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7) THE SENSORITES

20 June - 1 August 1964

Average Viewing Figure: 6.9M

Plot

Arriving on a spaceship, The Tardis crew are taken to the Sense-Sphere by the mysterious Sensorites

Cast

William Hartnell (The Doctor), William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright), Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman)

Stephen Dartnell (John), Ilona Rodgers (Carol), Lorne Cossette (Maitland), John Bailey (Commander), Martyn Huntley (First Human)

Giles Phibbs (Second Human), Ken Tyllsen (First Sensorite/First Scientist), Joe Greig (Second Sensorite/Second Scientist/Warrior)

Peter Glaze (Third Sensorite/City Administrator), Arthur Newall (Fourth Sensorite), Eric Francis (First Elder)

Bartlett Mullins (Second Elder), Anthony Rodgers (Sensorite), Gerry Martin (Sensorite) 

Crew

Peter R Newman (Writer), Ron Grainer (Title Music), Norman Kay (Incidental Music), Daphne Dare (Costumes Supervisor)

Jill Summers (Make-Up Supervisor), David Whitaker (Story Editor), Raymond P Cusick (Designer), Mervyn Pinfield (Associte Producer)

Verity Lambert (Producer), Mervyn Pinfield, Frank Cox (Directors)

​

Uncredited Crew

Brian Hodgson (Special Sound), Delia Derbyshire (Theme Arrangment), Clive Doig (Vision Mixer), Peter Murray (Studio Lighting)

Jack Brummitt, Les Wilkins (Studio Sound), David Conroy (Production Assistant), Val McCrimmon, Dawn Robertson (Assistant Floor Managers)​

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Ealing Film Studios

  • Television Centre: Studio 3

  • Lime Grove: Studio D

  • Television Centre: Studio 4

  • Lime Grove: Studio G

Deaths

  • Second Elder [killed by a Technician] 

Production Days

  • 8 days between May - Friday 10 July 1964

Production Errors

  1. During episode one, the camera collides with a table in front of The Doctor

  2. Before Maitland operates a drill, the drill marks are already visible

  3. The Doctor at one points calls Ian Chesterton, 'Cheston' 

  4. Both Maitland and The Doctor react to sound effects that aren't actually there

  5. The Doctor calls Maitland 'John' during episode one

  6. The notes which Carol is forced to write a note for the City Administrator is different from the one which Barbara reads in the following scene  

  7. During episode six, The Doctor reads the shoulder flash as 'I-N-N-E-R' when the camera changes angle to show the prop it reads as 'I-N-E-E-R'​​​​​

Working Titles

  • [no known working titles]

Verdict

Whilst the first two episodes are long winded and tiresome, the rest of the story does not fare any better. Whilst the Sensorites are excellent in design and are portrayed with flair, too much time is spent overemphasising their weakness and flaws its makes one want to shout ‘WE GET IT, MOVE ON! at the TV. The plot is laden with far too may expositional moments which heavily distract viewers from anything interesting, if one can indeed find anything interesting in the first place. The music is either too clichéd or overdramatic at specific points, and never seems to improve. The only saving grace is the spaceship sets, which are astutely designed and filmed, but this highlight gets old, fast. Fluffed lines, repetition of ideas in quick succession, poorly written drawn-out scenes and poor sound quality result in the shows’ first real let down. Whilst not the absolute worst, this is still pretty dull. ** ​

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