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52) DOCTOR WHO AND THE SILURIANS

31 January - 14 March 1970

Average Viewing Figure: 7.7M

Plot

When a research centre suffers a series power losses, The Doctor discovers an ancient race of reptilian beings are awakening

Cast

Jon Pertwee (The Doctor), Caroline John (Liz Shaw), Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart), Fulton Mackay (Dr Quinn)

Norman Jones (Major Baker), Geoffrey Palmer (Masters), Peter Miles (Dr Lawrence), Thomasine Heiner (Miss Dawson)

Ian Cunningham (Dr Meredith), Roy Branigan (Roberts), Paul Darrow (Captain Hawkins), Richard Steele (Sergeant Hart)

John Newman (Spencer), Bill Matthews (Davis), Nancie Jackson (Doris Squire), Gordon Richardson (Squire), Ian Talbot (Travis)

Harry Swift (Private Robins), Alan Mason (Corporal Nutting), Derek Pollitt (Private Wright), Brendan Barry (Hospital Doctor)

Dave Carter (Old Silurian), Nigel Johns (Young Silurian), Pat Gorman (Silurian Scientist), Peter Halliday (Silurian Voices)

Dave Carter, Pat Gorman, Paul Barton, John Churchill, Simon Cain (Silurians)

Uncredited Cast

John Spradbury, Alex Donald, Brian Nolan, Mark Johnson, Brian Haughton, David Melbourne (UNIT Soldiers at Wenley Moore)

Bertram A Collacott (Reptilian Creature), John Doyle, Bernard Barnsley, Jim Delaney, Alan Clements, Antonio de Maggio, Will Nash

Alex Donald, David Melbourne, Pierce McEvoy, Derek Hunt, Barry Ashton, Terence Denville, Stuart Myers

Roger Minnis (UNIT Soldiers in Caves), Graham Warwick (UNIT Dog Handler), Jay McGrath, Charles Finch, Reg Cranfield, Bill Leonard

Arthur McGuire, Paul Barton, Vez Delahunt, Crawford Lyle, Tony McKinnon, Lionel Sansby, Lawrence Norburne, Raoul Johns

Bobby Beaumont, Charles Elkin, Gay Dean, Charles Erskin, Walter Turner, Bill Lodge, Leslie Conrad, Victor Munt, Colin Thomas

Brian Scott, Vic Taylor, Derek Chafer (UNIT Soldiers at Farm and Hillside), Paul Barton (Wounded Silurian Voice)

Trevor Ray (Ticket Collector), Mostyn Evans (Taxi Collector), Simon Cain (Private Upton)

Crew

Malcolm Hulke (Writer), Ron Grainer (Title Music), Carey Blyton (Incidental Music), Fred Hamilton (Film Cameraman)

Bill Huthert (Film Editor), James Ward (Visual Effects), Christine Rawlins (Costumes), Marion Richards, Teresa Wright (Make-Up)

Ralph Walton (Studio Lighting), John Staple (Sound), Brian Hodgson (Special Sounds), Sam Upton (Videotape Editor)

Terrance Dicks (Script Editor), Barry Newbery (Designer), Barry Letts (Producer), Timothy Combe (Director)

Uncredited Crew

Sue Upton (Director's Assistant), John Sanderford (Grams), Bernard Fox (Technical Manager), John Norton (Floor Assistant)

Gerry Abouaf (Effects Assistant), Mike Catherwood (Vision Mixer), David Jarvis (Technical Advise)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Marylebone Station, Westminster

  • Dorset Square, Westminster

  • Balcombe Street, Westminster

  • Edward Woods Estate, Hammersmith

  • Sheephatch Farm, Tilford

  • Hankley Common, Rushmoor, Surrey

  • Milford Chest Hospital, Milford, Surrey

  • High Street, Godalming, Surrey

  • Hog's Back Transmitter Station, Guilford, Surrey

  • Television Centre: Studio 3

  • Television Centre: Studio 1

  • Television Centre: Studio 8

Deaths

  • Dr Quinn [killed by a Silurian that he held captive]

  • Major Baker [killed after being infected with the Silurian's plague]

  • Dr Lawrence [killed after being infected with the Silurian's plague]

  • Davis [killed by the Silurian's dinosaur]

  • Captain Hawkins [killed by a Silurians' third eye]

  • Squire [killed by a Silurian]

  • Masters [killed after being infected with the Silurian's plague]

  • Sergeant Hart [killed by a Silurian]

  • Old Silurian [killed by the Young Silurian]

  • Young Silurian [killed when the Silurian base is blown up]

    • Silurian Scientist [possibly killed when the Silurian base is blown up]

    • Silurians [possibly killed when the Silurian base is blown up]

  • Private Wright [killed by a Silurian]

  • Private Upton [killed by a Silurian]

  • Technicians [two are killed by Silurians]

  • Ticket Collector [killed after coming in contact with Masters]

  • Londoners [killed after coming in contact with the Silurian's plague]

    • someone aboard is reported to have died from the plague

Production Days

  • 16 Days between Wednesday 12 November 1969 - Monday 26 January 1970

Production Errors

  1. When Quinn arrives at Squire's farm he is wearing a wet coat. When the action cuts to the next shot (of the same scene) his coat is completely dry, somehow

  2. During episode five, one Silurian has a white object protruding from the shawl of the costume 

  3. During episode seven, a shadow appear behind The Doctor. The shadow does not belong to The Doctor, but to a a stagehand or possibly a floor manager

  4. When Major Baker gets up from the rock the Silurians put him on, the stone can be seen moving slightly

  5. .... and we have Carey Blyton's soundtrack​​

Working Titles

  • Doctor Who and the Monsters

Verdict

The Doctor’s exile on Earth offered many opportunities for Doctor Who, including the chance to explore unchartered territory, and introduce a race of monsters completely new to the show. It’s easy to see Doctor Who and the Silurians as a morality tale concerning the plights of natives whose lands had been commandeered by invading forces (the scripts make no effort to hide the symbolism). The Silurians have a right to be angered by humanity, they were the original masters of Earth, the home they once presumably loved and cherished is now gone, and replaced with a completely regenerated ‘alien’ world.
   For such a bloodthirsty narrative, it’s nice to see The Doctor wanting to help the monsters out, rather than setting out to destroy them when all other possible solutions have been severed. The Silurians provide multiple excuses for The Doctor abandoning all hope, but it’s remarkable The Doctor’s high morals and standards never wain when things take a turn for the worst, (one of the many redeeming qualities of The Doctor’s Third incarnation). The whole world faces a crisis that would otherwise have ended with the destruction of the Silurians had The Doctor not been present; even Liz isn’t totally on The Doctor’s side. The Silurians themselves almost mirror image some of the human characters (with greed, insecurity, unwillingness and selfish personalities being reflected right back): the hot-headed one who wishes to destroy and kill (Major Baker/Young Silurian), the one who wishes to study and observe (Dr Quinn/Silurian Scientist), and the one who wishes to live in peace, – even though deep down they know the visions for the future are not possible (The Doctor/Older Silurian). The Silurians ARE complex characters, each with its own distinctive personality, which is a refreshing quality compared to some of the mundane monsters during previous eras.
   Doctor Who and the Silurians was handed over to Barry Letts during pre-production, and the final results show. He was enthusiastic to utilise CSO on the show, which he did, but with a jarring effect. The dinosaur is naff, and the attacks on several characters are pitifully pathetic, but the design and costume for the Silurians are marvellous. 
   The scripts provide plenty of ingenious and brilliant ideas from Malcolm Hulke, which only fully come together in the latter-half of the ‘overall’ long seven-part narrative. The first two episodes simply set up the narrative, and have little moments of action and suspense, but episode 3 is when things really pick up with an impressively captured hunting scene with a helicopter and aerial shots. The peak of the narrative is the cliffhanger to episode 5, and the multiple deaths at the train station in episode 6. Episode 7 is a little dry, and running out of material, with the Silurians abandoning their first plan, and substituting it for another, unrelated one, only to abandon PLAN B and move onto PLAN C. This is easily forgotten with the brilliant, yet tragic final moments. We’ll rarely see The Doctor being furious with a companion for committing a selfish act again, and The Doctor’s silent reactions are a statement of their own accord. One could argue The Doctor never fully forgave The Brigadier throughout the Third Doctor era.
Just ignore the kazoo which dominates the equally unimpressive soundtrack ****

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