Doctor Who: Shada (1992) (V)

Director:

Pennant Roberts

Writer:

Douglas Adams (by) (original material)

Release Date:

6 July 1992 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

This unfinished story from the television series "Doctor Who" (1963) was released on video with linking material from Tom Baker...

Plot Keywords:

Unfinished Film | Character Name In Title

Cast

Tom Baker	...	Doctor Who / Narrator
Lalla Ward	...	Romana
Christopher Neame	...	Skagra
Denis Carey	...	Professor Chronotis
Daniel Hill	...	Chris Parsons
Victoria Burgoyne	...	Clare Keightley
David Brierly	...	K9 / Computer Voice (voice) (as David Brierley)
Gerald Campion	...	Porter (Wilkins)
Shirley Dixon	...	Voice of Skagra's Ship
James Coombes	...	Voice of Krargs
Derek Pollitt	...	Professor Caldera (episode 4)
John Hallet	...	Police Constable (episode 6)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Graham Cole	...	Krarg (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Krarg Commander / Krarg 3 (uncredited)
James Muir	...	Krarg (uncredited)
Lionel Sansby	...	Krarg (uncredited)
Derek Suthern	...	Krarg (uncredited)
Reg Woods	...	Krarg (uncredited)

Directed by
Pennant Roberts

Writing credits
Douglas Adams		(by) (original material)

Produced by
John Nathan-Turner	....	producer (video release)
Graham Williams	....	producer

Cinematography by
Fintan Sheehan

Film Editing by
Tariq Anwar		(original production)

Production Design by
Victor Meredith

Costume Design by
Rupert Jarvis		(original production) (as Rupert Roxburghe-Jarvis)

Production Management
John Nathan-Turner	....	unit production manager
Ralph Wilton	....	production manager

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rupert Jarvis	....	costumes: original production (as Roxburghe-Jarvis)

Music Department
Ron Grainer	....	composer: theme music
Dudley Simpson	....	composer original production: uncompleted

Other crew
Douglas Adams	....	script editor: original material
Olivia Bazalgette	....	assistant to director

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Runtime:

110 min (VHS version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:U (VHS rating) | UK:PG (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

In 2003, Shada was remade by Big Finish Productions as an audio book/Flash animation for BBC Interactive. The remade version starred Paul McGann as The Doctor, with Lalla Ward reprising her role as Romana and John Leeson as K-9.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene where Skagra attaches the sphere to Professor Chronotis' head, the professor's eyeglasses are off his head during a close-up, then on again after a couple of camera shot changes that return to a close-up, all while his hands are empty and his arms are flailing about.

Quotes:

Romana:I told you you've got the time wrong, Doctor.
The Doctor:Yes, but you're always saying that.
Romana:You're always getting the time wrong.

Movie Connections:

Edited from "Doctor Who" (1963)

Quite Excellent

This film, despite being incomplete (Due to a strike at the BBC I believe) really is quite excellent. The plot is compelling, and the cast is simply first class. Although the special effects are a little ropey (Not surprisng for TV sci-fi of the 1970's), that does not detract from the story in the slightest. This is partly because of the superb acting, as I mentioned earlier, but also because of the script, written by the late great Douglas Adams, of 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' fame. Of particular interest to fans of film will be the unfinished nature of this film. Originally intended as a 6 part serial for 'Doctor Who', it was only partially completed, and is presented here with linking naration by Tom Baker, and a booklet of the script, complete with the unfilmed scenes. For anyone seriously interested in the production of TV and film, this is a must. But this would also sit well in anyones collection as a superb example of Science Fiction.