Bill almost makes a mistake when explaining how he defeated the Toymaker. "When the Toymaker wanted to move the pieces, he had to croo- to command them in a certain tone of voice. To make them move at all."
"I can't improve...I can't prove.." is such a terrible fluff it is Hartnell saying exactly what was scripted! A lot of the so-called Billy-fluffs were scripted and/or deliberate character choices.
Thing is, I can easily picture Jodie or Capaldi or Smith saying equally nonsensical things and drawing the same confused looks. It's just so quintessentially Doctor-ey.
"Space Security Service - Licence to Kill" how is that a fluff at all? That's literally one of Marc Cory's rights as a SSS agent, the second is being able to conscript civilians to help him take down the Daleks
As others have said, in some ways it makes his character more real. I actually think it really works in The Edge of Destruction - he's just been unconscious and is seething with rage towards Ian and Barbara, most people would struggle to speak properly in this situation.
These "fluffs" were part of the characterization of the Doctor. They are not mistakes, per say. That is why there are no fluffs from the Massacre when Hartnell plays the Abbott instead of the Doctor.
I always found line flubs in Classic Who (along with many other mistakes) to be somewhat endearing. It’s that small moment, small mistake, that reminds me that I’m actually watching something and it gives me a form of joy to notice little details, especially ones that contemporary audiences will never have done. I dislike certain “perfect” movies for that reason, they just feel inhuman. Also, I heard Troughton and Frazer Hines would flub lines and make mistakes deliberately because they knew that nine times out of ten that take would wind up in the final cut.
@@tomnorton4277 I think it's most likely a bit of both. Having seen some of his other roles (including in Dr Who itself, the Abbot in 'The Massacre'), it's clear of lot of the doddery aspects of the First doctor are intentional choices on the part of Hartnell as an actor, but it is well-known he also had problems remembering lines.
William Hartnell wasn't the only actor who forgot his lines - Barbara's actress has the occasional scene where she corrects herself, and mistakes were known even during Troughton's tenure. However, his fluffs became iconic!
Very true, many actors fluffed their lines on the show. In this period it was filmed in two or three chunks without breaks, so it was almost as if it was live television. Many people fluff in theatre too. The sign of a good acting troupe is that your fellows cover for the goof and everyone moves on with the audience none the wiser. Most of the time you do not even notice the fluffs on Doctor Who, which indicates the level of professionalism from all involved. I think the reason why WIlliam Hartnell's fluffs were so memorable is twofold. 1: He had the lion's share of the dialogue. 2: He was a consummate professional who wanted to get his lines right among other things. When you add the heart condition messing with his concentration, you can see why he becomes so iconic as you put it in some of his fluffs. It is the sheer energy of his performance combined with the frantic reaching for the correct line.
It was pretty much filmed live so there was only 1 take. If you were to get any other actor and only gave them 1 chance to get their lines right they would have the same amount of blunders if not more.
Nice compilation , I always liked Bill Hartnell even fluffing his lines on Dr Who . He had been in TV and some of the best British films for decades , ( the sinister Cartley in the 1957 film Hell Drivers is one of my favourites ). The poor chap had health problems and probably found the schedule demanding .
William Hartnell had so much dialogue every episode and the fact that there were 48 episodes in a year shows how quickly they had to churn them out. He fluffed a lot but he made us believe in the Doctor, and 56 years later we still do
Top 10 favorite mistakes: #10: "Drop this hairdrier, or whatever it is" #9: "This is a madhouse! It's all full of Arabs" #8: "I can't improve at this very moment--I can't proof at this very moment...." #7: "Take them away to the security kitchen" #6: "Whatever power's got a hold of the TARDIS taken your pen!" #5: "I think that might be just some flores-flor-florescent substance in the walls" #4: "You'll end up as a couple of burnt cinders flying around in Spain!--in space!" #3: "The Daleks will stop at anything to prevent us!" #2: "And you're both not so you'll * Timelord gibberish * unconcious!" #1: The Zarbi hitting the camera
