The Faceless Ones (TV story): Difference between revisions
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(References: added the fact that Polly and Ben appear only in Episodes 1, 2 and 6. Story Notes: added info about the Australian-censored print of Episode 1) |
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==References== | ==References== | ||
*The [[Chameleon]]s were made faceless by a nuclear accident. | *The [[Chameleon]]s were made faceless by a nuclear accident. | ||
*[[Ben Jackson]] and [[Polly]] depart in this story. | *[[Ben Jackson]] and [[Polly]] depart in this story after having appeared only in Episodes 1, 2 and 6. | ||
==Story Notes== | ==Story Notes== | ||
*This story had a working title of '''The Chameleons'''. | *This story had a working title of '''The Chameleons'''. | ||
*As well as the complete print of Episode 1, the BBC Archives also hold an incomplete copy returned from ABC in Australia in 1981 after censors had removed the following scenes: 'Spencer' killing Inspector Gascoigne with a Chameleon ray-gun; the alien arm emerging from the cupboard; and panning of the alien figure – seen only from behind – at the end of the episode. | |||
*Samantha Briggs was originally intended to be a companion, however Pauline Collins turned down the offer. | *Samantha Briggs was originally intended to be a companion, however Pauline Collins turned down the offer. | ||
*Pauline Collins, who played Samantha Briggs, would later play Queen Victoria in the [[Tenth Doctor]] episode ''[[Tooth and Claw]]''. | *Pauline Collins, who played Samantha Briggs, would later play Queen Victoria in the [[Tenth Doctor]] episode ''[[Tooth and Claw]]''. | ||
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===Myths=== | ===Myths=== | ||
*The only surviving copy of Episode 1 is a print edited by the censors in Australia. ''(The copy of this episode in the BBC | *The only surviving copy of Episode 1 is a print edited by the censors in Australia. ''(The copy of this episode in the BBC Archives is complete and unedited – see Story Notes above.)'' | ||
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===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors=== | ===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors=== | ||
*It does seem somewhat short-sighted of the Chameleons to leave so many of their personnel's 'originals' behind in car boots, when their | *It does seem somewhat short-sighted of the Chameleons to leave so many of their personnel's 'originals' behind in car boots, when their well-being is so vital to their survival and the success of the grand plan. Especially when the personnel in question are the very ones who are in the perfect position to arrange their safe transport up to the spacestation, instead of being satisfied to simply leave them behind on Earth and hope they remain undiscovered until they are no longer relevant. | ||
==Continuity== | ==Continuity== | ||
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==Timeline== | ==Timeline== | ||
*This story occurs after [[Resistance]] | *This story occurs after [[Resistance]]. | ||
*This story occurs before [[The Evil of the Daleks]] | *This story occurs before [[The Evil of the Daleks]]. | ||
==DVD, Video and Other Releases== | ==DVD, Video and Other Releases== | ||
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[[Image:Lostna-troughton.jpg|right|76px]] | [[Image:Lostna-troughton.jpg|right|76px]] | ||
The surviving episodes (Episodes 1 & 3) were released as part of the [[Lost in Time]] set. | The surviving episodes (Episodes 1 & 3) were released in digitally re-mastered form as part of the [[Lost in Time]] 3-disc DVD set. | ||
Released: | Released: | ||
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[[Image:Reign of terror bbcvideo-1066-us.jpg|right|75px]] | [[Image:Reign of terror bbcvideo-1066-us.jpg|right|75px]] | ||
The surviving episodes (Episodes 1 & 3) were released alongside [[The Web of Fear]] Episode 1 and the remaining episodes of [[The Reign of Terror]] as part of a two cassette release entitled ''Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror''. | The surviving episodes (Episodes 1 & 3) were released alongside [[The Web of Fear]] Episode 1 and the remaining episodes of [[The Reign of Terror]] – all in digitally re-mastered form – as part of a two-cassette release entitled ''Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror''. | ||
Released: | Released: | ||
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{{season 4}} | {{season 4}} | ||
{{TV stub}} | {{TV stub}} | ||
[[Category:Second Doctor episodes|Faceless Ones]] | [[Category:Second Doctor episodes|Faceless Ones]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 1966|Faceless Ones]] | [[Category:Stories set in 1966|Faceless Ones]] | ||
Revision as of 20:25, 2 July 2009
The Faceless Ones was the eighth story of Season 4 of Doctor Who. Companions Ben Jackson and Polly, played by Michael Craze and Anneke Wills respectively, left the series at the end of this story.
Synopsis
The TARDIS arrives on Earth in 1966 - on a runway at Gatwick airport. Polly witnesses a murder in a nearby hangar and is then kidnapped by the perpetrator, Spencer of Chameleon Tours. Subsequently Ben also vanishes. The Doctor and Jamie are left to try to convince the sceptical airport Commandant that there has been foul play.
It transpires that a great many other young people have also vanished, all of them while on Chameleon Tours holidays. With the help of Samantha Briggs, the sister of one of the missing youths, the Doctor and Jamie uncover a plot by the alien Chameleons to kidnap human youngsters in order to take their identities - for the Chameleons have lost their own identities in an accident on their home planet.
The Doctor offers to help the Chameleons find another solution to their problem and the kidnapped humans are released.
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Patrick Troughton
- Ben Jackson - Michael Craze
- Polly - Anneke Wills
- Jamie McCrimmon - Frazer Hines
- Samantha Briggs - Pauline Collins
- Policeman - James Appleby
- Commandant - Colin Gordon
- Meadows - George Selway
- Jean Rock - Wanda Ventham
- Spencer - Victor Winding
- Inspector Gascoigne - Peter Whitaker
- Blade - Donald Pickering
- Jenkins - Christopher Tranchell
- Nurse Pinto - Madalena Nicol
- Crossland - Bernard Kay
- Ann Davidson - Gilly Fraser
- Announcer - Brigit Paul
- Heslington - Barry Wilsher
- R.A.F. Pilot - Michael Ladkin
- Supt. Reynolds - Leonard Trolley
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Sue Marlborough
- Associate Producer - Peter Bryant
- Costumes - Daphne Dare, Sandra Reid
- Designer - Geoffrey Kirkland
- Film Cameraman - Tony Imi
- Film Editor - Chris Hayden
- Make-Up - Gillian James
- Producer - Innes Lloyd
- Production Assistant - Richard Brooks
- Script Editor - Gerry Davis
- Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
- Studio Lighting - Howard King
- Studio Sound - Gordon Mackie
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
References
- The Chameleons were made faceless by a nuclear accident.
- Ben Jackson and Polly depart in this story after having appeared only in Episodes 1, 2 and 6.
Story Notes
- This story had a working title of The Chameleons.
- As well as the complete print of Episode 1, the BBC Archives also hold an incomplete copy returned from ABC in Australia in 1981 after censors had removed the following scenes: 'Spencer' killing Inspector Gascoigne with a Chameleon ray-gun; the alien arm emerging from the cupboard; and panning of the alien figure – seen only from behind – at the end of the episode.
- Samantha Briggs was originally intended to be a companion, however Pauline Collins turned down the offer.
- Pauline Collins, who played Samantha Briggs, would later play Queen Victoria in the Tenth Doctor episode Tooth and Claw.
Ratings
- Episode 1 - 8.0 million viewers
- Episode 2 - 6.4 million viewers
- Episode 3 - 7.9 million viewers
- Episode 4 - 6.9 million viewers
- Episode 5 - 7.1 million viewers
- Episode 6 - 8.0 million viewers
Myths
- The only surviving copy of Episode 1 is a print edited by the censors in Australia. (The copy of this episode in the BBC Archives is complete and unedited – see Story Notes above.)
Filming Locations
- Gatwick Airport, Gatwick, Surrey
- Ealing Television Film Studios, Ealing Green, Ealing
- Lime Grove Studios (Studio D), Lime Grove, London
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
- It does seem somewhat short-sighted of the Chameleons to leave so many of their personnel's 'originals' behind in car boots, when their well-being is so vital to their survival and the success of the grand plan. Especially when the personnel in question are the very ones who are in the perfect position to arrange their safe transport up to the spacestation, instead of being satisfied to simply leave them behind on Earth and hope they remain undiscovered until they are no longer relevant.
Continuity
- The conclusion of this story leads straight into The Evil of the Daleks.
Timeline
- This story occurs after Resistance.
- This story occurs before The Evil of the Daleks.
DVD, Video and Other Releases
DVD Release
The surviving episodes (Episodes 1 & 3) were released in digitally re-mastered form as part of the Lost in Time 3-disc DVD set.
Released:
- Region 2 1st November 2005
- PAL - BBC DVD BBCDVD1353
- Region 4 2nd December 2005
- Region 1 2nd November 2005
- NTSC - Warner Video E2082 (Troughton 2 disc set) / E2083 (Box set)
Video Releases
The surviving episodes (Episodes 1 & 3) were released alongside The Web of Fear Episode 1 and the remaining episodes of The Reign of Terror – all in digitally re-mastered form – as part of a two-cassette release entitled Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror.
Released:
- PAL - BBC Video BBCV7335
- NTSC - Warner Video E1853
Notes: The US release was also located in The End of the Universe Collection.
Novelisation
- Main article: The Faceless Ones (novelisation)
- Novelised as The Faceless Ones by Terrance Dicks in 1987.
See also
to be added
External Links
- Official BBC Episode Guide for The Faceless Ones
- Photonovel of The Faceless Ones, on the BBC website
- Outpost Gallifrey Episode Guide: The Faceless Ones
- Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - The Faceless Ones
- A Brief History of Time (Travel) entry for The Faceless Ones
- The Locations Guide to Doctor Who - The Faceless Ones
- The Faceless Ones transcript
