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61) THE CURSE OF PELADON

29 January - 19 February 1972

Average Viewing Figure: 9.4M

Plot

On the medieval planet of Peladon someone is working in the shadows to prevent Peladon joining the Galactic Federation 

Cast

Jon Pertwee (The Doctor), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), David Troughton (Peladon), Geoffrey Toone (Hepesh), Henry Gilbert (Torbis)

Alan Bennion (Izlyr), Sonny Caldinez (Ssorg), Stuart Fell (Alpha Centauri), Ysanne Churchman (Voice of Alpha Centauri)

Murphy Grumbar (Arcturus), Terry Bale (Voice of Arcturus), George Giles (Guard Captain), Wendy Danvers (Amazonia)

Gordon St Clair (Grun), Nick Hobbs (Aggedor)

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Uncredited Cast

Chris Webb, Royston Farrell, Billy Dean, Derek Chafer, Mike Stevens, Stewart Barry (Guards)

Crew

Brian Hyles (Writer), Ron Grainer (Title Music), Dudley Simpson (Incidental Music), Brian Hodgson (Special Sounds)

Terry Walsh (Fight Arranger), Profile (Fight Arranger), Fred Hamilton, Peter Sargent (Film Cameramen), Michael Sha-Dyan (Film Editor)

Ian Scoones, Bernard Willkie (Visual Effects Designer), Barbara Lane (Costumes), Sylvia James (Make-Up), Howard King (Lighting)

Tony Millier (Sound), Terrance Dicks (Script Editor), Gloria Clayton (Designer), Barry Letts (Producer), Lennie Mayne (Director)

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Uncredited Crew

Bob Rymer, Martyn Day (Film Editors), Bill Chesneau (Film Sound Recordist), Fred Wright (Technical Manager)

Mat Irvine (Visual Effects Assistant), Eddie Dougall (Film Sound Assistant), John Beck, Ricky Gauld (Film Camera Assistants), Rob Prosser (Grips)

Jack Broughton (Props Buyer), Sarah Newman (Production Secretary), Sue Stapely (Director's Assistant), Gerry Borrows (Grams Operator)

Mike Wilson (Effects Cameraman), Michael Thorne (Floor Assistant), Ken Starkey (Design Assistant), Ron Peverall (Camera Supervisor)

Michael Turner (Vision Mixer) 

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Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Television Centre: Puppet Theatre

  • Television Centre: Studio 3

  • Television Centre: Studio 4

Deaths

  • Hepesh [killed after battling with Aggedor]

  • Torbis [killed by Aggedor]

  • Arcturus [killed when Ssorg blasts him with his weapon]

Production Days

  • 7 Days between Wednesday 15 December 1971 - Tuesday 1 February 1972

Production Errors

  1. After being attacked and murdered by Aggedor, Hepesh is still breathing when Grun finds his corpse

  2. The Doctor is his by the secret passage way door during episode one

  3. During the model shot when the Tardis falls down the mountain ledge, there is no signs of The Doctor or Jo

  4. Sonny Caldinez's hair can be seen sticking out from his Ssorg helmet

  5. Alpha Centauri is a hexapod, so how can he move around?​​​

Working Titles

  • The Curse

  • Curse of the Peladons

Verdict

​The Curse of Peladon is pretty to look and makes a nice chance from seeing another Earth-bound story. Peladon itself is a clever idea mixing primitive and technology to create a planet with enough character to stand out on its own. There is more nice design work with the aliens – all of whom are green skinned – maybe there’s a prejudice story which is not really explored. The Ice Warriors return and are much better probably because of colour television and there is a nice twist where they are not infact the villains. Whoops. Did I say that out loud? Don’t worry the villain is pretty obvious and comes to no surprise when The Doctor pieces everything together. Lennie Mayne is a talented director using small studio space to create a fine television. ****

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