The Crusade (TV story)
The Crusade was the sixth story of Season 2 of Doctor Who. It is the only incomplete story of that season. It was the last story that David Whitaker wrote for Hartnell and the first story to be directed by Douglas Camfield in its entirety.
Most of the actors in this story had either just been in a Doctor Who, or were just about to do so, namely: Gabor Baraker, Zohra Sehgal, Walter Randall, Jean Marsh, Reg Pritchard and Bernard Kay. It was also the first story to have non-white actors in it as opposed to just painting the face. The latter was a common practice at the time. Nicholas Courtney was briefly considered as a replacement for Julian Glover and Jean Marsh would go on to play Sara Kingdom.
This story was also notable to the Doctor's actions. He justifies stealing clothes based on the fact they were already stolen. He talks about how he admires bravery and hates fools. Strangely, he tries to push through King Richard's peace plan, even though he must know it won't work. In a sort of in-joke, The Web Planet saw Ian comment on ants eating through a house and being threatened by the ant-like Zarbi and here he is about to be eaten by a colony.
Synopsis
The TARDIS arrives in 12th century Palestine where a holy war is in progress between the forces of King Richard the Lionheart and the Saracen ruler Saladin. Barbara is abducted in a Saracen ambush and the Doctor, Ian and Vicki make their way to King Richard's palace in the city of Jaffa.
Plot
The Lion (1)
The TARDIS materialises in 12th century Jaffa in the same forest King Richard the Lionheart and his associates are inhabiting. As they talk of sport and tactics they are beset by Saracens. A skirmish ensues which soon spills into where the Doctor and his companions are. Ian is forced to take up arms and fight off one of the Saracens with the help of the Doctor, but in the melee Barbara is seized by the heathens and taken hostage. The travellers stumble across William de Tornebu who has been wounded in the skirmish and look after him, protecting him from the Saracen onslaught. They call for Barbara, but though she can hear them she has been bound and gagged and is taken away. Meanwhile in another part of the wood, another companion of the king, William des Preaux, is surrounded by Saracens. He tells them that he is Richard as he knows they have orders to return the king to the leader of the Saracens, Saladin. By this time the Doctor has deduced where they are and what time period they are in just before Ian discovers that Barbara is no longer with them. He goes to look for her but to no avail. The Doctor, Ian, and Vicki agree to take the wounded de Tornebu back to Richard's court.
Barbara awakes to find herself released and in the camp of the Saracens. She is greeted by Des Preaux who informs her of the trick he is pulling with regards to him being Richard and decides that in order to also protect Barbara it would be expedient for her to pretend to be Joanna, Richard’s sister. At this point El Akir, a senior member of the Saracen army, interrupts the two prisoners and insults them, much to the anger of Des Preaux who knows that Saladin demands the utmost respect for his prisoners. El Akir informs the prisoners that they are to be presented to Saphadin, Saladin’s brother.
The Doctor and Vicki have snuck into the centre of Jaffa in order to acquire some more befitting clothes. They take advantage of a transaction between the shop-keeper and a Saracen soldier who has stolen some clothes from the English forces to steal the clothes themselves.
El Akir presents Barbara and Des Preaux to Saphadin who responds angrily, seeing straight through the falsehood of the two prisoners’ supposed identities. They are interrupted by Saladin. El Akir, eager to shift the blame from his case of mistaken identities, begins to suggest the prisoners could be used for entertainment purposes, stating that Barbara could be forced to walk over hot coals. Saladin asks Barbara whether she would find this acceptable, to which she responds in the negative. A shamed El Akir is told to allow the two prisoners all liberties in the camp except liberty itself.
The Doctor has brought de Tornebu to the court of King Richard who is angry at the loss of life due to the Saracen siege and therefore treats the TARDIS crew very curtly. Ian, anxious to rescue Barbara, asks for the King's help in rescuing her, but Richard, angry that Saladin enforces underhanded methods of warfare as well as the fact that his brother John seems to be willing to trade with Saladin, says that he refuses any contact with Saladin from here on in, and therefore will not extend any help in the return of Barbara.
The Knight of Jaffa (2)
De Tornebu and the Doctor are able to convince the King to change his mind by playing up the embarrassment Saladin will feel when it's revealed he has not actually captured the King. Richard is amused, and asks the Doctor to join his court.
El Akir plots to gain his revenge on Barbara, and Genoese merchant Luigi Ferrigo willing inserts himself in the situation, hoping to profit financially. He pretends to help Barbara escape, but in fact delivers her into El Akir's hands. El Akir rides away with her to Lydda.
Joanna befriends the Doctor and "Victor" (the Doctor decides to disguise Vicki for her safety). But the two travellers soon find themselves accused of theft by the chamberlain, and by the shopkeeper from whom they did indeed steal clothes. However, the man who originally stole the clothes and delivered them to the shopkeeper is revealed to be under the chamberlain's command, and the Doctor is cleared of any crime.
Ian is knighted, and sent to Saladin's court to both request the release of des Preaux and Barbara, and to offer the hand of the real Lady Joanna in marriage to Saphadin.
Ferrigo is allowed an audience with the Sultan and his brother, but in the presence of des Preaux, admits to helping kidnap Barbara. Barbara, meanwhile, has escaped from El Akir and flees through the streets of Lydda.
The Wheel of Fortune (3)
Barbara is taken in by Haroun ed-Din. He is sympathetic because El Akir killed his wife and son, and kidnapped his daughter. The truth about Vicki is revealed to Joanna, but the two are able to placate her and Vicki is offered her protection.
Haroun leaves his remaining daughter Safiya with Barbara as he scouts around, but is knocked out by El Akir's patrolling men. They search Haroun's house, and while protecting Safiya Barbara attempts escape, but is recaptured and returned to El Akir. Ian, on the way from Saladin's court to Jaffa, is attacked by bandits and knocked out.
King Richard announces his plans to his assembled nobles, including the blood-thirsty Earl of Leicester. The Earl is appalled, and the Doctor and he argue eloquently about the plans. The King's mind is made up, but the Earl becomes suspicious of the Doctor.
The Sultan tentatively agrees to the King's plan, to the pleasure of his brother, but is suspicious and plans to be ready for any duplicity.
When Joanna learns of her brother's marriage plans for her, the Doctor is politically caught between the two royals. She is infuriated, and tells her brother she will never consent. The King turns on the Doctor, believing him to have exposed his plan prematurely, and orders them out of his sight.
Barbara is brought to El Akir where he taunts her with threats of torture, saying that the only pleasure she has left is death - which will be a long way away.
The Warlords (4)
El Akir offers his guards gold to do whatever they like to Barbara. Barbara knocks the gold on the floor and whilst the guards scramble to pick it up Barbara makes her exit. Once El Akir and the guards follow her they are met by only El Akir's harem who tell him they haven't seen Barbara. Once El Akir is out of sight they tell Barbara to come out from her hiding place. They inform Barbara they all hate El Akir and would love to see her escape. Barbara befriends Haroun's daughter and informs her that her father and sister are safe and well.
When Ian awakes he finds himself tied by his hands and feet in the middle of the desert by a thief named Ibrahim. Ibrahim tells Ian that unless he pays him a ransom he will leave him to burn to death in the desert. When Ian says he has no money Ibrahim smothers honey on his face and chest and goes to wait in the shade until the threat of the oncoming horde of ants makes Ian reveal where his money is hidden.
Back in the fortress of Richard, Leicester is accusing the Doctor and Vicki of treason for their deceit towards Richard. The King enters and tells Leicester to prepare the troops for battle. Richard apologises to the Doctor and Vicki for being cross at them previously stating he now knows it was Leicester who poisoned the mind of Joanna rather than them. He says that he cannot banish Leicester as he holds too much sway with the soldiers. The Doctor and Vicki decide that now is the best time to go to the TARDIS and wait for the others. Vicki is sad to hear that Richard's plans will ultimately end in defeat. Meanwhile Leicester speaks to one of his advisors and speculates that the Doctor and Vicki must be traitors, and even speculates that they may be devils or witches. The advisor is told to keep a watch on the pair of them.
Back in the desert Ian has devised a plan to escape from Ibrahim. He tells him that the money is in his boot. When Ibrahim loosens the binds on one of his feet Ian kicks Ibrahim to the ground and frees himself. He makes Ibrahim take him to Lydda under pain of death.
Unbeknownst to Barbara and the rest of the harem one of their number has betrayed them to El Akir, who takes them by surprise in order to discover Barbara. Just as Barbara is about to be slain for her treachery Haroun enters and kills El Akir, and is followed by Ian who helps the women escape. Ian pays off Ibrahim with El Akir's money and leaves for Jaffa on his horses.
As the Doctor and Vicki slink away to the TARDIS they are discovered by Leicester and his associate. Leicester sees this as an admission of their guilt and vows to kill them for treason. However he is interrupted by the return of Ian who states that he is Sir Ian of Jaffa and has a higher claim on the Doctor's head - stating that he killed a number of his troops. Leicester bows to this greater claim and the travellers escape together in the TARDIS. They have not been travelling long when the lights on the console start to dim ominously. The crew freeze into immobility.
Cast
- The Doctor - William Hartnell
- Ian Chesterton - William Russell
- Barbara Wright - Jacqueline Hill
- Vicki - Maureen O'Brien
- William des Preaux - John Flint
- El Akir - Walter Randall
- Richard the Lionheart - Julian Glover
- Reynier de Marun - David Anderson
- William de Tornebu - Bruce Wightman
- Ben Daheer - Reg Pritchard
- Thatcher - Tony Caunter
- Saphadin - Roger Avon
- Saladin - Bernard Kay
- Saracen warrior - Derek Ware
- Saracen warrior - Valentino Musetti
- Saracen warrior - Chris Konyils
- Saracen warrior - Raymond Novak
- Joanna - Jean Marsh
- Chamberlain - Robert Lankesheer
- Sheyrah - Zohra Sehgal
- Luigi Ferrigo - Gabor Baraker
- Saracen warrior - Anthony Colby
- Haroun ed-Din - George Little
- Safiya - Petra Markham
- Earl of Leicester - John Bay
- Turkish bandit - David Brewster
- Maimuna - Sandra Hampton
- Fatima - Viviane Sorrél
- Hafsa - Diane Mckenzie
- Ibrahim - Tutte Lemkow
- Man-At-Arms - Billy Cornelius
Crew
- Writer - David Whitaker
- Director - Douglas Camfield
- Producer - Verity Lambert
- Script Editor - Dennis Spooner
- Designer - Barry Newbury
- Assistant Floor Manager - Michael Briant
- Costumes - Daphne Dare
- Fight Arranger - Derek Ware
- Film Cameraman - Peter Hamilton
- Film Editor - Pam Bosworth
- Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
- Make-Up - Sonia Markham
- Production Assistant - Viktors Ritelis
- Special Sound - Brian Hodgson
- Studio Lighting - Ralph Walton
- Studio Sound - Brian Hiles
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
References
- The Doctor quotes Shakespeare twice during this story. The quotes are from King Lear ("A most poor man made tame to fortune's blows") and The Merchant of Venice ("What judgement shall I fear, doing no wrong?").
- Barbara quotes Percy Shelley, the husband of the Eighth Doctor's companion Mary Shelley. The quote is from his poem Epipsychidion ("One heaven, one hell, one immortality").
- Barbara plans to tell Saladin the stories of Romeo and Juliet, Gulliver's Travels and Anderson's fairy tales.
Story notes
- This story does not exist as a complete story, except in audio.
- "The Wheel of Fortune" exists in 16mm telerecordings.
- "The Lion" was found in New Zealand by film collector Bruce Grenville some time well before 1998 and languished amidst Grenville's vast 16mm film collection for several years. In 1998, Doctor Who fan Neil Lambess asked if he had any Doctor Who film in his collection. When he answered that he had something called "The Lion", Lambess realised he might have a missing episode. He brought his friend Paul Scoones to Grenville's farm to videotape the screening, just in case Grenvile had the real episode. After it was determined that Grenville's print was genuine, he readily agreed to have it sent to the BBC for copying. Scoones shipped it to the BBC Film and Videotape Library, and in 1999 the BBC made a Digi-Beta print of Episode 1, and returned the print to Grenville.
- The story of the recovery of "The Lion" generated a great deal of press interest in the United Kingdom. As a result, Bruce Grenville appeared on one of BBC1's most-watched programmes, one of the variations of The National Lottery Draws, to tell his tale.
- Telesnaps for this story exist in the hands of private collectors.
- Several enlarged telesnaps also exist for this story.
- This story was originally entitled The Saracen Hordes and various episodes were made under working titles.
- Episode 2 ("The Knight of Jaffa") was made under the working title "Damsel in Distress".
- Episode 3 ("The Wheel of Fortune") was made under the working title "Changing Fortunes".
- Episode 4 ("The Warlords") was made under the working title "The Knight of Jaffa".
- William Russell only appears briefly in the third episode in a pre-recorded segment as the actor was on holiday during filming.
- This story has been noted for its non-stereotypical treatment of the two opposing leaders. Saladin (played by Bernard Kay) is portrayed as calculating but compassionate, while King Richard I is portrayed as volatile and at times childish.
Ratings
- "The Lion" - 10.5 million viewers
- "The Knight of Jaffa" - 8.5 million viewers
- "The Wheel of Fortune" - 9.0 million viewers
- "The Warlords" - 9.5 million viewers
Myths
- This story was never distributed overseas through fear that it might cause offence. (The story was sold overseas but not in the Middle East.)
- Ian rescues Barbara from El Akir by climbing up a tree. (This element of the story was introduced in the novelisation.)
Filming locations
Production errors
- In The Lion, Julian Glover refers to Sir William Des Preaux as "Sir Richard."
Continuity
- The Doctor tells Vicki that time must be allowed to run its course. This idea that time can be changed should he say the wrong thing is more consistent with the ideas of time travel presented following TV: The Time Meddler than those presented in earlier stories such as TV: The Aztecs.
- Barbara makes reference to several previous adventures when talking to Saladin. She tells him about England in the far future (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth), her meeting with Nero (TV: The Romans) and the Zarbi (TV: The Web Planet).
- The Doctor wishes that he was a knight, to which Vicki remarks, "That will be the Day." He would eventually, during his tenth incarnation, be knighted as "Sir Doctor of TARDIS" by Queen Victoria in 1879. (TV: Tooth and Claw)
- The Fifth Doctor would later meet a robot whom he at first mistakenly believed to be King John, the younger brother of Richard the Lionheart and Princess Joanna, in March 1215. (TV: The King's Demons)
- Vicki would later disguise herself as a boy named Victor once again when she and the Doctor met King James I of England in London in November 1605. (PROSE: The Plotters) Polly Wright would later do the same thing in Cornwall in the 1660s. (TV: The Smugglers) Furthermore, the Fifth Doctor's companions Peri Brown and Erimem were later forced by King Richard III of England to disguise themselves as his nephews King Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, the Princes in the Tower, from 1483 to 1485. (AUDIO: The Kingmaker)
Releases
Since the story does not exist in its complete form, video releases generally feature William Russell appearing as Ian to offer narration before episodes of the story. In these segments, Ian has aged considerably, which may contradict the suggestion made by Sarah Jane Smith in TV: Death of the Doctor that Barbara and Ian had not aged since the 1960s. Sarah Jane however, noted that this was only something as "rumour had it". It is possible that the rumour was untrue, or a metaphor for their youthful personalities. Ian stated in AUDIO: The Five Companions that he and Steven were more than a little bit older when he was brought into the alternative Death Zone.
DVD releases
This story was released on the Doctor Who: Lost in Time boxset.
The two missing episodes (2 and 4) are in audio form only.
- Further information on this DVD and restoration project can be found at the Doctor Who Collectors Wiki or here.
- Editing of the surviving episodes DVD release was completed by the Doctor Who Restoration Team.
Lost in Time Region 2
Lost in Time Region 4
Lost in Time Region 1
Lost in Time Region 1 (Disc 1)
Region 4 Rerelease 2010
Video releases
Part 3: "The Wheel Of Fortune" was released in 1993 as part of the Hartnell Years video. Also episodes 1 and 3 ("The Lion"/"The Wheel Of Fortune") were released as Doctor Who: The Crusade/The Space Museum.
- UK Release: July 1999 / US Release: January 2000
- PAL - BBC Video BBCV6805
- NTSC - CBS/FOX Video 2000020
- NTSC - Warner Video E1399
- William Russell provides in character narration for episodes 2 and 4 on the later release.
Audio release
An audio release of the of the television story remastered was released in 2005 by BBC Audiobooks with linking narration by William Russell on 2 CDs plus bonus interview with William Russell part of the Doctor Who TV Soundtrack Releases. This was re-released in 2010 as part of the box set Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes - Collection One.
ISBN 0-563-52322-0
ISBN 978-1-4084-6751-0
Script book
- Main article: Doctor Who The Scripts: The Crusade
In November 1994, Titan Books published the scripts for the serial as part of its Doctor Who: The Scripts line of books. It was the last book of this series.
External links
- The Crusade at the BBC's official site (with video clips)
- BBC - Doctor Who - Classic Series - Photonovels - The Crusade
- The Crusade at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Crusade at Shannon Sullivan's A Brief History of Time (Travel)
- Transcript for The Crusade
- Loose Canon Productions reconstruction page for The Crusade
- Encyclopaedia of Fantastic Film and Television entry for The Crusade
