A Visit to the Cinema (short story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story SMW | |||
{{Infobox | |image = A Visit to the Cinema.jpg | ||
|series = ''[[Brief Encounter]]'' | |||
|doctor = Third Doctor | |||
|companions = | |||
|setting = [[London]], [[1970s]] | |||
|writer = Vanessa Bishop | |||
|illustrator = [[Andy Lambert]] | |||
|publication = [[DWM 190]] | |||
|release date = 6 August 1992 | |||
|cover date = 2 September 1992 | |||
|prev = Time, Love and TARDIS (short story) | |||
|next = Reunion (BE short story){{!}}Reunion | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''''{{ | '''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was a ''[[Brief Encounter]]'' short story published in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' [[DWM 190|190]]. It depicted ''[[Dr. Who and the Daleks (theatrical film)|Dr. Who and the Daleks]]'' and ''[[Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (theatrical film)|Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.]]'' as fictional elements within the [[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]]. | ||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
[[Third | The [[Third Doctor]] has a bit of free time on his hands, which is rare for him, and so goes to the cinema to watch a double-bill of a particular couple of movies starring [[Peter Cushing (in-universe)|Peter Cushing]]. | ||
== Characters == | == Characters == | ||
* [[Third Doctor]] | * [[Third Doctor]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* The Doctor refers to Cushing as "that splendid chap Van Helsing | * The Doctor refers to Peter Cushing as "that splendid chap [[Van Helsing]]". | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* The text refers to several things in the 1960s [[Dalek]] films: a "[[Roy Castle (in-universe)|young chap]] [[Ian Chesterton (Dr. Who and the Daleks)|sitting on those]] [[chocolate]]s", the titles of the second film being orange, actors wearing "bizarre eye make-up", and a "highly amusing scene with a [[food machine]]". | |||
* The narration suggests that the Doctor is in the early days of his third incarnation: it is said that "his afternoons off were few and far between" and that his other option was to enjoy a bag of [[chips]] with [[John Benton|Sergeant Benton]]. | |||
=== Parody or straight? === | === Parody or straight? === | ||
While the films are never specified by name, the story suggests that the events of the 1960s Dalek films are fictional parts of the [[Doctor Who universe|DWU]]: the Doctor is entertained by a memorable moment for [[Roy Castle]]'s [[Ian Chesterton (Dr. Who and the Daleks)|character]] in ''[[Dr. Who and the Daleks (theatrical film)|Dr. Who and the Daleks]]''. Later, two elderly ladies sitting next to the Doctor — who have disapproved of his outbursts of amusement — exclaim that they wish the Doctor would develop the manners of "that lovely [[Peter Cushing (in-universe)|Mr Cushing]]". Likewise, The Doctor compares the "bizarre eye make-up" worn in the film to that employed by [[Jo Grant]], making light of the make-up used on the [[Thal]]s in ''Dr. Who and the Daleks'' to make them appear more alien than their televised counterparts. | |||
However | However, the reader is also given scope to imagine it's parody when the Doctor says, "How wonderful to have seen that particular planet in colour at last." The Doctor can't be referring to [[Skaro]] here, because obviously he would have seen it in colour, even if TV viewers did not, although by some accounts he may have been colour blind at the time of his earliest visits. Yet, if it's not Skaro he's talking about, then he's not watching ''[[Dr. Who and the Daleks (theatrical film)|Dr. Who and the Daleks]]''. Thus, this can be read as a {{w|meta-fiction|meta-fictional}} comment, which takes the piece closer to parody. This is all only as far as the authorial intent at the time could be considered; however, long after the short story's release, [[Steven Moffat]]'s novelisation ''[[The Day of the Doctor (novelisation)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' revealed that the Doctor's [[First Doctor|first]] and [[Second Doctor|second]] incarnations were colour blind, giving a perfectly good in-universe reason for the Doctor not to have seen Skaro in colour by the early days of his third incarnation. ''The Day of the Doctor'' also suggests that the films exist as fiction within the ''Doctor Who'' universe, revealing that the [[Eleventh Doctor]] was such a fan of the films that he went back in time to make friends with Peter Cushing, even lending him the waistcoat he wore in ''Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.'' | ||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* The | * The [[UNIT]] [[Black Archive]] contained [[VHS cassette]] copies of ''Dr. Who and the Daleks'' and ''Daleks: Invasion Earth''. During the creation of the peace treaty between the humans and [[Zygon]]s, the [[Tenth Doctor]] and the [[Eleventh Doctor]] watched the films and then pitched a third to [[Peter Cushing]] on the phone. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (novelisation)|The Day of the Doctor]]'') | ||
* The Doctor | * By another account, [[Dr. Who (Dr. Who and the Daleks)|Dr. Who]] and his eight-year-old granddaughter [[Susan (Dr. Who and the Daleks)|Suzy]] were creations of the real Doctor to distract the [[Five O'Clock Shadow]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Five O'Clock Shadow (poem)|The Five O'Clock Shadow]]'') | ||
* The Doctor could only see in [[monochrome]] until his [[Third Doctor|third incarnation]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (novelisation)|The Day of the Doctor]]'') | |||
== External links == | |||
== External | |||
{{dwrefguide|brief.htm#dwm190|A Visit to the Cinema}} | {{dwrefguide|brief.htm#dwm190|A Visit to the Cinema}} | ||
{{BE}} | |||
{{TitleSort}} | |||
[[Category:BE stories]] | [[Category:BE stories]] | ||
[[Category:Brief Encounter stories]] | [[Category:Brief Encounter stories]] | ||
[[Category:Third Doctor short stories | [[Category:Third Doctor short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in the 1970s]] | [[Category:Stories set in the 1970s]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in London]] | [[Category:Stories set in London]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1992 short stories]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:40, 29 February 2024
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A Visit to the Cinema was a Brief Encounter short story published in Doctor Who Magazine 190. It depicted Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. as fictional elements within the Doctor Who universe.
Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Third Doctor has a bit of free time on his hands, which is rare for him, and so goes to the cinema to watch a double-bill of a particular couple of movies starring Peter Cushing.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor refers to Peter Cushing as "that splendid chap Van Helsing".
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The text refers to several things in the 1960s Dalek films: a "young chap sitting on those chocolates", the titles of the second film being orange, actors wearing "bizarre eye make-up", and a "highly amusing scene with a food machine".
- The narration suggests that the Doctor is in the early days of his third incarnation: it is said that "his afternoons off were few and far between" and that his other option was to enjoy a bag of chips with Sergeant Benton.
Parody or straight?[[edit] | [edit source]]
While the films are never specified by name, the story suggests that the events of the 1960s Dalek films are fictional parts of the DWU: the Doctor is entertained by a memorable moment for Roy Castle's character in Dr. Who and the Daleks. Later, two elderly ladies sitting next to the Doctor — who have disapproved of his outbursts of amusement — exclaim that they wish the Doctor would develop the manners of "that lovely Mr Cushing". Likewise, The Doctor compares the "bizarre eye make-up" worn in the film to that employed by Jo Grant, making light of the make-up used on the Thals in Dr. Who and the Daleks to make them appear more alien than their televised counterparts.
However, the reader is also given scope to imagine it's parody when the Doctor says, "How wonderful to have seen that particular planet in colour at last." The Doctor can't be referring to Skaro here, because obviously he would have seen it in colour, even if TV viewers did not, although by some accounts he may have been colour blind at the time of his earliest visits. Yet, if it's not Skaro he's talking about, then he's not watching Dr. Who and the Daleks. Thus, this can be read as a meta-fictional comment, which takes the piece closer to parody. This is all only as far as the authorial intent at the time could be considered; however, long after the short story's release, Steven Moffat's novelisation The Day of the Doctor revealed that the Doctor's first and second incarnations were colour blind, giving a perfectly good in-universe reason for the Doctor not to have seen Skaro in colour by the early days of his third incarnation. The Day of the Doctor also suggests that the films exist as fiction within the Doctor Who universe, revealing that the Eleventh Doctor was such a fan of the films that he went back in time to make friends with Peter Cushing, even lending him the waistcoat he wore in Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The UNIT Black Archive contained VHS cassette copies of Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks: Invasion Earth. During the creation of the peace treaty between the humans and Zygons, the Tenth Doctor and the Eleventh Doctor watched the films and then pitched a third to Peter Cushing on the phone. (PROSE: The Day of the Doctor)
- By another account, Dr. Who and his eight-year-old granddaughter Suzy were creations of the real Doctor to distract the Five O'Clock Shadow. (PROSE: The Five O'Clock Shadow)
- The Doctor could only see in monochrome until his third incarnation. (PROSE: The Day of the Doctor)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
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