“The
late and very great Peter Cushing
appeared as television’s
much-loved
Doctor Who on the big screen for the
first time in 1965 in Dr Who & The Daleks,
in which the Doctor and his companions
face danger from the ruthless, warlike
Daleks while stranded on a distant
planet...”
IT IS ENGLAND DURING THE SIXTIES and Barbara (the lovely Jenny Linden) has
invited her latest boyfriend Ian Chesterton (fine comedian and actor Roy Castle)
to her home to meet her eccentric scientist grandfather, known as Dr Who (Peter
Cushing), and her mischievous younger sister Susan (cheekily played by Roberta
Tovey).
The Doctor is keen to show off his new invention, a time machine known as The
Tardis (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) that looks like an ordinary Police
Box, but while they are inside the deceptively spacious invention, Ian accidentally
falls onto the controls and they are transported to Skaro, a desolate planet
that bears the scars of a serious nuclear war.
“Dr
Who & The Daleks
is a cult movie with
plenty of period and sci-fi
appeal and a
smattering of buffoonery so it never takes itself
too seriously...”
A
sound outside the Tardis signifies life on the planet and on the ground they
find a box of phials containing some sort of liquid, little realising how important
it will be. They make their way through a petrified forest where Susan is certain
something — or someone — has touched her.
Discovering a strange city, they make their way towards it after the Doctor,
eager to explore further, hoodwinks Barbara and Ian into believing an important
part of the Tardis has been damaged and he needs to find some mercury in order
to repair it.
Imprisoned by the Daleks, a species mutated by of the perilous fallout from
the nuclear war and now confined to protective, mobile metal machines, all four
begin to feel the effects of radiation and it is up to Susan to go back to the
Tardis to bring the phials left to them which they believe will contain something
to help their sickness.
On her return journey Susan encounters Alydon (Barrie Ingham), one of the Thals,
whom the Daleks consider to be monstrous mutations. Are they really as non-violent
as they appear; and will the Daleks keep their word to make peace with them,
forgo their ambitions to be the ultimate rulers and instead help the Doctor,
Ian, Barbara and Susan so that they can make their way home again? No such luck!
Dr Who & The Daleks was the first big screen film adaptation of British
television's most iconic sci-fi hero and the first foray into colour for Doctor
Who. Benefiting from the marvellous Peter Cushing, the amusing Roy Castle and
a good support staff, Dr Who & The Daleks is a cult movie with plenty
of period and sci-fi appeal and a smattering of buffoonery so it never takes
itself too seriously.
BBC television's original version of Doctor Who (created and written
by Terry Nation) starred William Hartnell as the much-loved Time Lord and also
included characters called Barbara, Ian and Susan. The film is based on the
series.
Dr Who & The Daleks was produced at the historic Shepperton Studios and
also features: Michael Coles as Ganatus; Yvonne Antrobus as Dyoni; Geoffrey
Toone as Temmosus; John Bown as Antodus; and Mark Petersen as Elyon.
Director of Photography is John Wilcox, BSC; Music is Composed and Conducted
by Malcolm Lockyer; Electronic Music is by Barry Gray; Executive Producer is
Joe Vegoda; Screenplay is by Milton Subotsky; Produced by Milton Subotsky and
Max J Rosenberg; and directed by Gordon Flemyng.
*
The
now fully restored 1965 Dr Who & The Daleks is released on DVD and Blu-ray,
or as a Limited Collector's Edition on Blu-ray to include Daleks' Invasion
Earth 2150AD, courtesy of STUDIOCANAL on 27 May 2013.
DVD Total Running Time: Approximately 79 Minutes | Catalogue No: OPTD2529 |
RRP: £15.99. Blu-ray Total Running Time: Approximately 82 Minutes | Catalogue
No: OPTBD2529 | RRP: £19.99.
Extras — Audio Commentary with Roberta Tovey and Jenny Linden |
Dalekmania | Restoring Dr Who And The Daleks | Interview With Gareth
Owen | Stills Gallery | Trailer.
"Dr Who & The Daleks is a cult movie with plenty of period and sci-fi
appeal and a smattering of buffoonery so it never takes itself too seriously"
—Maggie Woods, MotorBar
Doctor Who — The Dalek Films
Dr Who & The Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150AD are available
individually on DVD or Blu-ray or as a Limited Collector's Edition Blu-ray that
includes both films and which is also to be released on 27 May 2013.
2013 marks the centenary of celluloid legend of film and television the great
Peter Cushing as well as the 50th anniversary of the first appearance on television
of the legendary Time Lord Dr Who.
To honour this, STUDIOCANAL is delighted to announce the release on DVD and
Blu-ray of both the only cinematic incarnations of the Doctor's adventures,
Dr Who & The Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150AD, suitably pitting
the Time Lord against his most infamous enemies, The Daleks.
Both have been digitally remastered and are available in HD for the first time.
These releases are accompanied by a host of specially created new extras including
a look at the restoration work and brand new interviews.
The Blu-ray Limited Collector's Edition Extras — Audio Commentary
with Roberta Tovey and Jenny Linden | Dalekmania | Restoring Dr Who And The
Daleks | Interview With Gareth Owen | Interview With Bernard Cribbins |
Interview With Gareth Owen | Stills Gallery | Trailers. RRP: £22.99.
Also in celebration of the landmarks, STUDIOCANAL and the ICO are also pleased
to announce that both films will be back onto the big screen across the UK.
Full details about screenings during 2013 are available at the independentcinemaoffice.
“The
late and very great Peter Cushing