The Tomb of the Cybermen: Episode 1 

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?

Director:

Morris Barry

Writers:

Kit Pedler (by), Gerry Davis (by)

Stars:

Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, Deborah Watling

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Patrick Troughton	...	Dr. Who
Frazer Hines	...	Jamie
Deborah Watling	...	Victoria
Roy Stewart	...	Toberman
Aubrey Richards	...	Professor Parry
Cyril Shaps	...	John Viner
Clive Merrison	...	Jim Callum
Shirley Cooklin	...	Kaftan
George Roubicek	...	Captain Hopper
George Pastell	...	Eric Klieg
Alan Johns	...	Ted Rogers
Bernard Holley	...	Peter Haydon
Ray Grover	...	Crewman

Storyline

The Doctor and his traveling companions, Jamie and Victoria, arrive on a planet where an archaeological expedition led by Professor Parry is searching for the home of the long-extinct Cybermen. Parry believes they have found the Cybermen's home, the city of Telos. The Doctor finds a way to get them inside the complex and the group splits up to explore what they've found. It's clear that at least one member of the party is up to no good. It all leads to death for one of them.

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Plot Keywords:

doctor who | season premiere | second doctor | formerly lost film | cyberman | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 1967 (UK)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

24 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Toberman was described in the original scripts as wearing a hearing aid (tying in with the fact that he was virtually mute and perhaps with the story's theme of cybernisation), but this idea was dropped at the request of director Morris Barry.

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Goofs

In the scene where Victoria and the scientists find the Projection Chamber, the shadow of a boom-mic can be seen behind her head.

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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]
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The Frighten Factor (2009)

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Soundtracks

Galaxy
(uncredited)
Composed by Eric Siday

User Reviews

Effective early outing for the best of the Who enemies

Review of the Complete Story:

The Cybermen have always been my favourite villains in the DOCTOR WHO franchise and THE TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN, a serial for second Doctor Patrick Troughton, has given me the opportunity to see what they looked like in the 1960s. And they don't disappoint; TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN is an effective and atmospheric outing showcasing this programme at its best.

Troughton is on top form as the impish Doctor, interrupting an archaeological expedition when it transpires that those involved are plotting to resurrect his age-old foe. Inevitably it all goes wrong and the Cybermen are once more brought back to life with thrilling results. Although the old cyber-suits were more clunky back in these days, the episodes are nevertheless good: suspenseful, full of action, twists and danger.

Fans of the era should watch out for Hammer veteran George Pastell playing yet another weaselly character while Roy Stewart makes an impact as an imposing strongman. Frazer Hines and Deborah Watling have a good repartee as the companions, but inevitably it's the Cybermen themselves who are the stars of the show here and who can disagree with that?