The White Dwarf

The end of the world is predicted by an eminent astronomer, who believed that a small star will enter the solar system, and result in the end of the world, Steed and Cathy investigate

I'm always excited to see anything written by the wonderful Malcolm Hulke, terrific writer, with one impressive pedigree, he really did write some very bleak, chilling storylines, this is wonderfully well written and very imaginative.

What havoc could be caused from the germ of an idea, what damage or panic could one word from someone important cause, this episode explores that very idea.

Very well acted, some quality performances here, Paul Copley and George A. Cooper, both prolific, both good value, however it's a terrific performance from Philip Latham who makes it, what a menacing presence.

9/10.

The end of the world is nigh.

An astronomer believes a White Dwarf is going to collide with our sun in the next few months. This will destroy Earth. He is murdered, later another astronomer is killed.

The British government want the news of impending doom to be kept quiet. Steed sends Cathy Gale to investigate. There are a couple of financial investors who realise they can make a killing in the stock market. One of them knows of the White Dwarf event from his brother who works for the government.

A story written by Malcolm Hulke who rose to prominence for his Doctor Who stories. There is a lot of science fact here like it is aimed for at schoolchildren. Of course some financial scheming makes it apt for these early The Avengers episode.

I was disappointed that the episode ended rather abruptly and confusingly. So there was no White Dwarf or it was all made up?

This is a very heavy information packed thriller piece that could easily be re-made today with little re-write. Professor Richter, an astronomer, has made some troubling theories about a white dwarf. He's been studying this for the past six months, but before he can finish testing his theory, he is killed.

Enter the Avengers: John Steed and Cathy Gale. In a phone call, Steed calms his superior with the news that Cathy Gale & he are going to be investigating this. It seems the government wants quick action. And how the call is conducted, whoever is on the other end seems more reassured once Gale's name is mentioned.

At the end of the phone call, Gale arrives at Steed's flat, and is told that the Professor has been murdered. She has heard of Richter and his work before, but is puzzled why someone would kill an old guy studying the stars. When Steed asks what Richter was studying, Gale informs Steed that Richter believed that a white dwarf could enter our solar system, and such an event would destroy the earth & our sun.

Cathy Gale dominates much of the episode, but never uses her judo. Her doctorate and her understanding of science are more needed in this story. In fact, her physical presence isn't as demanded. Dr. Gale has less screen time than Dr. Luke Richter, the grieving son of the late Professor. Dr. Gale's understanding of science is used as a storytelling technique to inform the audience of what is transpiring before their eyes. And kudos to Malcolm Hulke (the teleplay writer), Richard Bates (the story editor), and I believe John Bryce (the Producer). It was a great ploy to use Honor Blackman's popular portrayal of Dr. Gale to get the audience to swallow a lot more of the science than many other shows at the time could. It's obvious the creative staff really knew their audience, and how to appeal to them.

Hulke structures his teleplay in a flow of information format. Just as Professor Richter is tracking the white dwarf in the opening scenes, the audience is led to track the information about the white dwarf until it explodes at the end of the show. This leads to some pretty ingenious transitions.

Right after Dr. Gale informs Steed about the dangers of a white dwarf, we are introduced to the bankers Maxwell Barker and Mervin Johnson. They are investors looking to cash in, which would seem to be of another show, but they bring up more information about the white dwarf, and how it would effect markets. With only a few minutes of screen time, the audience suddenly knows more than our hero and heroine, and is informed that the government is being hood-winked for cash.

I just finished watching this show for the first time on Cozi TV five years after the Great Recession, and – to say the least – this is a story still topical. It was also amazing that six years before the non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood, the Avengerrs would spend such screen time on the grieving the community did in the wake of Professor Richter's murder. That grieving and the pressure the astronomical community is under provides the emotional center of this story. (I would have said "unfair pressure", but I agree with the unseen character of the British Government on this. When pitted against a worldwide panic and an impending doom, the emotional hardship of these scientists seems slight).

It is obvious that Hulke was trying to create a great Science Fiction piece. (Malcolm Hulke was churning out scripts for Doctor Who up until his death.) He avoids many of the formulaic pitfalls that go with episodic TV. He creates an unusual structure. And he adds his own touches to the characters. (To think that Steed is a denier….) This piece could definitely stand on its own, without there ever being an Avengers' show.

The way that Bryce and Richmond Harding (director) kept a thriller audience involved with all the heady science stuff going on was brilliant. The method that the storytellers used to structure Dr. Gale's interplay with the audience should also be used in many stories today.

"The White Dwarf" presented another potentially gripping story, bearing similarities to the 1961 feature "The Day the Earth Caught Fire." Professor Richter (Keith Pyott, "The House That Jack Built") is an astronomer who believes that a 'white dwarf' (not a black hole) is on a collision course with the sun, and will destroy all life in our solar system. Unfortunately, on a night when he's about to confirm his findings, he is murdered by an unseen assailant, who also disposes of another astronomer as well. On the business end, Maxwell Barker (George A. Cooper, "The Curious Case of the Countless Clues") receives the white dwarf news from his brother Henry (Peter Copley, "All Done with Mirrors"), who works for the Ministry, believing he can make a financial killing from a worldwide panic. Philip Latham ("Room Without a View"), like George A. Cooper a veteran of Hammer's Dracula series, plays Professor Cartright, alarmed by the high morality rate at the observatory, and George Roubicek ("Invasion of the Earthmen") plays the grieving son of Professor Richter. Cathy again dominates the proceedings, but the climax proves to be unsatisfactorily rushed (during one dialogue exchange between Steed and Cathy, a microphone can clearly be seen above them). Steed's dog Sheba makes the second of her five appearances, hopping onto his lap and getting her belly rubbed.