The Dalek Movies- Peter Cushing. Words by Zeiton_7 and Pictures by @cheezypeas

IT'S A DOCTOR WHO REBOOT ON THE BIG SCREEN!!!!!

Cue Twitter meltdown, Doctor Who fans taking arms and storming the production offices and general public unrest.!

Actually that is not what happened at all because Twitter didn't exist back in 1965 and the first Doctor Who film starring Peter Cushing stormed the box office to much critical acclaim. It did so well, in fact, that they did it again the following year and Doctor Who Dalek Invasion of Earth 2150 AD hit the screens. Both films are retellings,  oh ok vertically identical, of their television counterparts (the television versions starred William Hartnell as The Doctor). The plots are the same but yet there are enough differences to make the two films watchable alongside the original versions.

Firstly, the title sequences and theme music. The BBC would not allow the films to use the anthemic television music so an alternative had to be composed. Barry Gray (and Malcolm Lockyer) came up with a fabulous, rousing score that is far removed from the Doctor Who theme we all know and love.


Secondly, the BBC would not allow the films to feature the TARDIS interior so a new funky disco like one was used. I think it works and is certainly more colourful than its counterpart, although this may be due to the fact the films were shot in colour and the original Hartnell led stories are black and white. More on that later though

Thirdly, and very significantly, Cushing's Doctor is referred to as Doctor Who (this is my only gripe with the films as it's just wrong) he is also entirely human and built the TARDIS in his spare time. How precisely he achieves this amazing feat is not explained and, to be honest, who cares!

The Daleks also received a little alteration. They are slightly taller and have a larger "bumper" base to make them more imposing. There was talk of giving them flame throwers but it was felt this was probably not a great idea! They speak the same, they act the same and, for the first time, they are featured in colour. This was so exciting for me as a child. To see my favourite Doctor Who monsters in glorious colour was the best thing I'd ever seen.

Cushing himself portrays The Doctor as a fantastic, brilliantly minded Grandfather who is everything The Doctor should be. His relationship with Barbara (Jennie Linded) Susan (Roberta Tovey) and Ian (Roy Castle) is identical to that of the TV series. Interesting to note that Cushing famously turned down the role of the Second Doctor and would have taken over from Troughton had work commitments allowed. It is interesting to think of how different the series would have been had he taken the role and not Pertwee.

The inclusion of humour, step forward the wonderful Roy Castle and Bernard Cribbins, is a much welcome addition. Who can forget the scene on the Dalek ship where Cribbins pretends to be a Roboman. Both add a "Saturday matinee" lightness to proceedings without ruining the film and lowering it to farce.

So join us for a walk (or a glide if you're a Dalek) down memory lane as we watch both films on Saturday night.

The bar opens at 7:30pm and we press play on Doctor Who and the Daleks at 8pm BST
#DWBAR

An Emotional Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen, My Sarah Jane

So I'm sitting at my Mac thinking how on earth to start this blog. Anyone that knows me will know that words don't normally come slowly to me (keep the rude comments to a minimum please.) But this time I'm stuck, how to start, how to start? Ok, lets go back to last year, April 19th, 2011, to be precise. I was watching BBC News ,and not really paying much attention to be honest, then the headline was announced: "Elisabeth Sladen had passed away." Now that caught my attention as it did thousands no millions of Doctor Who fans around the globe. I reacted first with disbelief, she was only 63, then the tears came.

So why did the passing of Elisabeth Sladen effect me on such a massive scale? What did she mean to me? Well, to answer those questions I have to go back even further to my childhood and when I first fell in love with "The Madman in the Box" or The Doctor as I've always known him.

Saturday tea time, when Doctor Who was on, was always the same in my house. Dad and I would gather on the sofa to watch the latest gripping episode and then enthuse about it afterwards. Now I have to admit I am a little too young to remember Sarah Jane's adventures on their original television airing (I joined around Full Circle - Tom Baker time, and Lis had already left by then.) But I did have the Target books and a rather excellent Audio dramatisation of Genesis of the Daleks. The Target books were so well written that Sarah, and by default, Elisabeth's performance just bounced off the page. So I kinda fell in love with Sarah Jane through my reading and listening rather than watching.

As time went on I'd watch the repeats that were shown on BBC2 and later UK Gold but by then I knew she was something special. Here is a girl who is feisty, not afraid of giving her opinion or arguing with The Doctor but it was so so much more than that. Both the Third and Fourth Doctor loved her and clearly had a strong affection for Sarah. This was no acting, EVERYONE loved Elisabeth Sladen and what's not to love?

I seriously can't think of a moment where she ever annoyed me and even when she got stuck in the air ducts during Ark in Space it wasn't annoying, it was sweet. She had no flaws and loved human kind, a fact that was so central to The Sarah Jane Adventures. When she was brought back for School Reunion I cried several times. Lis played Sarah as a heart warming and emotional lady who had more than a few issues with the way she was left by The Doctor. Even now writing this and thinking of those final scenes with David Tennant "My Sarah Jane" - sob.

I strongly suggest any fans that haven't already seen any or all of her Classic stories, that they should do so. There isn't a bad one amongst them. I love all of them but I will share my favourite Sarah Jane moment.

Genesis of the Daleks - With the Doctor about to commit genocide and kill the Daleks for ever, he suddenly has an agonising moment of doubt. Enter Sarah Jane, "We're talking about the Daleks, the most evil creatures ever invented, you must destroy them! You must complete your mission for the Time Lords!"

"My Sarah Jane" Yes, but also "My Elisabeth Sladen" and don't I miss you.

Rest in Peace, Elisabeth Sladen 1st February 1946 to 19th April 2011

Spearhead From Space by Cheezypeas

"His whole cardiovascular system is quite unlike anything I have ever seen and I'm told his blood cannot be identified"

A strange man without a name is discovered unconscious in woodlands next to a Police Box. The Brigadier is intrigued hoping the Doctor is the man in question. But to his surprise the man he sees in the hospital bed is a complete stranger, yet the stranger knows him. Coupled with reports of meteorites its just not Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart's day.

The Third Doctor's debut story comprises of the ever faithful Autons, hospital escapades, a dozy farmer and his nagging wife and some sharp fashion from The Dandy Doctor himself.

"OOOH Suits you Sir"

So join us for Mr Fancy Pant's first adventure and the very first adventure to be filmed in colour.

Wednesday 14th March 2012, the Bar opens at 7.00pm Press Play at 7.30pm #DWBar

Formal Attire optional