Series 2 — Episode 21
The White Dwarf
Teleplay by Malcolm Hulke
Directed by Richmond Harding
Production No 3520, VTR/ABC/2366
Production completed: February 16 1963. First transmission: February 16 1963.
Production details
Episode 47
Production Number : 3520
VTR/ABC/2366
Teddington Studio 2 & Rehearsal Room 2A
First Reading
Sunday 3rd February 1963, 10.30a.m., Rehearsal Room 2A, Teddington Studios.
Rehearsals
Monday 4th February-Thursday 14th February inclusive, Rehearsal Room 2A, Teddington Studios.
Camera Rehearsal
Friday 15th February 1963, Studio Two, Teddington
VTR
Saturday 16th February 1963, Studio Two, Teddington.
Running time
Expected: 51′25″ + 2 commercial breaks 2.05
Actual running time with bumpers: 51′46″
The bumpers between the acts are generally 10 seconds from fade in to the “End of Act” bumper to the end of audio before the commercial, a 10 second still without audio, then cut to the next act bumper. This would play with the theme for around 10 seconds. Accordingly, with the episodes being in 3 acts, the running time of the action is approximately a minute less than listed above, minus the opening and closing credits (normally 0′16″, with a 2" fade, and anywhere from 0′41″ to 1′20″, hard cut or 1" fade or mix, respectively).
Regional broadcasts
| Broadcaster | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ATV London | 17/02/1963 | 10.35pm |
| ABC Midlands | 16/02/1963 | 10.05pm |
| ABC North | 16/02/1963 | 10.05pm |
| Anglia Television | 16/02/1963 | 10.05pm |
| Border Television | - | - |
| Channel Television | 16/02/1963 | 10.35pm |
| Grampian Television | 17/02/1963 | 10.35pm |
| Southern Television | 16/02/1963 | 10.05pm |
| Scottish Television | 6/06/1963 | 10.45pm |
| Tyne Tees Television | 16/02/1963 | 10.05pm |
| Ulster Television | 17/02/1963 | 10.35pm |
| Westward Television | 17/02/1963 | 10.35pm |
| Television Wales & West | 17/02/1963 | 10.35pm |
| Teledu Cymru (WWN) | 15/02/1963 | 10.45pm |
International broadcasts
| Broadcaster | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ABN2 Sydney | 2/03/1964 | 7.30pm |
| ABQ2 Brisbane | 25/05/1964 | 7.30pm |
| ABV2 Melbourne | 1/10/1964 | 7.30pm |
| ABS2 Adelaide | 6/11/1964 | 8.30pm |
TV Times listing
10.35 The Avengers
starring
Patrick Macnee
in
The White Dwarf
Teleplay by Malcolm Hulke
Also starring
Honor Blackman
Cast
| Professor Richter | Keith Pyott |
| John Steed | Patrick Macnee |
| Catherine Gale | Honor Blackman |
| Minister | Daniel Thorndyke |
| Henry Barker | Peter Copley |
| Cartright | Philip Latham |
| Fuller | Vivienne Drummond |
| Rahim | Paul Anil |
| Luke | George Roubicek |
| Maxwell Barker | George A. Cooper |
| Johnston | Bill Nagy |
| Miss Tregarth | Constance Chapman |
| Butler | John Falconer |
The Avengers theme composed and
played by Johnny Dankworth
Settings by Terry Green
Directed by
Richmond Harding
Producer John Bryce
The White Dwarf threatens Earth. Cathy studies the stars and Steed turns financier to save mankind
ABC Television Network Production
Episode availability
- Video — original footage held by Studio Canal, available on the Studio Canal series 1&2 DVD set
- Script — Tony Pelly’s copy of the rehearsal script
- Publicity Stills — at least 48
Murders
| Victim | Killer | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Richter | Cartright | strangled? |
| Rahim | Cartright | strangled? |
| Cartright | Maxwell Barker | revolver |
Transport
| Marque/type | Plate |
|---|---|
| none |
Continuity and trivia
- 9:28 — Johnson gives Maxwell Barker’s London number as Hyde Park 5011.
- 14:57 — a hair gets stuck at the bottom of the transfer plate and remains on screen until 19:36.
- 22:10 — Johnson calls Professor James Larsen of the University of New Jersey to put pressure on him to make a false observation.
- 24:43 — when the director cuts from the VCU of Cathy to a medium shot, the boom microphone is in clear view for two seconds.
- 28:28–28:31, 47:53 — severe visual distortion.
- 32:10 — Steed picks up a book to make a point, but the Set dresser has given it a jacket which reads Astrology and You instesad of Astronomy and You, which is odd, as they make a job about confusion between astronomy and astrology in the tag scen (50:27–51:15).
- 32:42 — Cathy, trying to illustrate the potential for unlikely events to occur, chooses the very unscientific example of The Flood.
- 35:45 (34:45) — the cameraman tracking Peter Copley completely loses him in the gloom and loses focus, then shoots a bare patch of wall for a few seconds before the director switches to a different camera.
- 36:12 (35:12) — Macnee briefly forgets the name of George A. Cooper’s character (h’e supposed to say his information came from One Seven as well).
- 40:16 — Elizabeth rings Tor Point 859 to warn Cartwright that Cathy is heading for the observatory.
- Luke doesn’t lock the door behind him at 44:25, so why does Cartwright unlock it at 45:41 to let the Barkers in, and proudly draw attention to the fact the door is always locked?
- 49:29 (48:29) — the footage of Max escaping through the darkened observatory is clearly sped up.
- 50:46 — Cathy reconfirms what she said in Warlock, her birthday is 5th October.