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| To conquer and destroy! The sixties DOCTOR WHO and the DALEKS movies are back in brand new HD restorations. All images: STUDIOCANAL. |
‘DOCTOR WHO AND THE DALEKS’ and ‘DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH: 2150 AD’
Starring Peter Cushing
Available from May 27th 2013, individually on re-mastered Blu-ray or DVD, or together in a special Limited Collector's Edition Blu-ray box-set, from STUDIOCANAL
Reviewed by Scott Weller
“You have invaded the world of the Daleks!"
The merits and chances of a big-screen, big-budget DOCTOR WHO movie being made in todays entertainment climate have been talked about a lot these past twenty years, but has so far proved elusive - merely big words becoming ultimately empty promises. But back in the sixties, at a more innocent time before movies and TV were ruled by internal politics and ego-powered stars/film-makers, there were no such problems, as exemplified by the two hugely enjoyable and reasonably large-scale DALEK movies, nicely realized by cult film icons Joe Vegoda, Milton Subotsky and Max J. Rosenberg of AMICUS/AARU FILMS, whose colourful adventures would touch the hearts and minds of generations of DOCTOR WHO for years to come, worthy of the shows early spirit. Family films deserving of celebration, especially in the overall fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the Time Lord this year and the centenary of their star, Peter Cushing.
Perennial favourites-long a mainstay of seventies UK summer theatrical re-releases and television repeats, Dalekmania gets a deserved new lease life in these essential digitally re-mastered Blu-ray/DVD releases from STUDIOCANAL.
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| The movie Doctor meets the Skaro monsters in their big-screen debut. |
Making his cinematic debut in 1965, amidst a needed overriding of the TV series established beginnings, our first feature-film impression of “Doctor Who” in DOCTORWHO AND THE DALEKS is far removed, in the nicest possible way, from William Hartnell’s crotchety alien figure. Peter Cushing’s fun portrayal sees him as human and accessible as you or me, a mad scientist of the nicest and eccentric kind, enthusiastically reading the exciting and colourful adventure’s of Dan Dare in the Eagle comic in his opening moments whilst the rest of his family are reading heavy tomes on hard science! The late, great Cushing projects a strong family feeling with and to the cast (notably with then child star Roberta Tovey, playing his youngest granddaughter Susan), knowing when to be serious and humorous in equal measure. It’s clear that the actor, most well known for his horror films, likes making entertainment for the young just as much.
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| Peter Cushing as the first (so far) movie incarnation of DOCTOR WHO. |
Working well on-screen with Cushing, and despite being a much younger actress than the version of Susan seen on monochrome TV screens, pony-tailed Roberta Tovey shows courage and intelligence that isn’t annoying, and often proves a more singular presence than Carole Ann Ford’s screamy interpretation- her role in BBC WHO being an early behind the scenes casualty during a changing format, toned down from original plans by the series producers. Adding grown-up glamour to the time explorers is full-figured actress/pin-up of the time Jennie Linden, as the other capable, if under-used, sexy older granddaughter, Barbara.
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| The Doctor with Ian (Roy Castle), Barbara (Jennie Linden) and Susan (Roberta Tovey) as they arrive on the planet Skaro. |
Wanting another "name" star alongside Cushing in order to sell the film, actor/musician Roy Castle, a favourite of the AMICUS stable, is fun as the comedy hero and new boyfriend to Barbara, the accident prone Ian. It’s a lovably daft performance from Castle, who sometimes acts as if he's come straight out of a Carry On film- far removed from the confident, intelligent presence of William Russell’s TV series portrayal, but just as amiable.
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| In the TARDIS, Susan meets the Thal leader, Alydon (Barrie Ingham). |
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| Ian, Barbara and the Thals are trapped in the Dalek city. |
Taking Ian on an accidental trip in the TARDIS, the time vehicle deposits them all on the atrophied, radiation blighted world of Skaro, where two races struggle for survival- the humanoid “beautiful people”, the blonde haired, Egyptian make-up’d Thals (led by the heroic Barry Ingham as Alydon), and the hideous metal encased Daleks-the ultimate xenophobes. Discovering the true intents of the evil pepperpots, our Earth heroes are soon to ally themselves with the Thals in a valiant attempt to stop a doomsday bomb that will wipe out all non-Dalek life on the planet.
Trailer 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA0zenI7_H8
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| On the big screen, in colour: the Daleks! |
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| Fire extinguisher death: Dalek style! |
Milton Subotsky’s adaptation of Terry Nation’s original seven-part scripts are streamlined and effective, cramming in all the vital action and humour on a bigger scale than anything then being done on smaller-budgeted TV – so much so that, if you’ve never seen those original B/W early-sixties DOCTOR WHO stories beforehand (starring William Hartnell), you maybe a little disappointed in comparison. But remember that the original series stands alone for its strong scripts and characters, and for carving out memorable adventures that stretched their then tiny production budgets as far as they could go.
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| The movie Daleks: truly a formidable force! |
Despite the welcome presence of Cushing and Castle, though, it’s ultimately the lure of seeing the Daleks on the big screen, rather than on the tiniest of TVs of the time, and in full colour, that gets the kids and parents down to their picture houses. And part of an overall production budget of £180,000 pounds, these newly designed and built Daleks certainly look bigger and more threatening than their B/W counterparts- moving well and effectively showing their sinister side, blasting out with their fire extinguisher guns at anything that gets in their way (originally planned as being flamethrowers-an idea scrapped for being too frightening for children), whilst their often ridiculed sink plungers are mostly abandoned for more impressive claws. Bigger in on-screen numbers, too, voiced once more by the inimitable talents of Peter Hawkins and David Graham, they’re finally a mass force to be reckoned with!
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| The Doctor and Ian take on a Dalek. |
Guiding them in their mystical appeal of cunning and evil brutality, Scottish talent Gordon Flemyng, a popular figure in the face of visualing environments (particularly on the ITV series THE AVENGERS (then entering its own unique and colourful groove)), proves a capable talent on this and the next Dalek film, nicely mixing drama, action and humour within well composed shots and camera angles perfect for the Techniscope and Technicolour formats used by the British movie industry of the period.
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| Atmospheric shot of the TARDIS in the Skaro jungle. |
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| Our heroes are captured outside the Dalek city. |
There are also some impressive production designs for the Daleks city interiors and exteriors, as well as an excellent outdoor set for the petrified jungle, all filmed at the huge scale Shepperton Studios (later home to several big scenes in the first STAR WARS movie in 1976). The only disappointment is the interior of Doctor Who’s TARDIS, which proves a real hodge-podge in its first big-screen appearance- a deliberate choice I presume by the behind the scenes team to reflect this Doctor being a human inventor, making the most of what’s available to him, rather than a Time Lords of Gallifrey with his supreme, higher power technology. The control room is far removed from Peter Brachaki’s excellent and iconic set for the BBC TV series. Fortunately, the eventual movie sequel would see in a better re-design.
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| The Doctor and Susan watch the Daleks countdown to destruction. |
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| The Thals attack the Daleks in the big finale. |
Ending with some well-staged action (handled by veteran INDIANA JONES stuntman Martin Grace, who also plays one of the Thals), amidst some fine music from Malcolm Lockyer, DOCTOR WHO AND THE DALEKS makes for an impressive cinematic entrance for both our hero and his titular villains, of which plans were soon hot on the wheels for the inevitable and ultimately challenging sequel.
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| Battlefield Earth: The Doctor is caught in the events of DALEKS' INVASION EARTH: 2150 AD |
Indeed, the Daleks return from the dead would see in this more somber second film during 1966: DALEKS' INVASION EARTH: 2150 AD, not quite so wondrous as the first, with a grittier edge and Cushing not quite so emersed into the films plot as we’d like, but it does retain the original’s epic scope, if not bigger this time round, and has some cool moments of action and drama.
Subotsky once again provides the story adapting chores from Terry Nation's original (though there’s a few plot holes here and there, mostly in its second half), with additional story/character input from former WHO series script editor David Whitaker, who originally helped bring the Daleks to reality on the TV screens.
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| The Doctor and Susan, with Tom (Bernard Cribbins) and Louise (Jill Curzon), explore ruined future London. |
This time out, bumbling cop Tom Campbell rushes into the TARDIS after finding himself unwittingly caught up in a jewellery shop raid, and just as the Doctor’s vehicle is taking off, sending the time travellers into a future London, a shattered city, where humanity, and the world, has been enslaved in a sneak attack of incredible proportions by those pesky Daleks, not as extinct as the Doctor would like, existing anew in another part of the timeline and causing havoc across the galaxy.
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| A Roboman attacks! |
As part of the film’s overall tone, Cushing is certainly more serious here, the actor not having the greatest time during the making of the film, sadly dogged by illness, with production shutting down for a period, or scenes having to be filmed around him). Fortunately, Roberta Tovey is back to play thr comforting presence of Susan, though she doesn’t have as much screen-time alongside the actor/character as before. With Jennie Linden and Roy Castle not available for the sequel, they’re replaced by the Doctor’s niece, Louise, played by subtly sexy Jill Curzon, and by Bernard Cribbins as the aforementioned Tom Campbell, who, long before joining Tenth Doctor David Tennant for his final journies in time and space, takes over the duties of brave but comedic companion-the latter humorous moment being when he infiltrates a platoon of Robomen- PVC suited, brainwashed human servants of the Daleks.
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| Louise is stranded on the Dalek ship. |
Joining the quartet is stalwart film and TV actor Andrew Keir as the adventure’s main supporting star, the grouchy hero, Wyler - the actor perhaps best known in the mid to late sixties as one of the big-screen actors to have played Professor Quatermass. Alongside Keir as a fellow Dalek fighter is Ray Brooks, described in one of the movie’s trailers as the boy “with the knack.”
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| Surrounded! The Doctor is betrayed by black marketeer Brockley (Philip Madoc). |
Finally, a special mention to the late Welsh actor Philip Madoc, at his snidey best as an untrustworthy black marketer who sells people out to the Daleks.
As our separated heroes survive their first skirmishes with the Daleks in and out of the city, they eventually converge after a road trip across the English Countryside, in order to stop the Daleks ultimate and dastardly plans for the planet: to mine its core and turn it into a gigantic travelling spaceship!
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| Prisoners of the Daleks in Sloane Square! |
Once more filming on the expansive stages of Shepperton (and going out and about on several exterior filming locations), the Technicolour and Techniscope encapsulation often proves superior to the first film, with great cinematography from John Wilcox and impressive production design by George Provis showing a Dalek attacked London, primarily Sloane Square, which houses a landed Dalek craft. The realistic Blitz-like ruins must have brought back memories to many cinema audiences of the then not so long ago era of World War II.
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| A last stand for the Doctor and humanity. |
As well as the sets there’s further ambitious special effects and pyrotechnics work from Ted Samuels and his team, including a well-filmed piece of model work showing a Dalek saucer flying over London- a visual creation that I wish we could see now in the modern series, plus an effective merging of film and model work showing the Dalek mine in Bedford!
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| Susan at the controls of the new-look TARDIS interior. |
A different composer, Bill McGuffie, handles the films comedy and drama requirements, providing a stylistically different quality to the material from the first, this one more upbeat and in line with the kind of style that Laurie Johnson would bring to THE AVENGERS TV series in its filmic years, though there is some occasional menace- the Daleks and their mind-controlled Robomen get a notable and dread militaristic theme.
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| The Rebels attack the Robomen. |
Backing the music, there’s some classic sound design once more emerging from the oscilators of Barry Grey, some of it sounding familiar as part of the many Gerry Anderson TV series he would be involved with during the late sixties.
Despite their sterling second efforts, DALEKS' INVASION EARTH was not a huge box-office hit in either the US or in its home territory of the UK, hurt by advance critics reviews and early word of mouth. With a format unlike anything they'd seen before, it would generally be quite a while before DOCTOR WHO finds an audience in the all-important realms of America, notably not until the seventies, with the TV incarnation starring Tom Baker.
A planned third Dalek film, to have been based on another Terry Nation TV adventure, The Chase, never got past the ideas stage, so we were ultimately robbed of seeing Skaro’s finest for one last big screen encore. A pity…
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| Some light comedy relief as Tom becomes a Roboman for the day! |
Great family fun, this remastered movie pairing is sure to keep audiences of all ages delighted for years to come- the central performances of the Daleks and Peter Cushing remain timelessly appealing in their translation to celluloid.
They may not be seen as official WHO cannon, but they’re just as fondly regarded as the TV series, and a fine slice of sixties evocation linked to the series, at a time when the Daleks pop culture amazingly and deservedly ruled Britannia for several years.
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| Out of control! A Dalek goes over the edge. |
With a lavish digital picture and sound restoration by DELUXE, STUDIOCANAL have given the films a bang-up restoration job. One little niggle, though: its seems a small piece of music has seemingly been lost in the remastering-perhaps because STUDIOCANAL were using a different print to the one I saw on UK TV as a child- the version used here apparently one that came from New York.
As well as some stills galleries and big voiced trailers (of which movie two, trying to sell the film in the US, incredulously goes out of its way to not promote the film as either a DOCTOR WHO or Dalek movie!), the warm-hearted Dalekmaniadocumentary (from a previous DVD release) goes behind the scenes on the two films with informative ease, talking to many of their cast and crew, weaved around some specially shot linking material that firmly captures the era where the Daleks invaded toy stores and children’s bedrooms across the land.
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| A past and future threat to the Doctor and Tom. |
Additionally, there’s a short but sweet interview with Bernard Cribbins and Shepperton Studios archivist Gareth Owen, the latter talking in-depth about the background, making of and differencies between the two films, and the pressures and problems of making them, whilst film historian Marcus Hearn also add some new info snippets here and there.
Finally, there’s some short and sweet individual featurettes on each movies restorations, and the use of Techniscope in movies of the time, that’s worthy of a look.
KOOL TV RATING (overall films and extras): Finally available in the way they were meant to be seen, Peter Cushing’s Doctor and his battles against the cold-hearted nastiness of the Daleks live on as smashing and spirited examples of the power that is the DOCTOR WHO franchise. 4 out of 5
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