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46) THE INVASION

2 November - 21 December 1968

Average Viewing Figure: 6.9M

Plot

Landing in the 20th century, The Doctor discovers, The Cybermen are once again trying to invade the Earth

Cast

Patrick Troughton (The Doctor), Kevin Stoney (Tobias Vaughn), Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart)

Peter Halliday (Packer/Cybermen Voice), Sally Faulkner (Isobel), Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon), Wendy Padbury (Zoe)

Murray Evans (Lorry Driver), Walter Randall (Patrolman), John Levene (Benton), Geoffrey Cheshire (Tracy), Ian Fairbairn (Gregory)

James Thornhill (Sergeant Walters), Robert Sidaway (Captain Turner), Edward Burnham (Professor Watkins)

Sheila Dunn (Phone Operator), Edward Dentith (Major General Rutlidge), Peter Thompson (Workman), Dominic Allan (Policeman)

Stacy Davies (Private Perkins), Pat Gorman, Charles Finch, Derek Chafer, John Spradbury, Terence Denville, Ralph Carrigan

Richard King, Peter Thornton (Cybermen), Clifford Earl (Major Branwell), Norman Hartley (Sergeant Peters)

Crew

Derrick Sherwin (Writer), Ron Grainer (Title Music), Brian Hodgson (Special Sound), Don Harper (Incidental Music)

Bill King, Trading Post (Visual Effects Designers), Bobi Bartlett (Costumes), Sylvia James (Make-Up), Robbie Robinson (Lighting)

Alan Edmonds (Sound), Alan Jonas (Film Cameraman), Bill Chesneau (Film Sound Recordist), Martyn Day (Film Editor)

Terrance Dicks (Script Editor), Richard Hunt (Designer), Peter Bryant (Producer), Douglas Camfield (Director)

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Uncredited Crew

David Langford, John Barclay (Vision Mixers), Michael Ward (Floor Assistant), Sue Sly (Director's Assistant)

Ron Arnett, Dave Silk (Grams Operators), Don Babbage, Peter Valentine 9Technical Managers), Hugh Wilson (Film Operations Manager)

Sue Willis (Assistant Floor Manager)​

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Ealing Film Studios

  • Williamstrip Farm, Coln St Aldwyns, Glos

  • RAF Fairford, Fairford, Glos

  • Hatherop Road, Coln St Aldwyns, Glos

  • Kingston Minerals, Kempsford, Glos

  • Associated British Maltsters, Wallingford, Oxon

  • Millbank Tower, Millbank, London

  • Moor Lane, London

  • Fore Street, London

  • Cumberland Terrance, Regent's Park, London

  • St Paul's Churchyard, London

  • Australia House, Strand, London

  • Distaff Lane, London

  • Queen Victoria's Street, London

  • St Peter's Hill, London

  • Knightrider Street, London

  • TCC Condensers, Ealing, London

  • Princedale Road, Notting Hill, London

  • Walmer Road, Notting Hill, London

  • Heathfield Street, Notting Hill, London

  • Guinness Brewery, Park Royal, London

  • St James' Garden, Kensingston, London

  • Regent's Canal, Lisson Grove, London

  • Lime Grove: Studio D

Deaths

  • Tobias Vaughn [shot and killed by a Cyberman]

  • Packer [shot and killed by a Cyberman]

  • Lorry Driver [shot and killed by Patrolmen]

  • Mark Gregory [shot and killed by a Cyberman]

  • Policeman [shot and killed by two Cybermen]

  • Private Perkins [shot and killed by a Cyberman]

  • Cybermen [killed in various ways]

Production Days

  • 20 Days between Friday 30 August - Friday 8 November 1968

Production Errors

  1. During episode five, the panel which conceals the Cyber Director struggles to close all the way

  2. The Cyberman who falls from the top of the IE Building is clearly an empty costume 

  3. During episode four, The Doctor and his companions claim that they have seen a ship on the moon. They didn't see anything of the sort. This mistake was later sorted out in the reconstructed animated episode

  4. During episode eight, the strings which control the Cyber Director's head are visible 

  5. The Cybermen are clearly wearing tennis shoes painted silver

  6. The Brigadier's moustache continually changes size and shape 

Working Titles

  • Return of the Cybermen

Verdict

As a four parter it probably would have worked. As a six-parter would have been a stretch. An eight-parter adds up to a tedious, boring, drawn out affair which does not even give the viewers what they want – Cybermen attacking London. The plot resorts to four episodes setting everything up then forgets almost everything for the proceeding four. The Cybermen actions all happen off-screen and the characters simply fill in viewers with what’s happening. It would have been a good idea to see something interesting perhaps Londoners running away from the Cybermen or the Cybermen attacking famous landmarks. It is mind boggling that when the Cybermen begin attacking London it all happens off-screen. The final battle sequence is very bad, and the Cybermen are wiped out in minutes. The story is filled which repetitious scenes, cliched action sequences, terrible acting and some of the shows' worst sound designs ever to be heard. The genre goes between thriller and action and back again whilst neglecting everything which makes these genres so popular with the larger audience. Zoe is stronger in this one, viewers just have to get past her modelling scenes first to get there and we have another forced love relationship thrown into the plot. The Cybermen are slightly better and worse at the same time, their total screen time does not do them any service and in all honesty they do not belong to the story at all. Watched in one go can be very draining watched one episode at a time becomes tedious. Skip it and move right onto the next one. It’s very bad, very bad. *

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