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The Gunfighters

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Lady of Traken

19-06-2016

Originally Posted by Michael_Eve:
“Glad you enjoyed, LOT.

First saw this story on bootleg in the Mid 80's, and it came with a reputation. Doctor Who Monthly had called it the worst Who story and it's lowest rated. The former is subjective, the latter I think is inaccurate. (Think The Smugglers was the lowest rated Sixties story? Not 100% sure...) As I hadn't seen much Hartnell at this point, my expectations were not high.....

Loved it. Entertaining, often very funny, Purves was a revelation (hadn't seen him before) and had no problem with Dodo here at all. And then there was William H, the supposedly stern Doctor I'd heard of, who is clearly having a whale of a time and is just brilliant in this! Love him walking down the street waving his gun about, oblivious to the danger.The use of the Ballad was an interesting device, though had no idea Captain Wrack was singing it!

Agree that this was a symbol of the experimentation that existed throughout the Hartnell era; a big reason why it's one of my absolute favourites and why I rate it higher than the Troughton era, which is praise indeed as that's a favourite too; just feel it could get a bit too 'samey' at times, and thought it was a shame the 'historicals' disappeared after The Highlanders.

Yeah, cracking good fun!

eta The ratings were decent, peaking at 6.6m for episode 2, the gloriously titled 'Don't Shoot The Pianist'! The last story to have individual titles....”

Hi Michael I am loving Hartnell more and more. I think because he is the first Doctor and we've seen so many since he does get this reputation as the stern Doctor. and is a bit ignored. BUT the stories are mostly fantastic and Bill Hartnell was the template from which the others followed. He has mellowed so much since TUChild that watching him is quite enjoyable at this stage I really understand why Peter Capaldi would want to bring the Doctor back to who he was originally, a bit sharper, wiser more than just the 'handsome hero' type.

It does feel quite diverse as an era and I'm glad that the production team kept challenging themselves with different ideas even if I don't always like the individual story. DWM was definitely wrong to say this was the worst story.ever. ...haven't they seen some of the stories in the 1980's Silver Nemesis, Terminus

I really wish the BBC had done more around the 50th similar to the Five Faces of Doctor Who promoting the earlier Doctors stories on main stream television.

Lord Smexy

19-06-2016

Originally Posted by Lady of Traken:
“Hi Michael I am loving Hartnell more and more. I think because he is the first Doctor and we've seen so many since he does get this reputation as the stern Doctor. and is a bit ignored. BUT the stories are mostly fantastic and Bill Hartnell was the template from which the others followed. He has mellowed so much since TUChild that watching him is quite enjoyable at this stage I really understand why Peter Capaldi would want to bring the Doctor back to who he was originally, a bit sharper, wiser more than just the 'handsome hero' type. ”

People tend to dismiss Hartnell's Doctkr as the grumpy, boring old one, but there was such a charm and a sense of magic to him. He was a strange and old-fashioned grandfather-figure, like something out of a Lewis Carroll or Dr. Seuss story, who spoke in riddles and really seemed like someone out of this world. Throughout his tenure, you can see how humanity actually shapes him into the hero he's known as today.

I find The Gunfighters enjoyable myself, but it in a "so bad it's good" kind of way. The Doctor, Steve and Dodo were very humorous in it and it felt like the actors were having a lot of fun.

daveyboy7472

19-06-2016

Originally Posted by Lady of Traken:
“Okay have to admit when I first watched this story a few years ago I didn’t really know what to make of it but that was because I was watching stories randomly and it just seemed odd. Still don't get how it is paired with the Awakening in its boxset.

But I can honestly say as I’ve been watching through the stories in order that The Gunfighters fits with the experimental nature of this season ( 12 part Dalek stories, Doctor lite episode, Celestial toymakers , invisible aliens) and the love of building complex worlds and characters ( Masterplan various locations, Ancient Greece, Pre-reformation France)

I agree with all of your comments Daveyboy except about the Ballad. Whilst it probably is played too much in the first episode it does give the story a kind of ‘story round the campfire feel’ especialy when you get the specific verses foreshadow the bloodshed at the OK Corral
Steven’s singing is meant to be comedic and is under duress so I can forgive that.
Bill Hartnell is funny. You are right. The scene where Steven gives him a gun and he delights in trying to twirl it and his banter with Mr ‘Werp’ . Oh and the scene where he is invited to the saloon by the Clantons and seems really thrilled up until he hears their name. Very good.

I’ve seen people moan on these forums that in the historical stories of this era the Tardis characters seem on the periphery of major events but I have come to the conclusion that it is actually the right thing, the correct thing that they are because the story is more effective when the Doctor isn’t controlling the outcome. It allows us to be reflective on how we behave.

Agree with all your comments Chuff
I do love it although it feels like I shouldn't. It's guilty pleasure kind of way (much like Delta and the Bannermen). The story deftly mixes the comedy with the darker themes such as Steven's lynching, the various murders and shoot-outs

I love the scene where Johnny Ringo arrives in the saloon and the menace slowly builds with Charlie not realising his big mouth hero worship will bring out the totally ruthless gunman in Johnny.

Also the leads are very good. Someone on these forums said that Steven doesn’t really pair with another companion during his stay but I do enjoy his and Dodo’s relationship in this one. Saying that Peter Purves did say he didn’t enjoy making this story at the time, due to the song, but it doesn’t show.I think they work well together generally in Celestial Toymaker and ‘playing’ at being theatre performers here . There’s a lovely moment early on where Dodo is so excited at being in the Wild West she does a little polka with Steven and when she sees his costume says she thinks he looks fab. Dodo seems like a fun, flighty character here and when she is with Doc Holliday she seems at her most independent and strong.

I think TG is very well produced and does (considering its all studio) look very impressive. The characters are slightly overblown but the casting of the actors who play Doc Holliday, Kate, Wyatt Earp, Charlie, Johnny Ringo is very good. The Clantons have dodgy accents but I’ll ignore that!

Well the historicals always give me the impetus to look up the real characters on the internet and Donald Cotton took a few dramatic liberties for a good story !”

Glad you're enjoying all these stories you've been commenting on LOT, it's lovely reading all your comments, even if I don't respond to all of them.

The Ballad, stick by my point on that. I would love to watch a version of The Gunfighters without it, I'm sure I'd enjoy it just as much. I guess it does give the story it's uniqueness but it doesn't work for me I'm afraid.

I do agree with you about Steven's singing, it was a funny scene and that does sort of fit in better with the story for me.

On a wider note, it's great reading people's positive comments on Hartnell. Doesn't get enough credit or mention on here enough considering he was the original actor to play the role. I agree with Lord Smexy, there is so much more to his Doctor than being stern and grumpy. There are so many instances I could mention where he's totally the opposite but people don't seem to see past the basic image of the First Doctor.

CoalHillJanitor

21-06-2016

Originally Posted by daveyboy7472:
“
On a wider note, it's great reading people's positive comments on Hartnell. Doesn't get enough credit or mention on here enough considering he was the original actor to play the role. I agree with Lord Smexy, there is so much more to his Doctor than being stern and grumpy. There are so many instances I could mention where he's totally the opposite but people don't seem to see past the basic image of the First Doctor.

”

For example, he completely jokes and giggles his way through The Romans!

daveyboy7472

21-06-2016

Originally Posted by CoalHillJanitor:
“For example, he completely jokes and giggles his way through The Romans!”

Absolutely!

The Romans and indeed as mentioned, in this story, there are many moments of humour from Hartnell.

chuffnobbler

22-06-2016

still love this story ...

Tom Tit

29-06-2016

I feel like this one starts off excellently and then progressively gets less interesting with each episode until I don't really care very much by the 4th episode. But Donald Cotton is always an excellent and humorous writer.

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