Crisis, What Crisis? Or... The Urge To Live

I rather enjoyed the 'reconstructed' episodes on the DVD release of this story even if it was a bit clumsy and hammy in places.  Lovely to see William Russell and Carole Ann Ford so enthusiastic and, uniquely for this story, still alive!

However, after watching the transmitted version of 'Crisis' there's no doubt in my mind that Donald Wilson's decision to edit them down was the right one.  The murder plot is long and dull and the telephone exchange scenes are just plain annoying.  Plus we're spared the trauma of the poor dead cat!  Wilson's reasoning in his letter seems odd though...

Unless he simply means that they'd have liked to have had more of the miniature scenes and a lot less of the others which is, of course, what he got after the edit.

Crisis

"PUT...US...THROUGH...TO...POLICE!"

The early scene (from the original part three, directed by Mervyn Pinfield) where Ian and Barbara drop down into the enormous sink is superbly done and utterly convincing.  So is the simple but highly effective notepad set...

This episode feels extremely slick and tight, no doubt as the result of being skillfully cut down from the two recorded episodes.  Most of the scenes involve the series' four regulars with the contributions from the guest cast reduced to the bare minimum.  This works for me as the Doctor and co grappling with huge telephones and matches is far more compelling that the murder sub-plot.

"There's nothing like a good fire is there?" says the Doctor, delightedly.

And returning to the superb TARDIS set at the end of the story still gives me a frisson of pleasure and excitement.

Next episode: World's End

(Squee)

Dangerous Journey

"Whatever killed those insects could easily kill us."

Now, given the erratic nature of my updates to this blog (was the last episode I watched for it really in February?) I don't want to make any grand proclamations about carrying on.  But I am.  Carrying on I mean.

It's rather good.  Anyone tuning in around five minutes in to this episode could easily be forgiven for thinking that they were watching 'Dixon of Dock Green', another Saturday night favourite, as Forester and Smithers discuss how to dispose of poor Farrow's body.  These are the first contemporary episodes of Dr Who since the very first, 'An Unearthly Child'.

The oversized sets continue to enchant; the drain pipe, the litmus paper and the spectacular sink.

The scene where Barbara has already touched the insecticide-covered wheat is beautifully played.  

"A reel of cotton... It's all so ridiculous Ian!"

The fabulous model fly is on screen for far too short a time.  (Oh look, our first GIF.)

It's ostensibly a very simple story, but one where the visuals give it great depth.

I love how the end titles play out over a shot of the slowly emptying sink.

Next episode: Crisis

(And they're not referring to the production.)

Planet Of Giants

"These things haven't been made bigger; we've been made smaller."

A new season and a very fresh feeling start, which is odd given that this story was recorded directly after 'The Reign of Terror'.  I confess that this is one of my favourite early Dr Who stories.  It's a concept I adore, it's by one of my favourite writers Louis Marks (who, I've just noticed, isn't credited in the above listing) and realised by one of my favourite directors, Mervyn Pinfield.  Both of whom may well deserve a column of their own.  It also features the first music for the series by Dudley Simpson (another column), fabulous design by Ray Cusick (one more) and some direction by Douglas Camfield (how long have you got?)

Right well, on with the motley.  The Doctor has a new cloak...

and the others are all back in sixties gear.  With the dialogue, the TARDIS doors opening in flight, and the exploding scanner screen we're straight back in the realms of the very first episode and 'The Edge of Destruction'.

Ray Cusick's sets are wonderful...

The confrontation between Forester and the smoking Farrow makes Dr Who suddenly feel very grown-up and contemporary.  And in a few lines of dialogue we have back story for both characters, one keen to get away and go sailing in France, the other desperate because he is about to go bust.

Ian survives his trip in the matchbox...

...but poor Farrow is not so lucky.

"That's not thunder, surely," says Susan.  And it wasn't.

As a child this shot would surely have given me nightmares. Fantastic. 

So, we have a very technically ambitious and well realised episode with a strong environmental theme.  Worth noting, because it's still a good five years before Barry Letts takes over.

Next episode: Dangerous Journey

The Return of DR. WHO

Where Is Who?

Prisoners of Conciergerie

"Funny, I get the impression they don't know where they're heading for."

Very perspicacious of you, Monsieur Lemaitre er.. Stirling.

Seeing Barbara and Ian dressed up as an inn keeper and a serving wench is a delight and instantly put me in mind of 'Allo 'Allo.  I half expected Rene to turn up at any moment.  Instead, it's Napoleon! Funny old day.

I like the scene at the end using, very effectively, a small part of the TARDIS set...

"Our Destiny is in the stars and we must go and search for it."

And so ends the first and wholly memorable season of Doctor Who.

As a child, and particularly after a historical story, the title of the next episode would have had me squirming with anticipation.  For six weeks as it turned out.

Next episode: Planet Of Giants