Camille (Red Dwarf episode)

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = Camille


number = 1
airdate = February 14, 1991
writers = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
director = Ed Bye
guests = Judy Pascoe
Francesca Folan
Suzanne Rhatigan
Rupert Bates
series = 4"Camille" is the first episode of science fiction sitcom "Red Dwarf" Series IV,cite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series4.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 4 | publisher =www.sitcom.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-28] and the nineteenth episode in the series run.cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/camille/episode/10963/summary.html | title =TV.com - Camille summary | publisher =www.tv.com |accessdate =2008-01-25] 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.cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684149/fullcredits |title="Red Dwarf" Camille (1991) - Full cast and crew |publisher=IMDb.com |accessdate=2007-12-12] 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.

Plot

Lister's lessons in lying, cheating and all-round rebellion initially seem to be having an effect on Kryten. However, when the 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.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 67.]

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.

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.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 68.]

Production

For Series IV, recording of the show moved from the studios in Manchester to Shepperton Studios due to the old studio undergoing refurbishment.cite web | url =http://www.genreonline.net/Red_Dwarf_IV_DVD.html | title =Red Dwarf IV changes | publisher =www.genreonline.net |accessdate =2008-01-28] Shepperton turned out to be blessing to the show as it allowed for use of the sets for rehearsals in addition to recording.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_4/production.html | title =Red Dwarf Series IV Production | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] Production starting with Series IV also permanently shifted to Grant Naylor Productions."Red Dwarf Programme Guide" (1997), p. 86.]

The droid version of the GELF was played by Judy Pascoe, Robert Llewellyn's then girlfriend (they have since married)."Red Dwarf Programme Guide" (1997), p. 88.] 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.cite web |url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_4/effects.html |title=Red Dwarf Series IV Effects |publisher=RedDwarf.co.uk |accessdate=2007-12-12]

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".cite web |url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_4/episodes.html |title=Red Dwarf Series IV Writing |publisher=RedDwarf.co.uk |accessdate=2007-12-12] Like Pascoe and Llewellyn, Rhatigan and Craig Charles were in a relationship at the time of the recording. The Hologram Camille was played by Francesca Folan. Rupert Bates voiced the Hector Blob.

Cultural references

"Casablanca", Lister's favourite film, was used for the main plot of the episode and is mentioned and referenced throughout. Kryten and Camille even watch the film in the episode. When Lister explains to Kryten why it is needed to lie he mentions examples of Humphrey Bogart in the "Casablanca" ending scene and Nelson's "I see no ships" line. The ending of "Casablanca" is also parodied in the Kryten and Camille farewell scene.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684149/movieconnections | title =Red Dwarf movie connections | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-08]

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.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684149/movieconnections | title =Red Dwarf movie connections | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-08] Lister compares the main character Hammy Hamster the rodent equivalent of Marlon Brando. The television show "St. Elsewhere" is named by Lister,cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684149/movieconnections | title =Red Dwarf movie connections | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-08] 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.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684149/movieconnections | title =Red Dwarf movie connections | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-08]

Reception

The episode was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 February 1991 in the 9:00pm evening time slot,cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRI077D | title =BBC - BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF IV - CAMILLE | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-12] 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.cite book |last=Howarth |first=Chris |authorlink= |coauthors=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1993 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=Section 1: The History |isbn=0-86369-682-1] 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. 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".cite web |url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_4/aftermath.html |title=Red Dwarf Series IV Aftermath |publisher=RedDwarf.co.uk |accessdate=2007-12-12] The episode received a mixed response from viewers,Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] although it has been noted as being a favourite amongst some fans.cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf4.shtml | title =Camille review | publisher =www.reviewsbygavrielle.com |accessdate =2008-01-28]

Notes

References

*cite book |author=Howarth, Chris |coauthors=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1993 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-86369-682-1
*cite book |author=Howarth, Chris |coauthors=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1997 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-86369-682-1

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/camille/episode/10963/summary.html Red Dwarf: Camille - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season4.html Episode Guide - Series 4 at RedDwarf.co.uk]