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Doctor Who: Shada

  • Video
  • 19921992
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
500
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Doctor Who: Shada (1992)
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
A compilation of footage from this then unfinished story (from the television series Doctor Who (1963)) was released on BBC Video, introduced by and with to camera linking material from Tom ... Read allA compilation of footage from this then unfinished story (from the television series Doctor Who (1963)) was released on BBC Video, introduced by and with to camera linking material from Tom Baker. When a dangerous artifact goes missing from the study of retired Time Lord, Profess... Read allA compilation of footage from this then unfinished story (from the television series Doctor Who (1963)) was released on BBC Video, introduced by and with to camera linking material from Tom Baker. When a dangerous artifact goes missing from the study of retired Time Lord, Professor Chronotis, he calls on the help of the Doctor and Romana. Also looking for the artifact... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
500
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Pennant Roberts
  • Writer
    • Douglas Adams(by)
  • Stars
    • Tom Baker
    • Lalla Ward
    • Christopher Neame
Top credits
  • Director
    • Pennant Roberts
  • Writer
    • Douglas Adams(by)
  • Stars
    • Tom Baker
    • Lalla Ward
    • Christopher Neame
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Baker
    Tom Baker
    • Doctor Whoas Doctor Who…
    Lalla Ward
    Lalla Ward
    • Romanaas Romana
    Christopher Neame
    Christopher Neame
    • Skagraas Skagra
    Denis Carey
    • Professor Chronotisas Professor Chronotis
    Daniel Hill
    Daniel Hill
    • Chris Parsonsas Chris Parsons
    Victoria Burgoyne
    Victoria Burgoyne
    • Clare Keightleyas Clare Keightley
    David Brierly
    David Brierly
    • K9as K9
    • (voice)
    • (as David Brierley)
    • …
    Gerald Campion
    • Porter (Wilkins)as Porter (Wilkins)
    Shirley Dixon
    Shirley Dixon
    • Voice of Skagra's Shipas Voice of Skagra's Ship
    Derek Pollitt
    • Professor Caldera (episode 4)as Professor Caldera (episode 4)
    John Hallet
    • Police Constable (episode 6)as Police Constable (episode 6)
    Graham Cole
    • Krargas Krarg
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Fielder
    Harry Fielder
    • Krarg Commanderas Krarg Commander
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    James Muir
    • Krargas Krarg
    • (uncredited)
    Lionel Sansby
    • Krargas Krarg
    • (uncredited)
    Ken Sedd
    • Young Scientistas Young Scientist
    • (uncredited)
    Derek Suthern
    • Krargas Krarg
    • (uncredited)
    Reg Woods
    • Krargas Krarg
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Pennant Roberts
    • Writer
      • Douglas Adams(by) (original material)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A compilation of footage from this then unfinished story (from the television series Doctor Who (1963)) was released on BBC Video, introduced by and with to camera linking material from Tom Baker. When a dangerous artifact goes missing from the study of retired Time Lord, Professor Chronotis, he calls on the help of the Doctor and Romana. Also looking for the artifact is Skagra, who is armed with a mind-draining sphere. —Stephen Smith <eroticroger@hotmail.com>
    • doctor who character
    • psychotronic film
    • fourth doctor
    • unfinished film
    • character name in title
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Sci-Fi
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This serial was never broadcast as part of Doctor Who (1963) because a BBC strike interrupted production, meaning that it was never completed in the studio. Two short clips from the unfinished episode were used in the 1983 special episode "The Five Doctors". Years later, all available video footage was combined together for this special video release.
    • Goofs
      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

      The Doctor: Was it to do with the voices?

      Professor Chronotis: What voices?

      The Doctor: Well, when I was on the river, I heard a strange babble of inhuman voices. Didn't you, Romana?

      Romana: Yes.

      Professor Chronotis: Oh, undergraduates talking to each other, I expect. I've tried to have it banned.

    • Alternate versions
      Footage from this episode showing The Doctor and Romana in a boat, and later of them entering the TARDIS, was used in Doctor Who: The Five Doctors (1983) (TV).
    • Connections
      Edited into Doctor Who: The Five Doctors (1983)

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    S17: Shada: Decent enough, although flattered by the mystique it carries due to not being finished
    Unfinished and unbroadcast due to a writers' strike, this 6-part serial was later put together as one release, using some new material, the material originally shot, and Tom Baker's narration covering the scenes never filmed. The result is that we get to see a serial that is better than the one that actually closed out season 17, but has many of the issues associated with the show throughout this season.

    The title references a prison used by the Time Lords, but forgotten by them all; it is the subject sought by Skagra, by way of a book held by a Cambridge Professor (and Time Lord). The Doctor comes to him just in time to try to intervene in Skagra's plan to find the prison and use his mind extraction device to take the knowledge and being of all the criminals there, thus making him immensely powerful (although it is a shame he never extracted anything from someone who knows how to dress). In the background are monsters, in the foreground there is humor, and the plot is decent enough.

    This version benefits from being shorter due to the unfilmed scenes, because 6 full episodes does feel a lot for this material. The ideas are decent enough, and it does have some good cliff hangers, but it is stretched a bit too thin for what it does, and doesn't maximize on many of the ideas. The monsters of the piece look cool as a piece in the museum where the narration is set, however in their brief appearance in the filmed scenes, they come over as another lumbering man in a suit. Likewise the orb is all a bit silly as a threat. The production is mostly set in the Professor's flat, and on location around Cambridge - it is a shame that the remainder wasn't shot, but to be fair, given the production standards in this season, it looks better described by Baker rather than seen.

    The cast are solid and enjoyable through. Adams' writing is a bit messy in the way it mixes in silly jokes that don't work that well, interesting dialogue scenes and characters, but is not as smart as I hoped. Probably Shada's reputation benefits from it being unfinished and unbroadcast; while it is better than the actual season finale (Horns), it still fits into the standard of season 17 even if it is decent enough.
    helpful•2
    0
    • bob the moo
    • Dec 26, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 6, 1992 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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