The Underwater Menace (TV story)
Synopsis
The TARDIS arrives on a extinct volcanic island. Before long, the travellers are captured and taken into the depths of the Earth, where they find a hidden civilisation - the lost city of Atlantis.
The Atlanteans worship a goddess named Amdo and use Fish People - men and women operated upon so that they can breathe under the sea - to farm the plankton-based food on which they survive. A deranged scientist, Professor Zaroff, has convinced them that he can raise their city from the sea, but actually he plans to drain the ocean into the Earth's molten core, so that the resultant superheated steam will cause the planet to explode.
The travellers meet up with two shipwreck survivors, Sean and Jacko, who manage to persuade the Fish People to rebel and stop work. The Doctor eventually manages to foil Zaroff's plan, but only by breaking down the sea walls and flooding the city. Zaroff drowns, but everyone else escapes.
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Patrick Troughton
- Ben Jackson - Michael Craze
- Polly - Anneke Wills
- Jamie McCrimmon - Frazer Hines
- Professor Zaroff - Joseph Fürst
- Ara - Catherine Howe
- Ramo - Tom Watson
- Lolem - Peter Stephens
- Damon - Colin Jeavons
- Damon's Assistant - Gerald Taylor
- Overseer - Graham Ashley
- Zaroff's guard - Tony Handy
- Jacko - Paul Anil
- Sean - P. G. Stephens
- Thous - Noel Johnson
- Nola - Roma Woodnutt
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Gareth Gwenlan
- Costumes - Sandra Reid, Juanita Waterson
- Designer - Jack Robinson
- Fight Arranger - Derek Ware
- Film Cameraman - Alan Jonas
- Film Editor - Eddie Wallstab
- Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
- Make-Up - Gillian James
- Producer - Innes Lloyd
- Production Assistant - Norman Stewart
- Script Editor - Gerry Davis
- Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
- Studio Lighting - George Summers
- Studio Sound - Bryan Forgham
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
References
to be added
Story Notes
- This story had the working titles of; The Fish People, Doctor Who Under the Sea, Under the Sea, Atlanta.
- Professor Zaroff utters the timeless line "Nothing in ze world can stop me now!".
Ratings
- Episode 1 - 8.3 million viewers
- Episode 2 - 7.5 million viewers
- Episode 3 - 7.1 million viewers
- Episode 4 - 7.0 million viewers
Myths
to be added
Location Filming
to be added
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added
Continuity
- It is mentioned in The Daemons that Azal destroyed Atlantis, and in The Time Monster Kronos also destroyed Atlantis.
DVD, Video and Other Releases
to be added
Target Novelisations
to be added
See also
to be added
External Links
- BBC Episode Guide for The Underwater Menace
- Photonovel of The Underwater Menace on the BBC website
- Outpost Gallifrey Episode Guide: The Underwater Menace
- Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - The Underwater Menace
- A Brief History of Time (Travel) entry for The Underwater Menace
- The Underwater Menace transcript
