The first big-screen outing of the BBC’s ever-popular sci-fi TV series (first shown in 1963) has Roy Castle stumble onto the TARDIS control panel and launch the Doctor and his grandchildren off to the devastated future world of Skaro – home planet of the Daleks.
Here, the Daleks unleash neutron Armageddon in order to deal with a nasty infestation of hippies known as the Thals.
In an interesting contrast to his later pacifist incarnations, Peter Cushing’s doddery old Doctor actually urges the non-violent Thals to stop being silly and get to war.
This film also deliberately separates itself from the television source to such an extent that it is not considered part of the Doctor Who canon or history.
In this film, the Doctor is not an alien Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey but an eccentric human professor and inventor.
This spin-off lacks the bite and inventiveness that set the landmark series apart, unwisely injecting humour into the sparse scenario, and the cheap art direction is strictly “101 Uses for Pink Plastic Sheeting”.
However, despite its many faults, Dr Who & the Daleks is still a fun ride for both the uninitiated and die-hard fans alike, and the bright, intense Technicolor is breathtaking.
Child star Roberta Tovey (who played Susan) was offered a shilling by director Gordon Flemyng for every time she could do a scene in one take. This earned her the nickname “One Take Tovey” – and 21 Shillings.
Upon its release, Dr Who & the Daleks was a big hit in Britain, and a second film – Daleks’ Invasion Earth – 2150 AD – went into production almost straight away.
Dr Who
Peter Cushing
Barbara
Jennie Linden
Ian
Roy Castle
Susan
Roberta Tovey Alydon
Barrie Ingham Temmosus
Geoffrey Toone Elydon
Mark Peterson Antodus
John Bown Ganatus
Michael Coles Dyoni
Yvonne Antrobus
Here, the Daleks unleash neutron Armageddon in order to deal with a nasty infestation of hippies known as the Thals.
This spin-off lacks the bite and inventiveness that set the landmark series apart, unwisely injecting humour into the sparse scenario, and the cheap art direction is strictly “101 Uses for Pink Plastic Sheeting”.
