[daveyboy7472]

I always find the first ever Dalek story a bit of an oddity and like a game of Football it really does come into two halves.

The first four episodes are quite frankly brilliant. The first episode with the three regulars almost on their own with Ian and Barbara visiting a planet for the first time, The Doctor being as his most mischievous best to achieve his aims and that first cliffhanger are simply absorbing viewing. The following episode where The Daleks are first revealed in all their glory and the tension of the unwell regulars add to another good episode and the following two with the escape, that great Temmosus speech etc also are good.

I think the story should have finished after four episodes as the last three are an absolute snorefest saved only by the scenes with The Doctor in. It really does grind along at an excruciating pace and even the final 'battle' seems to happen in slow motion. The trek through the caves feels likes it's happening almost in real time.

I think the incidental music, which was used several times over the following years is superb. However, the first Dalek story rates as one of my least favourites featuring them, the better stuff was ahead.

So what did others think of this story?

[stud u like]

I prefer the film.

[steven1977]

I dont know why but whenever I watch the story I prefer the Cushing movie maybe because I saw that first or that it condenses a 3 and a half hour story into 90 mins so the story doesnt drag.

[daveyboy7472]

Originally Posted by steven1977

I dont know why but whenever I watch the story I prefer the Cushing movie maybe because I saw that first or that it condenses a 3 and a half hour story into 90 mins so the story doesnt drag.

I agree, the film is better and I always find it even more atmospheric and more action orientated.

[steven1977]

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472

I agree, the film is better and I always find it even more atmospheric and more action orientated.

Well they did cut alot of stuff out. Where as 2150 AD the film seemed to have a better plot to the way it went and plus the daleks got killed right and proper.

[daveyboy7472]

Originally Posted by steven1977

Well they did cut alot of stuff out. Where as 2150 AD the film seemed to have a better plot to the way it went and plus the daleks got killed right and proper.

The only thing the Tv Show has is it's portrayal of The Doctor. Hartnell was very sneaky and cunning in a lot of the early episodes, almost like a villain but though I liked Cushing, he was a far more likeable and less grumpy, more akin to some of Hartnell's later performances.

[doublefour]

I think this is a good story, brilliant first few episodes. I would be happy if they just had left the episode out in the Caves, incredibly dull.

[pajs1000]

Originally Posted by stud u like

I prefer the film.

I agree. The film handled the story far better than the tv version.

[steven1977]

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472

The only thing the Tv Show has is it's portrayal of The Doctor. Hartnell was very sneaky and cunning in a lot of the early episodes, almost like a villain but though I liked Cushing, he was a far more likeable and less grumpy, more akin to some of Hartnell's later performances.

I did like the way the tardis was done in the film with wires hanging about all over the place. Seeing as they got rights to the name and the daleks why not the tardis takeoff.

[Zeppelyn56]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing I guess and I only have vague recollections of the story as the last and only time I saw it was as a 7 year old when it was first broadcast, its probably what hooked me to Who. How many I wonder like me think that without this story Dr Who would'nt still be with us today?

[Granny McSmith]

Am I being dense? The film wasn't a remake of the first Dalek story, the one with the Thals, was it? Wasn't that what you were referring to, davey?

In any case, I fail to see how anyone could prefer Cushing to Hartnell as the Doctor because Cushing wasn't the Doctor, he was an inventor called (oddly) Dr Who.

It may have been a good film, (I liked it) but it wasn't Doctor Who as we know it.

[meglosmurmurs]

I refer to those Peter Cushing films as Dalek films. Because the Doctor is just not that relevant or interesting in them really. The Daleks are the main stars.
Even though they are entertaining, they kind of annoy me because they are so gimmicky.

Although I do think the original Dr Who story is a tad bit long, I could probably shave a couple of episodes off.
The Daleks are great though, I think they pretty much were the last great element that got people watching the show from the start.

[Corwin]

Originally Posted by Granny McSmith

Am I being dense? The film wasn't a remake of the first Dalek story, the one with the Thals, was it? Wasn't that what you were referring to, davey?

Yes it was.

The 2nd film was a remake of The Dalek Invasion of Earth and they did plan on making a 3rd film based on the Dalek story The Chase.

[Granny McSmith]

Originally Posted by Corwin

Yes it was.

The 2nd film was a remake of The Dalek Invasion of Earth and they did plan on making a 3rd film based on the Dalek story The Chase.

You are absolutely right, I've just googled it. (Not because I didn't believe you, but because I didn't remember it ).

OK, ignore the first part of my previous post, but the second part still stands.

[nebogipfel]

Originally Posted by Granny McSmith

You are absolutely right, I've just googled it. (Not because I didn't believe you, but because I didn't remember it :)).

OK, ignore the first part of my previous post, but the second part still stands. :D

The latter part of your post stands. He's not the Doctor. But he is Peter Cushing. And therefore is The Doctor. It's complicated. (but he's not the Doctor.)..oh yes he is....no he's not.

He isn't. (but he's lovely)

[gslam2]

Typical Nation, action packed plot, shame about the dialogue and terrible supporting characters. It's miles better than the film though which is an appaling load of complete rubbish. Both films are an embarrassment and should never have been made.

[gslam2]

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472

The only thing the Tv Show has is it's portrayal of The Doctor. Hartnell was very sneaky and cunning in a lot of the early episodes, almost like a villain but though I liked Cushing, he was a far more likeable and less grumpy, more akin to some of Hartnell's later performances.

Uh and actual good actors in the Barbara, Ian & Susan roles which the film certainly doesn't have.

[Mad Man Moon]

I watched this fairly recently and found it less boring than I remember it being first time around. The main problem with the early Hartnell stories was that they made him quite unpredictable and even untrustworthy, so it was up to Ian to do all the heroic stuff. Quite an odd approach to a series that was supposedly about the Doctor.

[steven1977]

Originally Posted by Granny McSmith

You are absolutely right, I've just googled it. (Not because I didn't believe you, but because I didn't remember it ).

OK, ignore the first part of my previous post, but the second part still stands.

Why didnt they make the 3rd film?

[Rick Shutterman]

The third film ended up being shelved because of poor box office showings of the second one.

One thing which I found slightly irritating with the first film was Ian (Roy Castle) always referring to the Doctor as Dr. Who, as if that was his surname.

[PhilH36]

Originally Posted by Zeppelyn56

Hindsight is a wonderful thing I guess and I only have vague recollections of the story as the last and only time I saw it was as a 7 year old when it was first broadcast, its probably what hooked me to Who.

Presumably you missed the fact that it was shown on BBC4 several years ago.

[Listentome]

Originally Posted by Rick Shutterman

The third film ended up being shelved because of poor box office showings of the second one.

One thing which I found slightly irritating with the first film was Ian (Roy Castle) always referring to the Doctor as Dr. Who, as if that was his surname.

In the films 'Who' was his surname. He was a human scientist called 'Dr Who'.

[daveyboy7472]

Originally Posted by Granny McSmith

Am I being dense? The film wasn't a remake of the first Dalek story, the one with the Thals, was it? Wasn't that what you were referring to, davey?

In any case, I fail to see how anyone could prefer Cushing to Hartnell as the Doctor because Cushing wasn't the Doctor, he was an inventor called (oddly) Dr Who.

It may have been a good film, (I liked it) but it wasn't Doctor Who as we know it.

As has been mentioned it was a remake but I wasn't discussing the film initially, it just arose out of discussion, which is cool.

I agree as always, Cushing wasn't really alien at all in this film, just some eccentric scientist who had created the TARDIS at his home. I didn't like him being referred to as Doctor Who either but that's just a minor quibble.

I also agree with Doublefour, the sixth episode is the worst of the lot, it's where the story really drags badly and the scenes away from them are almost a relief from it all and even on first viewing without prior knowledge of the story, Ganatus refusal to jump wasn't exactly a shocker and was almost telegraphed about ten minutes before he got there!

[Granny McSmith]

Originally Posted by nebogipfel

The latter part of your post stands. He's not the Doctor. But he is Peter Cushing. And therefore is The Doctor. It's complicated. (but he's not the Doctor.)..oh yes he is....no he's not.

He isn't. (but he's lovely)

Of course he's lovely, he's Peter Cushing! One of my favourite people of all time.

I did like the film. (Though I only remember the second one. ). It's just that he's a different character from our Doctor. But still lovely.

Originally Posted by PhilH36

Presumably you missed the fact that it was shown on BBC4 several years ago.

Presumeably I missed it, too.

[nebogipfel]

Originally Posted by Granny McSmith

Of course he's lovely, he's Peter Cushing! One of my favourite people of all time.

I did like the film. (Though I only remember the second one. ). It's just that he's a different character from our Doctor. But still lovely.



Presumeably I missed it, too.

Yes. He's not our Doctor at all. I really like the opening scene where the camera pans from the two girls reading advanced physics books then to Dr Who reading Eagle.

Cushing was one of the nicest people ever. He wrote to Jim'll Fix It and asked for it to be fixed for a rose to be named after his late wife. It was one of the most romantic but sad things I've ever seen.