Black Orchid (TV story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox ClassicTV| | {{Infobox ClassicTV| | ||
story name= Black Orchid | | story name= Black Orchid | | ||
image= [[ | image= [[File:From atop.jpg|250px]]| | ||
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]]| | series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br />[[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]]| | ||
number= [[Season 19]]| | number= [[Season 19]]| | ||
story number= 120| | story number= 120| | ||
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companions=<ul><li>[[Adric]]</li><li>[[Tegan Jovanka]]</li><li>[[Nyssa]]</li></ul>| | companions=<ul><li>[[Adric]]</li><li>[[Tegan Jovanka]]</li><li>[[Nyssa]]</li></ul>| | ||
enemy=[[George Cranleigh]]| | enemy=[[George Cranleigh]]| | ||
year= [[Cranleigh]], [[Oxfordshire]]; [[11 June]] [[1925]]<br><ul><li>[[Cranleigh Hall]]</li><li>[[Cranleigh Halt]]</li></ul> | | year= [[Cranleigh]], [[Oxfordshire]]; [[11 June]] [[1925]]<br /><ul><li>[[Cranleigh Hall]]</li><li>[[Cranleigh Halt]]</li></ul> | | ||
writer= [[Terence Dudley]]| | writer= [[Terence Dudley]]| | ||
director= [[Ron Jones]]| | director= [[Ron Jones]]| | ||
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'''''Black Orchid''''' was the fifth story in [[season 19|season nineteen]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the shortest story of the season at just two parts. The only science-fiction elements in ''Black Orchid'' were the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] and its occupants. It saw a [[List of Doppelgängers|doppelgänger]] of [[Nyssa]] in the form of [[Ann Talbot]]. | '''''Black Orchid''''' was the fifth story in [[season 19|season nineteen]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the shortest story of the season at just two parts. The only science-fiction elements in ''Black Orchid'' were the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] and its occupants. It saw a [[List of Doppelgängers|doppelgänger]] of [[Nyssa]] in the form of [[Ann Talbot]]. | ||
==Synopsis== | == Synopsis == | ||
[[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] arrives on Earth in [[1925]] where, due to a case of mistaken identity, the Doctor ends up playing in a local cricket match. The travellers accept an invitation to a masked fancy dress ball, but events take on a more sinister tone as murders are perpetrated at the country home of their host, [[Charles Cranleigh|Lord Charles Cranleigh]]. | [[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] arrives on Earth in [[1925]] where, due to a case of mistaken identity, the Doctor ends up playing in a local cricket match. The travellers accept an invitation to a masked fancy dress ball, but events take on a more sinister tone as murders are perpetrated at the country home of their host, [[Charles Cranleigh|Lord Charles Cranleigh]]. | ||
==Plot== | == Plot == | ||
====Part one==== | ==== Part one ==== | ||
The [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] lands in [[1925]] at Cranleigh Halt, a small railway station in rural [[England]]. Tegan wonders where they are and the Doctor explains their location, saying he wished to have a train set as a boy. They walk out front to fnd a chauffeur named Tanner, who says he has been waiting for the Doctor, much to his surprise, telling him he's expected for a [[cricket]] match. Though the invitation is unexpected, the Doctor is keen to play; soon he, [[Adric]], [[Nyssa]] and [[Tegan]] have arrived at [[Cranleigh Hall]], home of the Cranleigh family. The Doctor is immediately put into the game, and does superbly--bringing the team back from defeat to a win and delighting [[Charles Cranleigh|Lord Charles Cranleigh]], who invites the travellers to a fancy dress party that evening as thanks for a splendid performance. | The [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] lands in [[1925]] at Cranleigh Halt, a small railway station in rural [[England]]. Tegan wonders where they are and the Doctor explains their location, saying he wished to have a train set as a boy. They walk out front to fnd a chauffeur named Tanner, who says he has been waiting for the Doctor, much to his surprise, telling him he's expected for a [[cricket]] match. Though the invitation is unexpected, the Doctor is keen to play; soon he, [[Adric]], [[Nyssa]] and [[Tegan]] have arrived at [[Cranleigh Hall]], home of the Cranleigh family. The Doctor is immediately put into the game, and does superbly--bringing the team back from defeat to a win and delighting [[Charles Cranleigh|Lord Charles Cranleigh]], who invites the travellers to a fancy dress party that evening as thanks for a splendid performance. | ||
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After the match, the cricketers and spectators retreat to [[Cranleigh Hall]] for introductions. The Doctor is asked what his name is, but Charles explains the Doctor wishes to remain incognito. In an opulent sitting room that houses a magnificent [[black orchid (flower)|black orchid]], [[Madge Cranleigh|Lady Cranleigh]] laments the loss of her botanist son, [[George Cranleigh|George]], killed on an expedition to find the rare bloom. When told that the party would be a costume party, Adric, Nyssa, and Tegan say that they do not have costumes to wear, Lady Cranleigh is confused as she believed they WERE already wearing costumes. While everyone asks for a drink, Lady Crainleigh wonders about Nyssa's origins, thinking she may be from a rich family she knows, but Nyssa repeatedly asserts she is not from around there. Much to everyone' surprise, [[Charles Cranleigh|Charles]] walks in with his fiancée, [[Ann Talbot]], who is almost an exact double of Nyssa. The travellers set off to their rooms to prepare for the ball. | After the match, the cricketers and spectators retreat to [[Cranleigh Hall]] for introductions. The Doctor is asked what his name is, but Charles explains the Doctor wishes to remain incognito. In an opulent sitting room that houses a magnificent [[black orchid (flower)|black orchid]], [[Madge Cranleigh|Lady Cranleigh]] laments the loss of her botanist son, [[George Cranleigh|George]], killed on an expedition to find the rare bloom. When told that the party would be a costume party, Adric, Nyssa, and Tegan say that they do not have costumes to wear, Lady Cranleigh is confused as she believed they WERE already wearing costumes. While everyone asks for a drink, Lady Crainleigh wonders about Nyssa's origins, thinking she may be from a rich family she knows, but Nyssa repeatedly asserts she is not from around there. Much to everyone' surprise, [[Charles Cranleigh|Charles]] walks in with his fiancée, [[Ann Talbot]], who is almost an exact double of Nyssa. The travellers set off to their rooms to prepare for the ball. | ||
[[ | [[File:The Man in the Mirror.jpg|left|thumb|The Doctor prepares for the dance.]]George provides the Doctor with a costume for the party: a harlequin suit with a full mask. The Doctor removes his caot and tries on the mask to see how he will look before putting the costume on his bed and heading to the bath to freshen-up. Someone uses a secret passage to enter the Doctor's room and hides near by while the Doctor emerges from the bath with a robe over his clothes, wondering what caused the noise. He finds the secret passage and ends up locked out of his room, stuck in a secret passage. At the same time, the unknown person takes the Doctor's costume. | ||
Upstairs, Nyssa, Tegan, and Ann Talbot prepare for the party. Nyssa is confused on what to wear when Ann has a copy of her costume brought in for Nyssa to prank the guests as to which one of them is which. As Nyssa is unsure on how to dance at the party, Tegan decides to demonstrate the [[Charleston (dance)|Charleston]], a dance popular in [[1925]], for her alien friend. | Upstairs, Nyssa, Tegan, and Ann Talbot prepare for the party. Nyssa is confused on what to wear when Ann has a copy of her costume brought in for Nyssa to prank the guests as to which one of them is which. As Nyssa is unsure on how to dance at the party, Tegan decides to demonstrate the [[Charleston (dance)|Charleston]], a dance popular in [[1925]], for her alien friend. | ||
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After dancing, he leads her inside and she tries to excuse herself. However, he takes her indoors and attacks her. [[James (Black Orchid)|James]], a servant, attacks the figure and is strangled. Ann faints while the figures turns and closes in on her. | After dancing, he leads her inside and she tries to excuse herself. However, he takes her indoors and attacks her. [[James (Black Orchid)|James]], a servant, attacks the figure and is strangled. Ann faints while the figures turns and closes in on her. | ||
====Part two==== | ==== Part two ==== | ||
The Doctor finds [[Madge Cranleigh|Lady Cranleigh]] and her servant [[Latoni]] in one of the secret passages, and shows them the body. He agrees to not tell the guests to avoid causing panic, and returns to his room. | The Doctor finds [[Madge Cranleigh|Lady Cranleigh]] and her servant [[Latoni]] in one of the secret passages, and shows them the body. He agrees to not tell the guests to avoid causing panic, and returns to his room. | ||
The Doctor's impostor carefully returns the costume. The Doctor arrives back at his room and dresses in the costume set out for him, unaware it has just been worn by a killer. | The Doctor's impostor carefully returns the costume. The Doctor arrives back at his room and dresses in the costume set out for him, unaware it has just been worn by a killer. | ||
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The second body has been discovered, and the servants alert Charles and Sir [[Robert Muir]]. As the Doctor descends the stairs, Ann identifies him as her assailant. The Doctor defends himself, saying he hasd just put the costume on and had been lost in the secret passages of the house. However, Ann is adamant that the Doctor did attack her and kill James. The Doctor asks if "he" wore the mask while attacking. Ann confirms this and the Doctor tells her that someone may have worn an identical costume to his. However, Ann says that only Nyssa and her costumes were doubles, the harlequin costume is not. The Doctor then decides to save himself from persicution by explaining he had just put the costume on and that somebody else might have used it, asking Lady Cranleigh to help him establish his alibi. But, Lady Cranleigh refuses to corroborate his presence in the secret corridors, or the existence of the other body. Out of choices, the Doctor tells them that he is a time travelling alien and that he was mistaken for "the doctor" they needed to play cricket. They do not beleive him and send him away with the police along with Nyssa, Tegan, and Adric, belieiving them to be assesories to his "murder". | The second body has been discovered, and the servants alert Charles and Sir [[Robert Muir]]. As the Doctor descends the stairs, Ann identifies him as her assailant. The Doctor defends himself, saying he hasd just put the costume on and had been lost in the secret passages of the house. However, Ann is adamant that the Doctor did attack her and kill James. The Doctor asks if "he" wore the mask while attacking. Ann confirms this and the Doctor tells her that someone may have worn an identical costume to his. However, Ann says that only Nyssa and her costumes were doubles, the harlequin costume is not. The Doctor then decides to save himself from persicution by explaining he had just put the costume on and that somebody else might have used it, asking Lady Cranleigh to help him establish his alibi. But, Lady Cranleigh refuses to corroborate his presence in the secret corridors, or the existence of the other body. Out of choices, the Doctor tells them that he is a time travelling alien and that he was mistaken for "the doctor" they needed to play cricket. They do not beleive him and send him away with the police along with Nyssa, Tegan, and Adric, belieiving them to be assesories to his "murder". | ||
They stop at the railway station after the Doctor declares evidence is there, [[ | They stop at the railway station after the Doctor declares evidence is there, [[File:This one will.jpg|right|thumb|The Doctor tries to avoid a murder charge.]]but the TARDIS is missing and they have no choice but to go to the police station. There, coincidentally, a policeman declares they have found a [[police box]] which no key can open. The Doctor says that this time he can prove his story and opens the TARDIS with his key, telling everyone to get inside. Lord Crainleigh is amazed by the TARDIS and appologizes to the Doctor for his wild accusiations, but there is still the matter of the murders. The Doctor tells him that the true murder may strike again and go after Ann. Lord Crainliegh decides to head home, but the Doctor tells him he can get him there quicker than a car and activates the TARDIS. | ||
Back at the house, the unknown man has broken free of his restaints and set fire to his door in order to escape. The TARDIS lands right outside the mansion as fire escapes the windows. They go inside to try putting it out, but the unknown assailant arrives and takes Nyssa with him. [[Madge Cranleigh|Lady Cranleigh]] tells Sir Robert that the scarred figure is her son [[George Cranleigh|George]], not killed during the course of his search for the black orchid, but disfigured by a tribe that held the bloom sacred and themselves its guardians. After George's maiming, Latoni's tribe looked after him and brought him home, where his family preferred that he stay out of sight and pretend to be dead. Chafing under the restrictions, he only wanted to speak to Ann, his former fiancée--which was why he was stalking her. | Back at the house, the unknown man has broken free of his restaints and set fire to his door in order to escape. The TARDIS lands right outside the mansion as fire escapes the windows. They go inside to try putting it out, but the unknown assailant arrives and takes Nyssa with him. [[Madge Cranleigh|Lady Cranleigh]] tells Sir Robert that the scarred figure is her son [[George Cranleigh|George]], not killed during the course of his search for the black orchid, but disfigured by a tribe that held the bloom sacred and themselves its guardians. After George's maiming, Latoni's tribe looked after him and brought him home, where his family preferred that he stay out of sight and pretend to be dead. Chafing under the restrictions, he only wanted to speak to Ann, his former fiancée--which was why he was stalking her. | ||
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After attending George's funeral, the TARDIS crew depart, but are first given parting gifts of their fancy dresses and a copy of George's book, ''[[Black Orchid (book)|Black Orchid]]'', by Ann and Lady Cranleigh. | After attending George's funeral, the TARDIS crew depart, but are first given parting gifts of their fancy dresses and a copy of George's book, ''[[Black Orchid (book)|Black Orchid]]'', by Ann and Lady Cranleigh. | ||
==Cast== | == Cast == | ||
*[[Fifth Doctor | The Doctor]] - [[Peter Davison]] | * [[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Peter Davison]] | ||
*[[Adric]] - [[Matthew Waterhouse]] | * [[Adric]] - [[Matthew Waterhouse]] | ||
*[[Tegan]] - [[Janet Fielding]] | * [[Tegan]] - [[Janet Fielding]] | ||
*[[Nyssa]]/[[Ann Talbot]] - [[Sarah Sutton]] | * [[Nyssa]]/[[Ann Talbot]] - [[Sarah Sutton]] | ||
*[[Madge Cranleigh|Lady Cranleigh]] - [[Barbara Murray]] | * [[Madge Cranleigh|Lady Cranleigh]] - [[Barbara Murray]] | ||
*Sir [[Robert Muir]] - [[Moray Watson]] | * Sir [[Robert Muir]] - [[Moray Watson]] | ||
*Lord [[Charles Cranleigh]] - [[Michael Cochrane]] | * Lord [[Charles Cranleigh]] - [[Michael Cochrane]] | ||
*[[Brewster]] - [[Brian Hawksley]] | * [[Brewster]] - [[Brian Hawksley]] | ||
*[[Tanner]] - [[Timothy Block]] | * [[Tanner]] - [[Timothy Block]] | ||
*[[Latoni]] - [[Ahmed Khalil]] | * [[Latoni]] - [[Ahmed Khalil]] | ||
*The Unknown/[[George Cranleigh]] - [[Gareth Milne]] | * The Unknown/[[George Cranleigh]] - [[Gareth Milne]] | ||
*Sergeant [[Markham]] - [[Ivor Salter]] | * Sergeant [[Markham]] - [[Ivor Salter]] | ||
*Constable [[Cummings]] - [[Andrew Tourell]] | * Constable [[Cummings]] - [[Andrew Tourell]] | ||
*[[Digby]] - [[David Wilde]] (uncredited) | * [[Digby]] - [[David Wilde]] (uncredited) | ||
*[[James (Black Orchid)|James]] - [[Derek Hunt]] (uncredited) | * [[James (Black Orchid)|James]] - [[Derek Hunt]] (uncredited) | ||
==Crew== | == Crew == | ||
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Val McCrimmon]] | * [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Val McCrimmon]] | ||
*[[Choreographer]] - [[Gary Downie]] (uncredited) | * [[Choreographer]] - [[Gary Downie]] (uncredited) | ||
*[[Costumes]] - [[Rosalind Ebbutt]] | * [[Costumes]] - [[Rosalind Ebbutt]] | ||
*[[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Tony Burrough]] | * [[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Tony Burrough]] | ||
*[[Film Cameraman]] - [[Peter Chapman]] | * [[Film Cameraman]] - [[Peter Chapman]] | ||
*[[Film Editor]] - [[Mike Houghton]] | * [[Film Editor]] - [[Mike Houghton]] | ||
*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Roger Limb]] | * [[Incidental Music]] - [[Roger Limb]] | ||
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Lisa Westcott]] | * [[Make-Up]] - [[Lisa Westcott]] | ||
*[[Producer]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]] | * [[Producer]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]] | ||
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Juley Harding]] | * [[Production Assistant]] - [[Juley Harding]] | ||
*[[Production Associate]] - [[Angela Smith]] | * [[Production Associate]] - [[Angela Smith]] | ||
*[[Script Editor]] - [[Eric Saward]] | * [[Script Editor]] - [[Eric Saward]] | ||
*[[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]] | * [[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]] | ||
*[[Studio Lighting]] - [[Fred Wright]] | * [[Studio Lighting]] - [[Fred Wright]] | ||
*[[Studio Sound]] - [[Alan Machin]] | * [[Studio Sound]] - [[Alan Machin]] | ||
*[[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Peter Howell]] | * [[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Peter Howell]] | ||
*[[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]] | * [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]] | ||
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[Tony Auger]] | * [[Visual Effects]] - [[Tony Auger]] | ||
==References== | == References == | ||
===[[:Category:Books|Books]]=== | === [[:Category:Books|Books]] === | ||
*Lady Cranleigh gives the Doctor a parting gift; ''[[Black Orchid (book)|Black Orchid]]'' by [[George Cranleigh]]. | * Lady Cranleigh gives the Doctor a parting gift; ''[[Black Orchid (book)|Black Orchid]]'' by [[George Cranleigh]]. | ||
*The Doctor finds ''[[A Textbook of Botany for Students]]''. | * The Doctor finds ''[[A Textbook of Botany for Students]]''. | ||
===[[:Category:The Doctor|The Doctor]]=== | === [[:Category:The Doctor|The Doctor]] === | ||
*The Doctor claims he always wanted to drive a [[train|steam train]] as a boy. | * The Doctor claims he always wanted to drive a [[train|steam train]] as a boy. | ||
===[[:Category:Culture|Culture]]=== | === [[:Category:Culture|Culture]] === | ||
*Tegan learnt the [[Charleston (dance)|Charleston]] for a play when she was in school. | * Tegan learnt the [[Charleston (dance)|Charleston]] for a play when she was in school. | ||
*The song the Doctor is singing in the bath is "I Want to Be happy" from the musical "No No Nanette" which is fairly apt as that production had its debut the year this story was set - [[1925]]. | * The song the Doctor is singing in the bath is "I Want to Be happy" from the musical "No No Nanette" which is fairly apt as that production had its debut the year this story was set - [[1925]]. | ||
===[[:Category:Foods and beverages|Foods and beverages]]=== | === [[:Category:Foods and beverages|Foods and beverages]] === | ||
*Tegan asks for a [[Alcohol#Cocktails and other alcoholic drinks|screwdriver]] ([[orange|orange juice]] and [[Alcohol#Spirits|vodka]]). | * Tegan asks for a [[Alcohol#Cocktails and other alcoholic drinks|screwdriver]] ([[orange|orange juice]] and [[Alcohol#Spirits|vodka]]). | ||
==Story notes== | == Story notes == | ||
*To preserve the mystery of his character's identity, Gareth Milne was credited as '''The Unknown''' for Part One and in ''Radio Times'', and as '''George Cranleigh''' for Part Two. | * To preserve the mystery of his character's identity, Gareth Milne was credited as '''The Unknown''' for Part One and in ''Radio Times'', and as '''George Cranleigh''' for Part Two. | ||
*Although Sarah Sutton was credited as '''Nyssa/Ann''' on-screen, she was billed only as '''Nyssa''' in ''Radio Times''. | * Although Sarah Sutton was credited as '''Nyssa/Ann''' on-screen, she was billed only as '''Nyssa''' in ''Radio Times''. | ||
*This is the first story since ''[[The Highlanders]]'' not to feature any science fiction elements, apart from the use of the TARDIS, in the story. Of all the purely historical serials, this is set in the (as of 2008) closest time from its airdate. | * This is the first story since ''[[The Highlanders]]'' not to feature any science fiction elements, apart from the use of the TARDIS, in the story. Of all the purely historical serials, this is set in the (as of 2008) closest time from its airdate. | ||
*[[Peter Davison]] voiced his dislike of this story, only feeling positive about the [[cricket]]ing sequence. ([[DCOM]]: ''Black Orchid'') | * [[Peter Davison]] voiced his dislike of this story, only feeling positive about the [[cricket]]ing sequence. ([[DCOM]]: ''Black Orchid'') | ||
*Outdoor conditions deteriorated during filming and so the actors were required to perform through wind and rain. ([[DCOM]]: ''Black Orchid'') | * Outdoor conditions deteriorated during filming and so the actors were required to perform through wind and rain. ([[DCOM]]: ''Black Orchid'') | ||
*[[Peter Davison]], [[Janet Fielding]] and [[Matthew Waterhouse]] did not look upon this story favourably, considering the script weak. ([[DCOM]]: ''Black Orchid'') | * [[Peter Davison]], [[Janet Fielding]] and [[Matthew Waterhouse]] did not look upon this story favourably, considering the script weak. ([[DCOM]]: ''Black Orchid'') | ||
*Latoni's voice had to be dubbed in at parts due to his lip disk. ([[DCOM]]: ''Black Orchid'') | * Latoni's voice had to be dubbed in at parts due to his lip disk. ([[DCOM]]: ''Black Orchid'') | ||
*While other stories have featured incidental indications that the Doctor likes [[cricket]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ribos Operation]]'', ''[[Castrovalva (TV story)|Castrovalva]]'', ''[[Four to Doomsday]]'', ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]''), this is the only televised story to depict the Doctor playing in an actual match. ([[Peter Davison]], a keen cricketer, actually did play cricket in the Doctor's cricket match, and did quite well--he bowled out his opponent.) The [[Fifth Doctor]]'s particular love of the game would be later developed in other media. It has, for instance, significantly figured in a number of audio stories ([[BFA]]: ''[[Phantasmagoria]]'', ''[[The Roof of the World (audio story)|Roof of the World]]'', ''[[Circular Time]]'') and in a comic. ([[IDW]]: [[The Forgotten (graphic novel)|''The Forgotten'']]) | * While other stories have featured incidental indications that the Doctor likes [[cricket]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Ribos Operation]]'', ''[[Castrovalva (TV story)|Castrovalva]]'', ''[[Four to Doomsday]]'', ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]''), this is the only televised story to depict the Doctor playing in an actual match. ([[Peter Davison]], a keen cricketer, actually did play cricket in the Doctor's cricket match, and did quite well--he bowled out his opponent.) The [[Fifth Doctor]]'s particular love of the game would be later developed in other media. It has, for instance, significantly figured in a number of audio stories ([[BFA]]: ''[[Phantasmagoria]]'', ''[[The Roof of the World (audio story)|Roof of the World]]'', ''[[Circular Time]]'') and in a comic. ([[IDW]]: [[The Forgotten (graphic novel)|''The Forgotten'']]) | ||
===Ratings=== | === Ratings === | ||
*Part 1 - 9.9 million viewers | * Part 1 - 9.9 million viewers | ||
*Part 2 - 10.1 million viewers | * Part 2 - 10.1 million viewers | ||
===Myths=== | === Myths === | ||
*''Black Orchid'' is sometimes referred to as the first historical ''Doctor Who'' serial since ''[[The Highlanders]]''. Although it takes place in an earlier era, it is not explicitly a history-based adventure, unlike ''The Highlanders''. It is correctly the first non-science fictional serial (disregarding the TARDIS and the presence of the Doctor and two non-Earthling individuals) since the earlier story (and, to date, the last). | * ''Black Orchid'' is sometimes referred to as the first historical ''Doctor Who'' serial since ''[[The Highlanders]]''. Although it takes place in an earlier era, it is not explicitly a history-based adventure, unlike ''The Highlanders''. It is correctly the first non-science fictional serial (disregarding the TARDIS and the presence of the Doctor and two non-Earthling individuals) since the earlier story (and, to date, the last). | ||
===Filming locations=== | === Filming locations === | ||
*Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton, Buckinghamshire | * Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton, Buckinghamshire | ||
*Buckhurst House, Withyham, East Sussex | * Buckhurst House, Withyham, East Sussex | ||
*Bewdley (Steam Railway), Worcestershire | * Bewdley (Steam Railway), Worcestershire | ||
*Quainton Road, Quainton, Buckinghamshire | * Quainton Road, Quainton, Buckinghamshire | ||
*Withyham Cricket Club, Withyham, East Sussex | * Withyham Cricket Club, Withyham, East Sussex | ||
*[[BBC Television Centre]] ([[List of stories recorded at BBC Television Centre|Studio 3]]), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]] | * [[BBC Television Centre]] ([[List of stories recorded at BBC Television Centre|Studio 3]]), Shepherd's Bush, [[London]] | ||
===Production errors=== | === Production errors === | ||
{{discontinuity}} | {{discontinuity}} | ||
*In the rooftop shots, you can clearly see that the film was horizontally flipped because of the odd angle of the smoke's ascent. | * In the rooftop shots, you can clearly see that the film was horizontally flipped because of the odd angle of the smoke's ascent. | ||
*[[Peter Davison]] and [[Gareth Milne]] ([[George Cranleigh]]) are of substantially different heights, yet the same costume fits both of them perfectly. On this point, the director could be said to be at fault for casting an actor to play George who could not plausibly wear Davison's clothes. | * [[Peter Davison]] and [[Gareth Milne]] ([[George Cranleigh]]) are of substantially different heights, yet the same costume fits both of them perfectly. On this point, the director could be said to be at fault for casting an actor to play George who could not plausibly wear Davison's clothes. | ||
==Continuity== | == Continuity == | ||
*[[DW]]: ''[[The Visitation]]'' follows straight into this story. | * [[DW]]: ''[[The Visitation]]'' follows straight into this story. | ||
*Ace visits the Cranleigh's party and briefly meets Adric in [[DWM]]: ''[[Time & Time Again]]''. She sees either Nyssa or Ann--she can't tell which--but doesn't approach her. | * Ace visits the Cranleigh's party and briefly meets Adric in [[DWM]]: ''[[Time & Time Again]]''. She sees either Nyssa or Ann--she can't tell which--but doesn't approach her. | ||
*Ann Talbot reappears in [[MA]]: ''[[The Sands of Time]]''. | * Ann Talbot reappears in [[MA]]: ''[[The Sands of Time]]''. | ||
*Lord Cranleigh nearly mentions [[The Master]] being his other doctor. | * Lord Cranleigh nearly mentions [[The Master]] being his other doctor. | ||
*The Doctor gets trapped in the hallway and moans about how he always lets his curiosity get the best of him. His curiosity also gets him into bad predicaments in, among others, ''[[The Daleks]]'', ''[[The Web Planet]]'', ''[[The Time Meddler]]'' and ''[[The Leisure Hive]]''. | * The Doctor gets trapped in the hallway and moans about how he always lets his curiosity get the best of him. His curiosity also gets him into bad predicaments in, among others, ''[[The Daleks]]'', ''[[The Web Planet]]'', ''[[The Time Meddler]]'' and ''[[The Leisure Hive]]''. | ||
* The Doctor also plays a sport and is skilled at it in [[DW]]: ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]].'' | * The Doctor also plays a sport and is skilled at it in [[DW]]: ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]].'' | ||
==Timeline== | == Timeline == | ||
*This story occurs after [[DWA]]: ''[[Planet of Fear]]'' | * This story occurs after [[DWA]]: ''[[Planet of Fear]]'' | ||
*This story occurs before [[ST]]: ''[[In the TARDIS: Christmas Day]]'' | * This story occurs before [[ST]]: ''[[In the TARDIS: Christmas Day]]'' | ||
*[[DWM]]: ''[[Time & Time Again]]'' takes place during this story. | * [[DWM]]: ''[[Time & Time Again]]'' takes place during this story. | ||
==Home video and audio releases== | == Home video and audio releases == | ||
===DVD releases=== | === DVD releases === | ||
Black Orchid was released on DVD in [[April]] [[2008]]. It was originally scheduled for [[May]] but changed at the last moment, and [[The Invasion of Time]] was moved to May. | Black Orchid was released on DVD in [[April]] [[2008]]. It was originally scheduled for [[May]] but changed at the last moment, and [[The Invasion of Time]] was moved to May. | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Video releases=== | === Video releases === | ||
Released as ''Doctor Who: The Visitation / Black Orchid'' with ''[[The Visitation]]'' as part of a two tape set. | Released as ''Doctor Who: The Visitation / Black Orchid'' with ''[[The Visitation]]'' as part of a two tape set. | ||
Released: | Released: | ||
*[[UK]] [[July]] [[1994]] | * [[UK]] [[July]] [[1994]] | ||
::PAL - [[BBC Video]] BBCV5349 | ::PAL - [[BBC Video]] BBCV5349 | ||
*Australia [[August]] [[1994]] | * Australia [[August]] [[1994]] | ||
::PAL | ::PAL | ||
*US [[June]] [[1996]] | * US [[June]] [[1996]] | ||
::NTSC | ::NTSC | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Novelisation and its audiobook== | == Novelisation and its audiobook == | ||
[[ | [[File:Black Orchid novel.jpg|right|75px]] | ||
: ''Main article: [[Black Orchid (novelisation)]]'' | : ''Main article: [[Black Orchid (novelisation)]]'' | ||
*Novelised as ''[[Black Orchid (novelisation)|Black Orchid]]'' by [[Terence Dudley]] in [[1987]].\ | * Novelised as ''[[Black Orchid (novelisation)|Black Orchid]]'' by [[Terence Dudley]] in [[1987]].\ | ||
*In June 2008 [[Terence Dudley]]'s [[Black Orchid (novelisation)|Black Orchid]] was released as an audiobook, read by Michael Cochrane. | * In June 2008 [[Terence Dudley]]'s [[Black Orchid (novelisation)|Black Orchid]] was released as an audiobook, read by Michael Cochrane. | ||
<gallery hideaddbutton="true" widths="150" captionalign="left"> | <gallery hideaddbutton="true" widths="150" captionalign="left"> | ||
Bbcaudio78.jpg|Audiobook cover | Bbcaudio78.jpg|Audiobook cover | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==See also== | == See also == | ||
'''People meeting their doubles''' | '''People meeting their doubles''' | ||
*[[DW]]: ''[[The Enemy of the World]]'' - the [[Second Doctor]] and [[Ramón Salamander]] | * [[DW]]: ''[[The Enemy of the World]]'' - the [[Second Doctor]] and [[Ramón Salamander]] | ||
*[[DW]]: [[The Androids of Tara]] - [[Romana I]] and [[Strella]] | * [[DW]]: [[The Androids of Tara]] - [[Romana I]] and [[Strella]] | ||
*[[BFA]]: ''[[The Church and the Crown]]'' - [[Peri]] and Queen Anne of France | * [[BFA]]: ''[[The Church and the Crown]]'' - [[Peri]] and Queen Anne of France | ||
:[[DW]]: ''[[The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve]]'' does not really count in this instance, as the [[First Doctor]] and the [[Abbot of Amboise]] never actually meet in the story. | :[[DW]]: ''[[The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve]]'' does not really count in this instance, as the [[First Doctor]] and the [[Abbot of Amboise]] never actually meet in the story. | ||
==External links== | == External links == | ||
*{{bbcepguideclassic|blackorchid/|Black Orchid}} | * {{bbcepguideclassic|blackorchid/|Black Orchid}} | ||
*{{dwrefguide|who_6a.htm|Black Orchid}} | * {{dwrefguide|who_6a.htm|Black Orchid}} | ||
*{{briefhistory|serials/6a.html|Black Orchid}} | * {{briefhistory|serials/6a.html|Black Orchid}} | ||
*{{locguide|blackorchid|Black Orchid}} | * {{locguide|blackorchid|Black Orchid}} | ||
{{DWTV}} | {{DWTV}} | ||
[[ | |||
[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]] | |||
[[Category:Fifth Doctor television stories]] | [[Category:Fifth Doctor television stories]] | ||
[[Category:1982 television stories]] | [[Category:1982 television stories]] | ||
Revision as of 12:18, 3 November 2011
- You may be looking for one of several other Black Orchids.
Black Orchid was the fifth story in season nineteen of Doctor Who. It was the shortest story of the season at just two parts. The only science-fiction elements in Black Orchid were the TARDIS and its occupants. It saw a doppelgänger of Nyssa in the form of Ann Talbot.
Synopsis
The TARDIS arrives on Earth in 1925 where, due to a case of mistaken identity, the Doctor ends up playing in a local cricket match. The travellers accept an invitation to a masked fancy dress ball, but events take on a more sinister tone as murders are perpetrated at the country home of their host, Lord Charles Cranleigh.
Plot
Part one
The TARDIS lands in 1925 at Cranleigh Halt, a small railway station in rural England. Tegan wonders where they are and the Doctor explains their location, saying he wished to have a train set as a boy. They walk out front to fnd a chauffeur named Tanner, who says he has been waiting for the Doctor, much to his surprise, telling him he's expected for a cricket match. Though the invitation is unexpected, the Doctor is keen to play; soon he, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan have arrived at Cranleigh Hall, home of the Cranleigh family. The Doctor is immediately put into the game, and does superbly--bringing the team back from defeat to a win and delighting Lord Charles Cranleigh, who invites the travellers to a fancy dress party that evening as thanks for a splendid performance.
  After the match, the cricketers and spectators retreat to Cranleigh Hall for introductions. The Doctor is asked what his name is, but Charles explains the Doctor wishes to remain incognito. In an opulent sitting room that houses a magnificent black orchid, Lady Cranleigh laments the loss of her botanist son, George, killed on an expedition to find the rare bloom. When told that the party would be a costume party, Adric, Nyssa, and Tegan say that they do not have costumes to wear, Lady Cranleigh is confused as she believed they WERE already wearing costumes. While everyone asks for a drink, Lady Crainleigh wonders about Nyssa's origins, thinking she may be from a rich family she knows, but Nyssa repeatedly asserts she is not from around there. Much to everyone' surprise, Charles walks in with his fiancée, Ann Talbot, who is almost an exact double of Nyssa. The travellers set off to their rooms to prepare for the ball.
George provides the Doctor with a costume for the party: a harlequin suit with a full mask. The Doctor removes his caot and tries on the mask to see how he will look before putting the costume on his bed and heading to the bath to freshen-up. Someone uses a secret passage to enter the Doctor's room and hides near by while the Doctor emerges from the bath with a robe over his clothes, wondering what caused the noise. He finds the secret passage and ends up locked out of his room, stuck in a secret passage. At the same time, the unknown person takes the Doctor's costume.
Upstairs, Nyssa, Tegan, and Ann Talbot prepare for the party. Nyssa is confused on what to wear when Ann has a copy of her costume brought in for Nyssa to prank the guests as to which one of them is which. As Nyssa is unsure on how to dance at the party, Tegan decides to demonstrate the Charleston, a dance popular in 1925, for her alien friend.
In the meantime, the Doctor finds his way out of the corridor into a hidden area of the mansion. He finds closets of old clothes and books and a body in a cupboard.
Elsewhere, the Doctor's companions are enjoying the party, Nyssa is enjoying having people guess if she is Ann or not, Tegan is loving the dancing, and Adric is enjoying the food. They begin wondering where the Doctor is and the person who stole the harlewuin costume walks out of the mansion, taking Ann in a dance.
After dancing, he leads her inside and she tries to excuse herself. However, he takes her indoors and attacks her. James, a servant, attacks the figure and is strangled. Ann faints while the figures turns and closes in on her.
Part two
The Doctor finds Lady Cranleigh and her servant Latoni in one of the secret passages, and shows them the body. He agrees to not tell the guests to avoid causing panic, and returns to his room. The Doctor's impostor carefully returns the costume. The Doctor arrives back at his room and dresses in the costume set out for him, unaware it has just been worn by a killer.
Lady Cranleigh and Latoni come to a locked door in the secret passages; on the other side of the door, Ann wakes and panics at the unfamiliar surroundings, while a mysterious figure hides under her bed. Ann runs out the room and into the arms of Lady Cranleigh. Latoni enters the room and ties up the figure, a horribly disfigured man with dead, drooping skin on his face, and no tongue.
  The second body has been discovered, and the servants alert Charles and Sir Robert Muir. As the Doctor descends the stairs, Ann identifies him as her assailant. The Doctor defends himself, saying he hasd just put the costume on and had been lost in the secret passages of the house. However, Ann is adamant that the Doctor did attack her and kill James. The Doctor asks if "he" wore the mask while attacking. Ann confirms this and the Doctor tells her that someone may have worn an identical costume to his. However, Ann says that only Nyssa and her costumes were doubles, the harlequin costume is not. The Doctor then decides to save himself from persicution by explaining he had just put the costume on and that somebody else might have used it, asking Lady Cranleigh to help him establish his alibi. But, Lady Cranleigh refuses to corroborate his presence in the secret corridors, or the existence of the other body. Out of choices, the Doctor tells them that he is a time travelling alien and that he was mistaken for "the doctor" they needed to play cricket. They do not beleive him and send him away with the police along with Nyssa, Tegan, and Adric, belieiving them to be assesories to his "murder".
They stop at the railway station after the Doctor declares evidence is there,
but the TARDIS is missing and they have no choice but to go to the police station. There, coincidentally, a policeman declares they have found a police box which no key can open. The Doctor says that this time he can prove his story and opens the TARDIS with his key, telling everyone to get inside. Lord Crainleigh is amazed by the TARDIS and appologizes to the Doctor for his wild accusiations, but there is still the matter of the murders. The Doctor tells him that the true murder may strike again and go after Ann. Lord Crainliegh decides to head home, but the Doctor tells him he can get him there quicker than a car and activates the TARDIS.
Back at the house, the unknown man has broken free of his restaints and set fire to his door in order to escape. The TARDIS lands right outside the mansion as fire escapes the windows. They go inside to try putting it out, but the unknown assailant arrives and takes Nyssa with him. Lady Cranleigh tells Sir Robert that the scarred figure is her son George, not killed during the course of his search for the black orchid, but disfigured by a tribe that held the bloom sacred and themselves its guardians. After George's maiming, Latoni's tribe looked after him and brought him home, where his family preferred that he stay out of sight and pretend to be dead. Chafing under the restrictions, he only wanted to speak to Ann, his former fiancée--which was why he was stalking her.
However, the Doctor points out that he had taken Nyssa and not Ann, possibly due to his bad eyesight, and that she is in danger when he realises his mistake.
The Doctor attempts to get to him through the house while Charles climbs up the side. They confront George on the roof. The Doctor calms George down by explaining Nyssa is the person he is holding and that Ann is below in the garden. George realises that the woman he is holding is not Ann, and returns her. Charles thanks him, and attempts to embrace his lost brother, but George recoils and falls from the roof to his death.
After attending George's funeral, the TARDIS crew depart, but are first given parting gifts of their fancy dresses and a copy of George's book, Black Orchid, by Ann and Lady Cranleigh.
Cast
- The Doctor - Peter Davison
- Adric - Matthew Waterhouse
- Tegan - Janet Fielding
- Nyssa/Ann Talbot - Sarah Sutton
- Lady Cranleigh - Barbara Murray
- Sir Robert Muir - Moray Watson
- Lord Charles Cranleigh - Michael Cochrane
- Brewster - Brian Hawksley
- Tanner - Timothy Block
- Latoni - Ahmed Khalil
- The Unknown/George Cranleigh - Gareth Milne
- Sergeant Markham - Ivor Salter
- Constable Cummings - Andrew Tourell
- Digby - David Wilde (uncredited)
- James - Derek Hunt (uncredited)
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Val McCrimmon
- Choreographer - Gary Downie (uncredited)
- Costumes - Rosalind Ebbutt
- Designer - Tony Burrough
- Film Cameraman - Peter Chapman
- Film Editor - Mike Houghton
- Incidental Music - Roger Limb
- Make-Up - Lisa Westcott
- Producer - John Nathan-Turner
- Production Assistant - Juley Harding
- Production Associate - Angela Smith
- Script Editor - Eric Saward
- Special Sounds - Dick Mills
- Studio Lighting - Fred Wright
- Studio Sound - Alan Machin
- Theme Arrangement - Peter Howell
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
- Visual Effects - Tony Auger
References
Books
- Lady Cranleigh gives the Doctor a parting gift; Black Orchid by George Cranleigh.
- The Doctor finds A Textbook of Botany for Students.
The Doctor
- The Doctor claims he always wanted to drive a steam train as a boy.
Culture
- Tegan learnt the Charleston for a play when she was in school.
- The song the Doctor is singing in the bath is "I Want to Be happy" from the musical "No No Nanette" which is fairly apt as that production had its debut the year this story was set - 1925.
Foods and beverages
- Tegan asks for a screwdriver (orange juice and vodka).
Story notes
- To preserve the mystery of his character's identity, Gareth Milne was credited as The Unknown for Part One and in Radio Times, and as George Cranleigh for Part Two.
- Although Sarah Sutton was credited as Nyssa/Ann on-screen, she was billed only as Nyssa in Radio Times.
- This is the first story since The Highlanders not to feature any science fiction elements, apart from the use of the TARDIS, in the story. Of all the purely historical serials, this is set in the (as of 2008) closest time from its airdate.
- Peter Davison voiced his dislike of this story, only feeling positive about the cricketing sequence. (DCOM: Black Orchid)
- Outdoor conditions deteriorated during filming and so the actors were required to perform through wind and rain. (DCOM: Black Orchid)
- Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse did not look upon this story favourably, considering the script weak. (DCOM: Black Orchid)
- Latoni's voice had to be dubbed in at parts due to his lip disk. (DCOM: Black Orchid)
- While other stories have featured incidental indications that the Doctor likes cricket (DW: The Ribos Operation, Castrovalva, Four to Doomsday, Human Nature), this is the only televised story to depict the Doctor playing in an actual match. (Peter Davison, a keen cricketer, actually did play cricket in the Doctor's cricket match, and did quite well--he bowled out his opponent.) The Fifth Doctor's particular love of the game would be later developed in other media. It has, for instance, significantly figured in a number of audio stories (BFA: Phantasmagoria, Roof of the World, Circular Time) and in a comic. (IDW: The Forgotten)
Ratings
- Part 1 - 9.9 million viewers
- Part 2 - 10.1 million viewers
Myths
- Black Orchid is sometimes referred to as the first historical Doctor Who serial since The Highlanders. Although it takes place in an earlier era, it is not explicitly a history-based adventure, unlike The Highlanders. It is correctly the first non-science fictional serial (disregarding the TARDIS and the presence of the Doctor and two non-Earthling individuals) since the earlier story (and, to date, the last).
Filming locations
- Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton, Buckinghamshire
- Buckhurst House, Withyham, East Sussex
- Bewdley (Steam Railway), Worcestershire
- Quainton Road, Quainton, Buckinghamshire
- Withyham Cricket Club, Withyham, East Sussex
- BBC Television Centre (Studio 3), Shepherd's Bush, London
Production errors
If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
- In the rooftop shots, you can clearly see that the film was horizontally flipped because of the odd angle of the smoke's ascent.
- Peter Davison and Gareth Milne (George Cranleigh) are of substantially different heights, yet the same costume fits both of them perfectly. On this point, the director could be said to be at fault for casting an actor to play George who could not plausibly wear Davison's clothes.
Continuity
- DW: The Visitation follows straight into this story.
- Ace visits the Cranleigh's party and briefly meets Adric in DWM: Time & Time Again. She sees either Nyssa or Ann--she can't tell which--but doesn't approach her.
- Ann Talbot reappears in MA: The Sands of Time.
- Lord Cranleigh nearly mentions The Master being his other doctor.
- The Doctor gets trapped in the hallway and moans about how he always lets his curiosity get the best of him. His curiosity also gets him into bad predicaments in, among others, The Daleks, The Web Planet, The Time Meddler and The Leisure Hive.
- The Doctor also plays a sport and is skilled at it in DW: The Lodger.
Timeline
- This story occurs after DWA: Planet of Fear
- This story occurs before ST: In the TARDIS: Christmas Day
- DWM: Time & Time Again takes place during this story.
Home video and audio releases
DVD releases
Black Orchid was released on DVD in April 2008. It was originally scheduled for May but changed at the last moment, and The Invasion of Time was moved to May.
- PAL -
- PAL -
- NTSC -
Notes:
- Editing for DVD release completed by Doctor Who Restoration Team.
DVD Region 2 UK cover
DVD Region 4 Australian cover
DVD Region 1 US cover
Video releases
Released as Doctor Who: The Visitation / Black Orchid with The Visitation as part of a two tape set.
Released:
- PAL - BBC Video BBCV5349
- PAL
- NTSC
VHS UK cover
VHS US cover
VHS AUS cover
Novelisation and its audiobook
- Main article: Black Orchid (novelisation)
- Novelised as Black Orchid by Terence Dudley in 1987.\
- In June 2008 Terence Dudley's Black Orchid was released as an audiobook, read by Michael Cochrane.
- Bbcaudio78.jpg
Audiobook cover
See also
People meeting their doubles
- DW: The Enemy of the World - the Second Doctor and Ramón Salamander
- DW: The Androids of Tara - Romana I and Strella
- BFA: The Church and the Crown - Peri and Queen Anne of France
- DW: The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve does not really count in this instance, as the First Doctor and the Abbot of Amboise never actually meet in the story.
External links
- Black Orchid at the BBC's official site
- Black Orchid at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- Black Orchid at Shannon Sullivan's A Brief History of Time (Travel)
- Black Orchid at The Locations Guide
