Doctor Who and the Silurians: Episode 1
- Episode aired Jan 31, 1970
- TV-G
- 24m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
724
YOUR RATING
The Doctor and Liz are summoned to the Wenley Moor Research Centre by the Brigadier, after several staff members suffer nervous breakdowns.The Doctor and Liz are summoned to the Wenley Moor Research Centre by the Brigadier, after several staff members suffer nervous breakdowns.The Doctor and Liz are summoned to the Wenley Moor Research Centre by the Brigadier, after several staff members suffer nervous breakdowns.
Photos
Roy Brannigan
- Roberts
- (as Roy Branigan)
Keith Ashley
- Technician
- (uncredited)
David Billa
- Technician
- (uncredited)
Norton Clarke
- Technician
- (uncredited)
Mary Denton
- Technician
- (uncredited)
Michael Earl
- Technician
- (uncredited)
Keith Goodman
- Technician
- (uncredited)
Ronald Gough
- Technician
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Malcolm Hulke
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
- Donald Wilson(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe color master tapes of this seven-part serial were wiped by the BBC in the 1970s and the BBC only held 16mm black and white telerecordings. The serial remained only in black in white until the 1990s, when the color signal from a domestic NTSC recording and the black and white telerecordings were used to create new color masters on D3 digital tape.
- GoofsProp boulder shifts when Spencer bumps into it.
- Quotes
Dr. Meredith: I take it you're yet another member of the UNIT team?
The Doctor: Yes. Depressing, isn't it?
- Crazy creditsThough the working title for this serial was "Doctor Who and the Silurians", it was only supposed to be called "The Silurians." Due to a mistake at the BBC graphics department, they reproduced the title as it was written on the script.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Going Underground (2008)
Featured review
"That Ridiculous Doctor"
This was the very 1st DW story I ever saw (not counting the 2 movies), though of course, the 1st time I saw it, it was in color. My videotape from PBS (in the 80's) is in B&W. (Stupid BBC Archive Department!) The entire section which introduces "Bessie" and shows The Doctor & Liz Shaw traveling was missing from the syndicated version. (Stupid commercial breaks!) I've seen GENESIS OF THE DALEKS so many times (too many to be honest) that it's kind of a relief to see Peter Miles playing someone who's merely hard-nosed, not outright EVIL. Fulton McKay, who I've also seen in various episodes of THE AVENGERS and THE SAINT, seems to be just too cheerful, and sure enough, he's hiding something. Norman Jones as the security chief is a bit hard-nosed himself, but lightens up noticeably around Liz. Jones would return memorably to play Hieronymous in THE MASQUE OF MANDRAGORA. Liz got a lot more attractive this time-- her hair's in bangs (instead of pulled back tightly) and she's walking around in a miniskirt. Somewhere I read the observation that she was a "new" type of companion for the show, but I see her as a slightly younger, and much prettier version of Barbara. With that thought in mind, and considering how Pertwee apparently confounded all expectations by playing The Doctor "serious" (when he was known for and cast for his comedy talents), he seems almost-- vaguely-- like a younger version of William Hartnell.
The dinosaur's not as embarrassing as one might expect (perhaps it's the B&W that helps) though it does seem on a par with the ones in THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT. (As the 1940 film ONE MILLION B.C. proved, that kind of thing can work, if you keep its appearances to an absolute minimum, and mostly in the shadows.)
I keep wishing this were only a 4-parter... or at least, a 6-parter. I wonder what possessed producer Barry Letts to have 3 7-parters IN A ROW???
The dinosaur's not as embarrassing as one might expect (perhaps it's the B&W that helps) though it does seem on a par with the ones in THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT. (As the 1940 film ONE MILLION B.C. proved, that kind of thing can work, if you keep its appearances to an absolute minimum, and mostly in the shadows.)
I keep wishing this were only a 4-parter... or at least, a 6-parter. I wonder what possessed producer Barry Letts to have 3 7-parters IN A ROW???
helpful•82
- profh-1
- Mar 19, 2009
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content