|
Doctor Who: Season 14, Episode 17The Robots of Death: Part One (29 Jan. 1977)The TARDIS materialize aboard a sandminer, a mining ship on a desert planet run by a robot labor force headed by a fairly small but sniping human crew. As one crewman is discovered ... See full summary » Director:Michael E. BriantWriter:Chris Boucher (by) |
| 0Share... |
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: The Robots of Death: Part One (29 Jan 1977)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Videos
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
Doctor Who
(TV Series 2005)
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Family
Stars:
David Tennant,
Matt Smith,
Karen Gillan
Doctor Who
(TV 1996)
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Geoffrey Sax
Stars:
Paul McGann,
Eric Roberts,
Daphne Ashbrook
Blakes 7
(1978–1981)
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Sci-Fi
Stars:
Michael Keating,
Paul Darrow,
Peter Tuddenham
Smallville
(2001–2011)
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Romance
Stars:
Tom Welling,
Allison Mack,
Kristin Kreuk
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Stars:
Richard Dreyfuss,
François Truffaut,
Teri Garr
Star Trek
(1966–1969)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Sci-Fi
Stars:
Leonard Nimoy,
William Shatner,
DeForest Kelley
Battlestar Galactica
(2004–2009)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Drama
Stars:
Edward James Olmos,
Mary McDonnell,
Jamie Bamber
Firefly
(2002–2003)
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Sci-Fi
Stars:
Nathan Fillion,
Gina Torres,
Alan Tudyk
First Wave
(1998–2001)
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Sci-Fi
Stars:
Sebastian Spence,
Rob LaBelle,
Roger R. Cross
The Incredible Hulk
(1978–1982)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Drama
Stars:
Bill Bixby,
Jack Colvin,
Lou Ferrigno
Edit
Cast
| Episode cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Tom Baker | ... | ||
 |
Louise Jameson | ... | |
|
|
Russell Hunter | ... | |
| Pamela Salem | ... | ||
| David Bailie | ... | ||
|
|
David Collings | ... | |
|
|
Brian Croucher | ... | |
|
|
Tania Rogers | ... | |
|
|
Tariq Yunus | ... | |
|
|
Rob Edwards | ... | |
|
|
Gregory de Polnay | ... | |
|
|
Miles Fothergill | ... | |
|
|
Mark Blackwell Baker | ... | |
|
|
John Bleasdale | ... | |
|
|
Mark Cooper | ... | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
The TARDIS materialize aboard a sandminer, a mining ship on a desert planet run by a robot labor force headed by a fairly small but sniping human crew. As one crewman is discovered strangled to death, the Doctor and Leela arrive just in time to become the prime suspects. Written by statmanjeff
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
29 January 1977 (UK) See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
Edit
See more »
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Arranged by Dudley Simpson
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Writer Chris Boucher wrote a sequel, Corpse Marker, for BBC Books, which was published in 1999. See more »Goofs
At the time this episode was set, Louise Jameson wore brown contact lenses as Leela. During the scene in the lounge, the right lens slipped out of place, showing her real blue eye. See more »Quotes
Chub: There was a Voc therapist in Kaldor City. Specially programmed, equipped with vibro-digits, subcutaneous stimulators, the lot. You know what happened, Borg? Its first client wanted treatment for a stiff elbow. The Voc therapist felt carefully all round the joint, and then suddenly just twisted his arm off at the shoulder. Shoompf. All over in two seconds.See more »
Soundtracks
"None But the Weary Heart"Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Arranged by Dudley Simpson
See more »
A surprisingly entertaining and enjoyable slice of classic DOCTOR WHO, here in the midst of the Tom Baker years. The story is sharp and effective, and although as usual the costumes and special effects are hugely dated, it remains upbeat and worthwhile at all points. The basic plot is little more than an updating of the classic TEN LITTLE INDIANS tale, as the skeleton crew of a sand-mining spaceship are bumped off one by one by an unknown assailant and each have strange little markers left on their personage, which are used to signify scrap-metal robots.
Yes, robots are the order of the day here, acting as slave workers to the humans before they eventually revolt having been reprogrammed. It's no surprise to say that the robots are the murderers, considering the title and subject matter, but they ARE acting under a human influence who is gradually unmasked as the story progresses.
There is plenty to enjoy in this story. Tom Baker is very good as the Doctor, although this time around his script is a little over-wordy. Nevertheless he puts in a sterling performance and is surprisingly well supported by Leela, in her second adventure and another strong performance. The supporting cast of characters are okay and rather interesting, although most are bumped off too soon for us to get to know them. It's a rather multi-racial group including a young Jeremy Irons lookalike and a rather buxom damsel-in-distress who rests easy on the eye.
The plot has its fair share of twists and turns, with plenty of shoehorned in elements-of-danger including Baker nearly being suffocated in a sand silo and plenty of other low-rent adventures. The robots are not the most intimidating of creations – and their quilted attire leaves them looking sadly dated, it has to be said – but the blue screen effect which turns their eyes a glowing red is surprisingly effective.
Further footage of the model spaceship prowling the surface of the planet was excised, which is a plus, because what footage we do see is tacky and appalling, to be truthful. Mystery, adventure, man vs. machine and a cool "good guy" robot add up to make this one of the better Tom Baker adventures, one of the first to get a welcome DVD release which shows a mark of its popularity.