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127) ENLIGHTENMENT

1 - 9 March 1983

Average Viewing Figure: 6.8M

Plot

The Doctor and his companions meet a group of Eternals who are taking part in a space race where enlightenment is the prize

Cast

Peter Davison (The Doctor), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Mark Strickson (Turlough), Keith Barron (Striker), Lynda Baron (Wrack)

Valentine Dyall (The Black Guardian), Cyril Luckham (The White Guardian), Christopher Brown (Marriner), Tony Caunter (Jackson)

Clive Kneller (Collier), James McClure (First Officer), Leee John (Mansell)

​

Uncredited Cast

Richard Bonehill, Tim Oldroyd, Peter Jessup, Michale Bauer (Officers [Shadow]), Pat Gorman (Striker's Crew: Grogan), Barney Lawrence

Laurie Goode, Alan Crisp, Reg Woods, Kevin Goss, Pat Shepherd, Reg Marlowe, Terence Duran, Steve Roxton, Douglas Roe

John Holland (Striker's Crew/Edwardian Sailors), John Cannon (Helsman [Shadow]), Byron Sotiris (Critas the Greek)

David Rogue, Joseph Anderson, Mick McKenny, Robert Goodman (Buccaneer Guards/Wrack's Deck Crew), Alan Riches, Tony Liotti

Arturo Venegas, Graham Stagg (Buccaneer Guards), Paul Baden, Jerry Judge, Lloyd Williams, Stuart Myers (Buccaneer Officers)

Dennis Masuki, Arnold Lee, Vincent Wong, Raymond Chan, Lusan Wong (Chinese Guests), Robert Pearson, Cy Town, Laurie James,

Kenneth Sedd, Ray Sumby, James Jackson (Guest Gamblers), Mike Handley, David Rogue, Mick McKenny, Miles Ross

Joseph Anderson, Robert Goodman, Laurie Goode, Pat Gorman, Mykel Mills, Bunny Lane (Wrack's/Striker's Deck Crew)

Crew

Barbara Clegg (Writer), Malcolm Clarke (Incidental Music), Dick Mills (Special Sound), Jennie Osborn (Production Manager)

June Collins (Production Associate), Patricia O'Leary (Production Assistant), Ian D. Tootle, Val McCrimmon (Assistant Floor Managers)

John Walker, Pail Hellings-Wheeler (Film Cameramen), Jim McAllister (Film Sound), Michell Boyd, Ian McKendrick (Film Editors)

Mike Kelt (Visual Effects Designer), Dave Chapman (Vidoe Effects), Alan Jeffrey (Technical Manager)

Alec Wheal (Senior Cameraman), Paul Wheeler (Vision Mixer), Rod Waldron (Videotape Editor), Fred Wright (Lighting)

Martin Ridout (Sound), Dinah Collin (Costume Designer), Carolyn Perry, Jean Steward (Make-Up Artists), Eric Saward (Script Editor)

Sid Sutton (Title Sequence), Colin Green (Designer), John Nathan-Turner (Producer), Fiona Cumming (Director)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Ealing Film Studios: Stage 3B

  • Ealing Film Studios

  • Television Centre: Studio 1

Deaths

  • Critas' Human Crew [killed when Critas' ship is destroyed]

Production Days

  • 13 Days between Wednesday 3 November 1982 - Tuesday 1 February 1983 

Production Errors

  1. During the shot in episode one when the ship experiences some turbulence, the liquid in the glasses do not

  2. Turlough can be seen wearing a ring during certain scene in episode three 

  3. Marriner, a First Officer would have three stripes on his uniform, and not two â€‹â€‹â€‹

Working Titles

  • The Enlighteners

Verdict

At last, a worthy finale to a series trilogy. A beautifully written and directed tale, much like Death to the Daleks the opening few minutes are marvellous drowned in atmosphere. Great camera work from the swaying camera movements to low angles create a claustrophobic and uneasy atmosphere. The model shots of the ships are also a delight, full of detail which just leap off the screen. The interiors shots of the Buccaneer and Shadow are also pleasuring to watch and enjoy, full of detail and effort. The costumes are some of the best, the clean, sleek, well-kept uniforms for the Edwardians Sailors and the robust, colourful uniforms for the barbaric and savage Wrack and her fellow pirates hungry for power and glory. The music creates many unique atmospheres and settings, slow, quiet music for the space scenes, happy, go-luck melodies for the Shadow and a menacing for the confrontation between The Black and White Guardians, although Cyril Luckham seems to have lost part of his characters personality. A well-crafted story which is a true delight on a number of levels which not only ties up one of the most unusual trilogies in the show’s history but also one of the most underrated series, ah, not quiet, next serial. *****

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