Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans (home video): Difference between revisions

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== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
[[File:Dedicated to Robert Holmes and Kevin Lindsay.jpg|thumb|Dedication to memory of [[Robert Holmes]] and [[Kevin Lindsay]].]]
[[File:Dedicated to Robert Holmes and Kevin Lindsay.jpg|thumb|Dedication to memory of [[Robert Holmes]] and [[Kevin Lindsay]].]]
* A number of the actors in ''Shakedown'' had previously appeared in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' or ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]''. As well as playing [[Borg (The Robots of Death)|Borg]] in the ''Doctor Who'' story ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'', [[Brian Croucher]] had appeared on ''Blake's 7'' as the recurring villain [[Butcher of Zircaster|Travis]], while [[Jan Chappell]] had played the character of {{w|Cally (Blake's 7)|Cally}}. [[Carole Ann Ford]] had appeared on ''Doctor Who'' as [[Susan]], [[Sophie Aldred]] as [[Ace]] and [[Michael Wisher]] had played several guest roles, most notably [[Davros]] in ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]''.
* A number of the actors in ''Shakedown'' had previously appeared in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' or ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]''. As well as playing [[Borg (The Robots of Death)|Borg]] in the ''Doctor Who'' story ''[[The Robots of Death (TV story)|The Robots of Death]]'', [[Brian Croucher]] had appeared on ''Blake's 7'' as the recurring villain [[Butcher of Zircaster|Travis]], while [[Jan Chappell]] had played the character of {{w|Cally (Blake's 7)|Cally}}. [[Carole Ann Ford]] had appeared on ''Doctor Who'' as [[Susan]], [[Sophie Aldred]] as [[Ace]] and [[Michael Wisher]] had played several guest roles, most notably [[Davros]] in ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]''.[[Elisabeth Sladen]] was originally intended for the lead role but had to pull out, while [[William Russell]] was considered for Wisher's role.  <ref>''Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who'' Chapter 9 (Dylan Rees)</ref> Aldred agreed to the job as she wanted to play 'against type' as a spoilt coward.<ref>''Ace! The Inside Story of the End of an Era'' by Sophie Aldred and Mike Tucker (Questions and Answers)</ref>
* ''Shakedown'' was [[Shakedown (novelisation)|novelised]] as part of the [[Virgin New Adventures]] series, fleshing out the story with a backstory and a resolution involving the [[Seventh Doctor]] and his companions.
* ''Shakedown'' was [[Shakedown (novelisation)|novelised]] as part of the [[Virgin New Adventures]] series, fleshing out the story with a backstory and a resolution involving the [[Seventh Doctor]] and his companions.
* The unlicensed nature of the Dreamwatch production meant that they could not even refer to the character of the Doctor by name, hence Kurt's recollection of a man he met on [[Metebelis III]] who ''called himself the Physician, or the Dentist, or something..."'' Similarly, the copyright to the Sontarans was acquired, but not the specific rights to their appearance, and so they have been redesigned for this story.
* The unlicensed nature of the Dreamwatch production meant that they could not even refer to the character of the Doctor by name, hence Kurt's recollection of a man he met on [[Metebelis III]] who ''called himself the Physician, or the Dentist, or something..."'' Similarly, the copyright to the Sontarans was acquired, but not the specific rights to their appearance, and so they have been redesigned for this story.
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* The shoot and production of this story took four months to complete a final product.<ref name="Ayres" />
* The shoot and production of this story took four months to complete a final product.<ref name="Ayres" />
* At the end of the credits there is a dedication to the memory of [[Robert Holmes]], who created the Sontarans, and [[Kevin Lindsay]], who played the first three Sontarans: [[Jingo Linx|Linx]], [[Styre]] and [[Marshal (The Sontaran Experiment)|the Marshal]].
* At the end of the credits there is a dedication to the memory of [[Robert Holmes]], who created the Sontarans, and [[Kevin Lindsay]], who played the first three Sontarans: [[Jingo Linx|Linx]], [[Styre]] and [[Marshal (The Sontaran Experiment)|the Marshal]].
* The film was partially financed by ''DreamWatch'' after the delay of ''[[Downtime (home video)|Downtime]]'', leaving the ''Dreamwatch 94'' convention without its planned main attraction. [[Kevin Davies]] approached the ''DreamWatch'' editor [[Gary Leigh]] about making ''Shakedown'' as the replacement. The rest of the financing came from [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]. The need to have the film ready for ''Dreamwatch 94'' meant there was only ten weeks to produce it (the sound mix would be finished the night before it premiered) and [[Terrence Dicks]] was hired to write the script, being both fast and a professional writer rather than a fan. Dicks told [[Dylan Rees]] in an interview that he agreed to do it despite the "fraction of a proper fee" because he found them "a nice bunch of lads and tremendously enthusiastic". <ref>''Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who'' Chapter 9 (Dylan Rees)</ref>
* [[Kevin Davies]] and Mark Ayres had the idea of a story structured similarly to ''[[Horror of Fang Rock (TV story)|Horror of Fang Rock]]'' and a tough female space captain, while Dicks had the idea of using the Rutans and making the victims rich people who bickered so it would satisfying to see them die. <ref>''Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who'' Chapter 9 (Dylan Rees)</ref>
* A behind the scenes making of documentary called ''[[The Making of Shakedown Return of the Sontarans]]'' was included on the VHS release of the story.
* A behind the scenes making of documentary called ''[[The Making of Shakedown Return of the Sontarans]]'' was included on the VHS release of the story.
* Promotional appearances for the film included interviews on Radio 4 and Sky One, and a squad of Sontarans invading ''The Big Breakfast''. <ref>''Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who'' Chapter 9 (Dylan Rees)</ref>


=== Myths ===
=== Myths ===
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=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
Location work was shot entirely on location aboard the Second World War-era Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Belfast, permanently moored at Symon's Wharf on the River Thames since 1971.
Location work was shot entirely on location aboard the Second World War-era Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Belfast, permanently moored at Symon's Wharf on the River Thames since 1971. Filming was often disrupted by noise from the upper decks and so had to be done at night when the tourists had gone.


Model shots were shot at [[Pinewood Studios]].
Model shots were shot at [[Pinewood Studios]].
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== DVD, video, and other releases ==
== DVD, video, and other releases ==
* Released on VHS on 1 December 1994.
* Released on VHS on 1 December 1994.
* Rereleased on VHS in high street shops with ''Making of'' in June 1996.
* This is the only Reeltime Picture film not to be re-released on DVD.
* This is the only Reeltime Picture film not to be re-released on DVD.
==References==
{{reflist}}


== External link ==
== External link ==

Revision as of 01:41, 13 November 2022

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Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans was an independently produced spin-off from Doctor Who featuring the Sontarans and the Rutans, which directly tied into the Virgin New Adventures novel published the following yer, Shakedown. Produced by Dreamwatch Media and released by Reeltime Pictures, it featured several Doctor Who actors and also former Blake's 7 actor Jan Chappell in feature roles. It is also notable for the altered appearance of the Sontarans; this was due to licensing arrangements meaning they had to be redesigned for the production.

Synopsis

The solar yacht Tiger Moth has a stowaway on board!

On the run from its mortal enemy, the Sontarans, it will do anything to survive...

Unfortunately, the Sontarans will do anything to destroy it...

Captain Lisa Deranne and her crew of rich misfits must band together or die as the clone warriors move in for the kill!

Plot

Zorelle, Kurt, Nikos, Mari & Captain Deranne

to be added

Cast

Crew

References

Story notes

Dedication to memory of Robert Holmes and Kevin Lindsay.
  • A number of the actors in Shakedown had previously appeared in Doctor Who or Blake's 7. As well as playing Borg in the Doctor Who story The Robots of Death, Brian Croucher had appeared on Blake's 7 as the recurring villain Travis, while Jan Chappell had played the character of Cally. Carole Ann Ford had appeared on Doctor Who as Susan, Sophie Aldred as Ace and Michael Wisher had played several guest roles, most notably Davros in Genesis of the Daleks.Elisabeth Sladen was originally intended for the lead role but had to pull out, while William Russell was considered for Wisher's role. [1] Aldred agreed to the job as she wanted to play 'against type' as a spoilt coward.[2]
  • Shakedown was novelised as part of the Virgin New Adventures series, fleshing out the story with a backstory and a resolution involving the Seventh Doctor and his companions.
  • The unlicensed nature of the Dreamwatch production meant that they could not even refer to the character of the Doctor by name, hence Kurt's recollection of a man he met on Metebelis III who called himself the Physician, or the Dentist, or something..." Similarly, the copyright to the Sontarans was acquired, but not the specific rights to their appearance, and so they have been redesigned for this story.
  • Although the longstanding war between the Sontarans and the Rutans was frequently mentioned in Doctor Who, this video marked the first occasion in which the two opposing species appear on-screen together.
  • Mark Ayres, who had previously worked on Doctor Who as a composer, was co-producer and post-production sound designer.[3]
  • The shoot and production of this story took four months to complete a final product.[3]
  • At the end of the credits there is a dedication to the memory of Robert Holmes, who created the Sontarans, and Kevin Lindsay, who played the first three Sontarans: Linx, Styre and the Marshal.
  • The film was partially financed by DreamWatch after the delay of Downtime, leaving the Dreamwatch 94 convention without its planned main attraction. Kevin Davies approached the DreamWatch editor Gary Leigh about making Shakedown as the replacement. The rest of the financing came from Jason Haigh-Ellery. The need to have the film ready for Dreamwatch 94 meant there was only ten weeks to produce it (the sound mix would be finished the night before it premiered) and Terrence Dicks was hired to write the script, being both fast and a professional writer rather than a fan. Dicks told Dylan Rees in an interview that he agreed to do it despite the "fraction of a proper fee" because he found them "a nice bunch of lads and tremendously enthusiastic". [4]
  • Kevin Davies and Mark Ayres had the idea of a story structured similarly to Horror of Fang Rock and a tough female space captain, while Dicks had the idea of using the Rutans and making the victims rich people who bickered so it would satisfying to see them die. [5]
  • A behind the scenes making of documentary called The Making of Shakedown Return of the Sontarans was included on the VHS release of the story.
  • Promotional appearances for the film included interviews on Radio 4 and Sky One, and a squad of Sontarans invading The Big Breakfast. [6]

Myths

to be added

Filming locations

Location work was shot entirely on location aboard the Second World War-era Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Belfast, permanently moored at Symon's Wharf on the River Thames since 1971. Filming was often disrupted by noise from the upper decks and so had to be done at night when the tourists had gone.

Model shots were shot at Pinewood Studios.

Production errors

to be added

Continuity

DVD, video, and other releases

  • Released on VHS on 1 December 1994.
  • Rereleased on VHS in high street shops with Making of in June 1996.
  • This is the only Reeltime Picture film not to be re-released on DVD.

References

  1. Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who Chapter 9 (Dylan Rees)
  2. Ace! The Inside Story of the End of an Era by Sophie Aldred and Mike Tucker (Questions and Answers)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Mark Ayres - Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans accessed 10th November 2010
  4. Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who Chapter 9 (Dylan Rees)
  5. Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who Chapter 9 (Dylan Rees)
  6. Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who Chapter 9 (Dylan Rees)

External link

Footnotes