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Planet of Giants (TV story): Difference between revisions
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The first episode, "Planet of Giants", was the first episode set in contemporary [[England]] since "[[An Unearthly Child (episode)|An Unearthly Child]]". Though it was similar to an idea proposed by [[C. E. Webber]] for the ''Doctor Who'' pilot, [[writer]] [[Louis Marks]] claimed the inspiration for the story was the seminal pro-ecology work by Rachel Carson, {{wi|Silent Spring}}, which warned strongly against insecticides. He reckoned that by shrinking the [[First Doctor]], he would have the opportunity to put the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] crew face-to-face with the dangers Carson had warned against in her book. ([[REF]]: ''[[The First Doctor Handbook]]'') It was, therefore, the first "environmentalist" ''Doctor Who'' story, a kind of gently moralistic tale — like ''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs (TV story)|Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]'' and ''[[The Green Death (TV story)|The Green Death]]'' — later to be particularly favoured by [[Barry Letts]]. | The first episode, "Planet of Giants", was the first episode set in contemporary [[England]] since "[[An Unearthly Child (episode)|An Unearthly Child]]". Though it was similar to an idea proposed by [[C. E. Webber]] for the ''Doctor Who'' pilot, [[writer]] [[Louis Marks]] claimed the inspiration for the story was the seminal pro-ecology work by Rachel Carson, {{wi|Silent Spring}}, which warned strongly against insecticides. He reckoned that by shrinking the [[First Doctor]], he would have the opportunity to put the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] crew face-to-face with the dangers Carson had warned against in her book. ([[REF]]: ''[[The First Doctor Handbook]]'') It was, therefore, the first "environmentalist" ''Doctor Who'' story, a kind of gently moralistic tale — like ''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs (TV story)|Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]'' and ''[[The Green Death (TV story)|The Green Death]]'' — later to be particularly favoured by [[Barry Letts]]. | ||
Though fully scripted and recorded as a four-parter, | Though fully scripted and recorded as a four-parter, the third and fourth episodes, titled "Crisis" and "The Urge to Live" respectively, were merged into a single episode called "Crisis", effectively leaving an episode on the cutting room floor. This edited material was not retained by the BBC — though some of it was reinstated by [[Terrance Dicks]] for the [[Planet of Giants (novelisation)|novelisation]]. | ||
Aside from being Marks' first work on the series, it was also the ''Doctor Who'' debut of long-time composer [[Dudley Simpson]], and the first credit for frequent [[director]] [[Douglas Camfield]] and [[writer]] [[Louis Marks]]. | Aside from being Marks' first work on the series, it was also the ''Doctor Who'' debut of long-time composer [[Dudley Simpson]], and the first credit for frequent [[director]] [[Douglas Camfield]] and [[writer]] [[Louis Marks]]. | ||
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Forester is willing to commit murder to ensure the success of his business, as civil servant, [[Arnold Farrow]] discovers to his cost. | Forester is willing to commit murder to ensure the success of his business, as civil servant, [[Arnold Farrow]] discovers to his cost. | ||
The criminals are brought to justice when the Doctor and his friends — hampered by the fact that Barbara is ill from the insecticide — tamper with the telephone in Smithers' laboratory, fuelling the suspicions of the local exchange operator, Hilda Rowse, who sends her police constable husband Bert to investigate. | The criminals are brought to justice when the Doctor and his friends — hampered by the fact that Barbara is ill from the insecticide — tamper with the telephone in Smithers' laboratory, fuelling the suspicions of the local telephone exchange operator, [[Hilda Rowse]], who sends her police constable husband [[Bert Rowse|Bert]] to investigate. | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
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Within minutes, the Doctor and Barbara find what they believe to be a snake; however, it turns out to be a dead giant [[earthworm]]. At the same time, Ian and Susan are shocked by a large deceased [[ant]]. Both of the creatures seem to have died immediately. After some confusion as to what could possibly explain why a planet would spawn humongous versions of Earth creatures, Ian and Susan come across a giant pack of cigarettes and a large [[matchbox]]. Ian climbs into the matchbox, believing it an exhibition piece, but then Susan realises that the environment has not been enlarged; the TARDIS crew has [[shrink|shrunk]]. | Within minutes, the Doctor and Barbara find what they believe to be a snake; however, it turns out to be a dead giant [[earthworm]]. At the same time, Ian and Susan are shocked by a large deceased [[ant]]. Both of the creatures seem to have died immediately. After some confusion as to what could possibly explain why a planet would spawn humongous versions of Earth creatures, Ian and Susan come across a giant pack of cigarettes and a large [[matchbox]]. Ian climbs into the matchbox, believing it an exhibition piece, but then Susan realises that the environment has not been enlarged; the TARDIS crew has [[shrink|shrunk]]. | ||
After this revelation, thunderous footsteps are heard. Susan runs for cover but Ian is trapped inside the | After this revelation, thunderous footsteps are heard. Susan runs for cover but Ian is trapped inside the matchbox, which is picked up. The Doctor and Barbara soon find Susan. The Doctor has also made the connection that Susan made. The Doctor climbs a large rock to discover the man who picked up the matchbox containing Ian is far away in the distance, in real terms the length of a garden. | ||
The man | The man is a government scientist named [[Arnold Farrow]], who has come to the home of a callous businessman named [[Forester (Planet of Giants)|Forester]] to tell him that his application for [[DN6]], a new [[pesticide]], has been rejected. In reality, DN6 should not be licensed; it is far too deadly to all life. When they fall out over this news, Forester pulls out a gun and kills Farrow. | ||
The Doctor, Barbara, and Susan hear the gunshot as an enormous explosion and head for the house. On their way, a bee falls from the sky. The trio marvel at the death of all wildlife that they have met. The Doctor orders the women not to eat anything until they get | The Doctor, Barbara, and Susan hear the gunshot as an enormous explosion and head for the house. On their way, a bee falls from the sky. The trio marvel at the death of all wildlife that they have met. The Doctor orders the women not to eat anything until they get back aboard the TARDIS. Meanwhile, Ian uses this opportunity to escape from the matchbox. The four meet by the dead body and surmise a murder has taken place. As they head off to the TARDIS, they turn to see a [[cat]] hulking menacingly above them. | ||
=== Dangerous Journey (2) === | === Dangerous Journey (2) === | ||
To avoid the cat, the travellers stay still until it loses interest in them. They decide that while the cat is at large, they dare not try to make it to the ship. Forester returns to the garden. The panic induced by the man returning sees the travellers split up again; the Doctor and Susan run into the undergrowth of the grass whilst Barbara and Ian hide in Farrow's briefcase. | To avoid the cat, the travellers stay still until it loses interest in them. They decide that while the cat is at large, they dare not try to make it to the ship. Forester returns to the garden. The panic induced by the man returning sees the travellers split up again; the Doctor and Susan run into the undergrowth of the grass whilst Barbara and Ian hide in Farrow's briefcase. | ||
Forester has brought along with him a scientist | Forester has brought along with him a scientist named [[Smithers]]. Forester tries to pass off the murder of Farrow as self-defence, but Smithers [[deduce]]s from the angle of the bullet hole that Forester must have murdered him. Forester eventually admits it, but says that Smithers must help him cover up the murder otherwise DN6, which was devised by Smithers, will never see the light of day. The two men conspire to make it look like Farrow's death happened aboard a boat that he owned and intended to holiday on after his meeting with Forester. They begin to clear up the evidence, including taking Farrow's briefcase, complete with Barbara and Ian, and placing it in the laboratory. | ||
To gain access to their friends, the Doctor and Susan scale a drainpipe on the outside of the house which leads directly into the laboratory. Meanwhile, Ian and Barbara examine the laboratory. Barbara touches a seed which she later finds has been contaminated with DN6. She does not tell Ian but believes she may have been infected, much as the other creatures they have encountered. | To gain access to their friends, the Doctor and Susan scale a drainpipe on the outside of the house which leads directly into the laboratory. Meanwhile, Ian and Barbara examine the laboratory. Barbara touches a seed which she later finds has been contaminated with DN6. She does not tell Ian but believes she may have been infected, much as the other creatures they have encountered. | ||
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The Doctor and Susan climb into the overflow pipe just as Smithers lets the plug out. Ian and Barbara fear they have drowned. Once they go down to check the pipe it seems as if their friends are dead, but they crawl back out of the drain to their joy. | The Doctor and Susan climb into the overflow pipe just as Smithers lets the plug out. Ian and Barbara fear they have drowned. Once they go down to check the pipe it seems as if their friends are dead, but they crawl back out of the drain to their joy. | ||
Forester has | Forester has used his typewriter to doctor Farrow's report to give DN6 the licence he wants. Disguising his voice as Farrow's, he makes a supportive telephone call to the ministry to the same effect. The ministry give the green light to the scheme. This is overheard by [[Hilda Rowse]], the switchboard operator at the local exchange (which is actually the back room of the combined village shop/police station), and her policeman husband [[Bert Rowse|Bert]] starts to suspect something is wrong. | ||
The Doctor and his companions stumble across a notebook with the equations for DN6. After laboriously copying it out, the Doctor realises just how dangerous it is, not only to insects but to all wildlife. They try to alert the police by hoisting up the phone receiver with corks, but cannot make themselves heard. Barbara begins to feel the effects of her exposure to DN6. When they make the phone call, the travellers can't be heard, but Hilda notes the engaged signal. She and Bert grow more concerned as to the goings-on at the house. Once the phone call is made, Barbara collapses. Her friends smell the DN6 on her handkerchief and conclude she has been infected. When she regains consciousness, the Doctor berates her for not telling them sooner, but he says that when they return to their normal size the poison in her bloodstream will lessen and she will be safe. | The Doctor and his companions stumble across a notebook with the equations for DN6. After laboriously copying it out, the Doctor realises just how dangerous it is, not only to insects but to all wildlife. They try to alert the police by hoisting up the phone receiver with corks, but cannot make themselves heard. Barbara begins to feel the effects of her exposure to DN6. When they make the phone call, the travellers can't be heard, but Hilda notes the engaged signal. She and Bert grow more concerned as to the goings-on at the house. Once the phone call is made, Barbara collapses. Her friends smell the DN6 on her handkerchief and conclude she has been infected. When she regains consciousness, the Doctor berates her for not telling them sooner, but he says that when they return to their normal size the poison in her bloodstream will lessen and she will be safe. | ||
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Hearing the engaged tone on the phone in the office, Forester and Smithers return to the lab and correct the engaged handset. Hilda rings moments later to ensure that all is OK at the house. When she asks where Farrow is, Forester tries to impersonate him again. Knowing there is something badly wrong, Bert heads off to the house to investigate. | Hearing the engaged tone on the phone in the office, Forester and Smithers return to the lab and correct the engaged handset. Hilda rings moments later to ensure that all is OK at the house. When she asks where Farrow is, Forester tries to impersonate him again. Knowing there is something badly wrong, Bert heads off to the house to investigate. | ||
The Doctor and his companions decide the only way to stop the spread of DN6 is to start a fire to attract attention to the house. They use a gas tap to ignite a can of insecticide. Smithers begins to look through Farrow's files and discovers the true virulence of DN6. He demands Forester stop seeking a licence. Forester pulls a gun on Smithers. As they move into the lab, Forester spots the makeshift bomb, which goes off in his face. Smithers retrieves the gun as PC Rowse arrives. | The Doctor and his companions decide the only way to stop the spread of DN6 is to start a fire to attract attention to the house. They use a gas tap to ignite a can of insecticide. Smithers begins to look through Farrow's files and discovers the true virulence of DN6. He demands Forester stop seeking a licence. Forester pulls a gun on Smithers. As they move into the lab, Forester spots the makeshift bomb, which goes off in his face. Smithers retrieves the gun as PC Rowse arrives. The policeman takes the gun away and then places the men under arrest, saying they will have a lot of explaining to do. | ||
Their work now done, the travellers return to the TARDIS. The Doctor reconfigures the machine to return them to normal size. Barbara, who was on the verge of death, recovers as a result. The Doctor encourages his friends to have a good scrub whilst he lands the TARDIS, unsure where they are; the scanner is still broken. | Their work now done, the travellers return to the TARDIS. The Doctor reconfigures the machine to return them to normal size. Barbara, who was on the verge of death, recovers as a result. The Doctor encourages his friends to have a good scrub whilst he lands the TARDIS, unsure where they are; the scanner is still broken and is showing only interference. Then the interference resolves itself, becoming a faint picture of what appears to be slowly moving water... | ||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
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* [[Hilda Rowse]] - [[Rosemary Johnson]] | * [[Hilda Rowse]] - [[Rosemary Johnson]] | ||
* [[Bert Rowse]] - [[Fred Ferris]] | * [[Bert Rowse]] - [[Fred Ferris]] | ||
===Uncredited cast=== | |||
* Sammy, the cat - Noakes (supplied by John Holmes) | |||
== Crew == | == Crew == | ||
* [[Writer]] - [[Louis Marks]] | * [[Writer]] - [[Louis Marks]] | ||
* [[Director]] - [[Mervyn Pinfield]] | * [[Director]] - [[Mervyn Pinfield]] ''(credited on "Planet of Giants" and "Dangerous Journey" only)'' | ||
* [[Director]] - [[Douglas Camfield]] (material for episode | * [[Director]] - [[Douglas Camfield]] ''(directed material for the fourth episode "The Urge to Live", which was included in the third episode "Crisis". Credited on broadcast "Crisis" only)'' | ||
* [[Producer]] - [[Verity Lambert]] | * [[Producer]] - [[Verity Lambert]] | ||
* [[Script Editor]] - [[David Whitaker]] | * [[Script Editor]] - [[David Whitaker]] | ||
