation, a parody of the Tales of the Riverbank show.[12] Lister compares the main character Hammy Hamster the rodent equivalent of Marlon Brando. The television show St. Elsewhere is named by Lister,[12] having seen every episode, as a qualification for being a surgeon. His Spider-man costume is also mentioned.

Steve McQueen and the film The Blob are referenced by Lister after Kryten takes the true form of Camille to dinner.[12]

[edit] Reception

The episode was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 February 1991 in the 9:00pm evening time slot,[13] although it was originally planned to be shown as the third episode of Series IV as shown in the repeat runs in both 1992 and 1994.[14] The series' transmission order was changed as it was felt more appropriate to run the episode on Valentine's Day and so it went out first.[14] Further changes to the series' running order came about because of the outbreak of the Gulf War and the subject matter of some of the other episodes, notably "Dimension Jump" featuring the war-hero Ace Rimmer and the anti-war-themed "Meltdown".[15] The episode received a mixed response from viewers,[16] although it has been noted as being a favourite amongst some fans.[17]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 4. www.sitcom.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  2. ^ TV.com - Camille summary. www.tv.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  3. ^ a b "Red Dwarf" Camille (1991) - Full cast and crew. IMDb.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  4. ^ a b Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 67.
  5. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 68.
  6. ^ Red Dwarf IV changes. www.genreonline.net. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  7. ^ Red Dwarf Series IV Production. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  8. ^ Red Dwarf Programme Guide (1997), p. 86.
  9. ^ a b Red Dwarf Programme Guide (1997), p. 88.
  10. ^ Red Dwarf Series IV Effects. RedDwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  11. ^ Red Dwarf Series IV Writing. RedDwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  12. ^ a b c Red Dwarf movie connections. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  13. ^ BBC - BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF IV - CAMILLE. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  14. ^ a b Howarth, Chris; Steve Lyons (1993). Red Dwarf Programme Guide. Section 1: The History: Virgin Books. ISBN 0-86369-682-1. 
  15. ^ Red Dwarf Series IV Aftermath. RedDwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  16. ^ Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  17. ^ Camille review. www.reviewsbygavrielle.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.

[edit] References

  • Howarth, Chris; Steve Lyons (1993). Red Dwarf Programme Guide. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-86369-682-1. 
  • Howarth, Chris; Steve Lyons (1997). Red Dwarf Programme Guide. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-86369-682-1. 

[edit] External links

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