Writer Terry Nation
Director David
Maloney
Music Dudley Simpson
Starring Tom Baker
as the 4th Doctor
Elisabeth Sladen as
Sarah Jane Smith
Ian Master as Harry
Sullivan
Also
Michael Wisher as
Davros
Roy Skelton as the
voice of the Dalek
First broadcast 8th
March - 12th April 1975
“The Dalek race was
genetically engineered, every single emotion was removed.
Except hate… by a
genius… a man who was king of his own little world…”
- The 9th Doctor, “Dalek”
Though
this quote is not from this 6 part story aired back in 1975, but from the first
series of it’s new incarnation 30 years later in 2005, I felt it was a fitting
one and perfect to start this review.
All
good intentions can go by the way side at the best of times, but most certainly
when you are in the presence of the Doctor. The Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry
are supposed to be visiting the Brecon Beacons, but the Time Lords put payed to
that and send them to place and time, just before the creation of the Daleks.
Skaro. The purpose of this detour? To stop the crippled genius, Davros, from
ever creating them.
So
our would be protagonists find themselves in a quarry, no I mean, on a ravaged
and war torn Skaro. It is inhabited by two humanoid races, the Thals and the
Kaleds (mess about with this and you get Daleks, much like Doctor Who and
Torchwood) and they are at war with one another. But there are also the Mutos
who are referred to by Nyder (Peter Miles) as “the scared relics of ourselves.”
The Mutos was the genetically mutated versions of the Kaleds, remanents of
centuries of war.
This
is also a war seemingly fought with what is little more than pea shooters and
grenades. When Harry sees these two peoples at war he describes it as “… a war
of attrition, only backwards,” These two peoples have been fighting for
centuries, to such an extent that when they started they had some of the most
advanced and hideous weapons. The fighting had gone on for so many centuries
that by the time we meet them along with the Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry, they
are reduced to fighting with very primitive weapons. And the end result is that
Skaro is now a destroyed and desolate world desperate for an end to the madness
that has gripped them for so long. In many ways this is a message to all
leaders of the modern world. We carry on the way we are and this could be us in
a few thousand years. War torn and desolate. A mere shadow of what we once were
and that is very much the case here. It is hard to imagine what these people were
once like.
All
that is now left of these waring peoples is two massive domes, that keeps safe
the survivors and a desolated lands between them. And what is very clear is
that the end is nigh. Neither of these two peoples can continue as things are
and total annihilation is a very strong possibility.
The
whole story is full of tension and fear. Even though you know the outcome of
this whole mess, you fear for what will happen. Especially when you hear
familiar words from General Ravon (a Kaled) when he says “Our battle cry will
be total extermination of the Thals!” one of the things that lept out to me,
when watching the Kaleds, was how much they are like the Natzi’s with their
black clothes, severe regimental behaviour and the clicking of heels, making
them all the more frightening. Much like their mutated descendants, the Daleks
they are cold and callous and without fear or care for others. I should note
that the very unpleasant and nasty General Ravon is played by Guy Siner , a
role very different to the sweet and very camp role of Lieutenant Hubert Gruber
of “Allo’ Allo’” fame.
Michael
Wisher, the very first Davros actor, is cold and terrifying in the role, so
much expression in a mask that moves little. This is the Davros that actors
Elisabeth Sladen and John Barrowman spoke of that ‘scared the life out of
them’! It also must be said that after watching Michael Wisher, I cannot help
but note how wonderful Julian Bleach was, some 30 odd years later, in the role
in the season 4/30s Episodes “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End”. It was
almost like watching Michael Wisher
again only with better prosthetics. Julian was able to put a little more facial
expression into his performance than Michael. But it doesn’t change that fact
that his physical performance was as brilliant as Michael’s.
Ultimately
it is Davros, who wants to create the perfect race, with his terrible
experiments on his own people, turning the Kaleds into Daleks. There are those,
including the Doctor, who try to stop him but fail or, choose not to. The
Doctor fell into the latter. He literally has the chance in his hands and then
asks the question “Have I the right?” I must quote the 4th actor to play the
Doctor, Tom Baker, here when he says in his autobiography *”Great discussions
ensued during rehearsal when we examined the section of the script that dealt
with the possible abortion of the Daleks. It really was a scream. I am trying
to remember if it was David Maloney (Director) who put in the line, “Have I the
right?” as I played with the Dalek umbilical cord. Of course, I didn’t interfere
with destiny and that must have been a great relief to Terry Nation who was
really quite fond of his Daleks.” And so say all of us nearly 40 years on. Who
doesn’t enjoy a good old Dalek episode or two?
Of
course it would be easy to harp on about all the problems of the episodes, such
as how brilliant the Mutos looked from a distance, resembling that of a lepers
in their rags and blistered features. But when we were up close, though the
rags were the same, they looked perfectly normal save for rather dirty faces
and hair. Or even the poor sets and models. But the story and performances, as
well as the writing, are rather good, making this story gritty and at times
unnerving to watch. As I said earlier, it is almost a message to the world that
if we don’t sort ourselves out and stop with these wars, we could be in a
similar boat.
*And
before we leave this little reviews here’s a fun extract from Tom Baker’s
autobiography about a little known fact about Michael Wisher, and his
performance as Davros.
“Michael
Wisher, who can seriously be described as the creator of the character of
Davros, used to work with a kilt on and a paper bag over his head to maintain
his feel for the part**. He took his work so seriously that he would not remove
the bag even at coffee break. To see coffee and biscuits being pushed under a
paper bag, followed by a cigarette, while the bag continued to express the most
passionate views on how Davros felt about things was just bliss. He did allow
us to make a hole in the top of his bag so that the smoke could escape.”
**(A
footnote from Tom’s autobiography) Davros, for those who don’t remember, wore a
ugly mask (which Michael couldn’t see through) and had no legs.
Bibliography:
*
Extracts from Tom Bakers autobiography “Who On Earth Is Tom Baker?” which can be found here at Amazon.co.uk http://tinyurl.com/TomBakerAutobiography
Doctor
Who - The Complete Guide Fully Revised and Updated
By
Mark Campbell
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