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92) HORROR OF FANG ROCK

3 - 24 September 1977

Average Viewing Figure: 8.4mM

Plot

When a strange light appears in the sky the occupants of a lighthouse are slowly picked off one by one

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

Cast

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela), Colin Douglas (Reuben), John Abbott (Vince), Ralph Watson (Ben)

Sean Caffrey (Lord Palmerdale), Alan Rowe (Skinsale), Rio Fanning (Harker), Annette Woollett (Adelaide) 

Crew

Terrance Dicks (Writer), Dudley Simpson (Incidental Music), Ron Grainer (Title Music), Bernard Lodge (Title Sequence)

Peter Grimwade (Production Assistant), John Nathan-Turner (Production Unit Manager), Bob Gell (Lighting), David Hughes (Sound)

John Walker (Film Cameraman), Peter Pegrum (Visual Effects Designer), Dick Mills (Special Sound), Joyce Hawkins (Costume Designer)

Jackie Hodgson (Make-Up Artist), Robert Holmes (Script Editor), Paul Allen (Designer), Graham Williams (Producer), Paddy Russell (Director)

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Uncredited Crew

John Jeavons (Technical Operations Manager)

Broadcast

Number of Production Days: 5

Filming Locations

  • Visual Effects Department Model Stage, Western Avenue, London

  • Ealing Film Studios Stage 3A

  • Pebble Mill Studio A

Death the Constant Companion

  • Rueben [murdered by the Rutan]

  • Vince [killed by the Rutan disguised as Reuben]

  • Ben [murdered by the Rutan]

  • Lord Palmerdale [electrouced by the Rutan Host]

  • Skinsale [killed by The Rutan]

  • Harker [killed by The Rutan]

  • Adelaide [killed by The Rutan]

  • Rutan [destroyed with a makeshift mortar]

  • Rutans [killed when their mothership is destroyed]

Production Days

  • 15 Days between Tuesday 26 April - Thursday 9 June 1977

Production Errors

  1. When the Rutan is about to kill Ben, the POV shot makes it looks like the Rutan is almost as tall as him. However, later on, the Rutan is revealed to be only about one foot high  

Working Titles

  • Rocks of Doom - (storyline)

Verdict

Horror of Fang Rock places a small group of very distinguishable characters in a small claustrophobic lighthouse with a deadly alien prowling the nearby vicinity. Despite being made under new producer Graham Williams there are still signs of the renaissance era here – the gothic setting, the darker tone being just two little examples. Russell’s direction is tight as is the script which gives us more moments of Leela stealing the spotlight. She takes very little interest in early twentieth century society instead opting to lead the way and take whatever action she deems necessary to survive. There are elements of greed and corruption thrown in and the Doctor sitting down to talk to his enemy shows that the show is always ready to try something new. It is very easy to watch this one in one go and proves that Earth bound settings can be the most enjoyable. *****​

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