The Tomb of the Cybermen: Episode 1

Episode aired Sep 2, 1967
TV-PGTV-PG
24m

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

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S5.E1

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The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria arrive on Telos, where an archaeological group are exploring the Tomb of the Cybermen. But are the Cybermen as dormant as they believe?The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria arrive on Telos, where an archaeological group are exploring the Tomb of the Cybermen. But are the Cybermen as dormant as they believe?The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria arrive on Telos, where an archaeological group are exploring the Tomb of the Cybermen. But are the Cybermen as dormant as they believe?

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

728

YOUR RATING

Director
- Morris Barry
Writers
- Kit Pedler(by)
- Gerry Davis(by)
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
Stars

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See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Trivia
Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines worked out the brief sequence where both the Doctor and Jamie go to take Victoria by the hand and end up taking each other's, in secret, without the knowledge of director Morris Barry. They knew that, with the recording schedule and the likelihood that re-takes would not be possible, it would have to be left in.

Goofs
When the Doctor and Jamie try to pull open the entrance to the tomb, they both hold the door shut with their feet to give the impression that the door is stuck.

Quotes
[first lines]
The Doctor: There we are. Well, what do you think?
Victoria: I don't know. I can't believe it. It's so big. Where are we?
The Doctor: Oh, it's the TARDIS. It's my home. At least it has been for a considerable number of years.
Victoria: What are all these knobs?
The Doctor: What, these?
Jamie: Instruments. These are for controlling our flight.
Victoria: Flight?
Jamie: Well, yes. You see, we travel around in here through time and space.
[Victoria laughs]
The Doctor: Oh, no, no, no, no. Don't laugh. It's true. Your father and Maxtible were working on the same problem, but I have perfected a rather special model, which enables me to travel through the universe of time.
Victoria: How can you? I mean, if what you say is true, you must be... er well... how old?

Alternate versions
Like most Doctor Who serials from the 1960s, only filmed copies survive, the original videotape broadcast versions long ago having been erased. For the 2002 DVD release, as an experiment, a 3-minute segment of this episode went through the vidFIRE process, which restored the original videotape look to the film. It is included as an Easter Egg on the DVD; all subsequent 1960s episode releases (when possible) were released vidFIRE-restored.

Connections
Featured in Doctor Who Confidential: Confidential Christmas 2008 (2008)

Soundtracks
Palpitations
Written and Performed by John Scott as Johnny Scott and his Orchestra
Courtesy of Associated Production Music

User reviews9

Review

Top review

10/10

Great entertaining adventure, superb start to a superb season.

Review of all 4 episodes:

This story of an archaeological expedition in the future searching for the remnants of the Cybermen is rightly highly praised. It is great TV with thrills, fun and the Doctor on usual good form. Many people herald this as one of the all time top 10 or 20 greatest classic stories in the history of the series and I think that is only a very tiny exaggeration of its quality. It is a truly great 4 part story with only a few small imperfections. Parts 1, 2 and 4 are 10/10 classic episodes, whilst not necessarily absolutely perfect they are deserving of top marks overall. Part 3 has a few scenes that are less impressive but it is still brilliant and I rate Part 3 as 9/10.

The only real flaw in the production is the American characters Captain Hopper and Jim Callum which are cheesily written and woodenly performed. It is mainly the fact there are more scenes involving them in Part 3 that hold it back slightly from top marks. Thankfully they are not in it very much in the rest of the story.

Season 5 of Doctor Who is one of the most popular and highly regarded and I 100 percent agree with that as it is in my top 5 Doctor Who series of all time. In my opinion this story is mostly magical, memorable, exciting and fun but even then it is not quite as good as some of other stories that followed in series 5 like The Abominable Snowmen, The Ice Warriors or The Web of Fear which are even more magical and near perfect.

The ideas of Cybermen in a tomb and them coming out of their 'cocoons' are thrilling ideas and provide some great moments. The Cybermen themselves are marvelous villains although I am in the minority who feel their voices during this period are inferior to the earlier 'sing song' voices used in The Tenth Planet. The Doctor and Jamie are really entertaining throughout the story (although you as always have to suspend disbelief a bit with Jamie at times as he copes with time travel and science slightly too well for his supposedly simple Scottish Highlander character from the past). There is plenty of good dialogue and action and only a few less well executed scenes along the way.

Overall it is excellent and an all time classic but look forward to a few other stories later in Season 5 which I feel are even better!

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