Terror of the Autons (TV story)
Synopsis
The Master arrives on Earth at a circus run by a man named Rossini and steals a dormant Nestene energy unit from a museum. He reactivates it using a radio telescope and uses his hypnotic abilities to take control of a small plastics firm run by the Farrel family, where he organises the production of deadly Auton dolls, chairs and daffodils.
Humanoid Auton dummies distribute the daffodils - designed to spray a suffocating plastic film over their victim's mouth and nose - by giving them away free to members of the public in a fake promotional campaign.
The Master plans to activate the flowers with a signal from the radio telescope, which he will then use to bring the main Nestene Consciousness to Earth. The Doctor manages to persuade the Master that the Nestenes will have no further use for him once they arrive. The two Time Lords then work together to send the Consciousness back into space.
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
- Jo Grant - Katy Manning
- Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Nicholas Courtney
- The Master - Roger Delgado
- Sergeant Benton - John Levene
- Captain Mike Yates - Richard Franklin
- This is Yates' first appearance.
- Rossini - John Baskcomb
- Professor Philips - Christopher Burgess
- Museum Attendant - Dave Carter
- Time Lord - David Garth
- Auton Leader - Pat Gorman
- Farrel Senior - Stephen Jack
- Auton Voice - Hayden Jones
- Mrs. Farrel - Barbara Leake
- Policeman - Bill McGuirk
- Radio Telescope Director - Frank Mills
- Goodge - Andrew Staines
- Telephone Mechanic - Norman Stanley
- Strong Man - Roy Stewart
- McDermott - Harry Towb
- Brownrose - Dermot Tuohy
- Auton Policeman - Terry Walsh
- Rex Farrel - Michael Wisher
Crew
- Film Cameraman - John Baker
- Assistant Floor Manager - Bruce Best
- Film Editor - Geoffrey Botterill
- Circus Sequences provided by Robert Brothers
- Script Editor - Terrance Dicks
- Studio Sound - Colin Dixon
- Title Music - Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, arranged by Delia Derbyshire
- Stunts - HAVOC stunt group
- Visual Effects - Michealjohn Harris
- Make-Up - Jan Harrison
- Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
- Writer - Robert Holmes
- Production Assistant - Nicholas John
- Producer - Barry Letts
- Director - Barry Letts (not credited)
- Studio Lighting - Eric Monk
- Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
- Costumes - Ken Trew
- Designer - Ian Watson
References
- This is the first story to feature Mike Yates, Jo Grant, and the Master.
- First appearance of the Tissue Compression Eliminator (as it would come to be called).
- The Doctor says he regards military intelligence a contradiction in terms. He boils away the contents of weapon of the Master's so that the military cannot get a hold of it and try to duplicate it.
- This is Jo Grant's first appearance. An uncle pulled some strings to get her a job at UNIT.
- This is the Master's first appearance. The Time Lord who appears to the Doctor informs him that he now call himself this, implying that he has gone by other names. He has special powers of hypnosis that can make people act against their usual nature.
Story Notes
- The story was originally to be titled "The Spray of Death"
Ratings
- Episode 1 - 7.3 million viewers
- Episode 2 - 8.0 million viewers
- Episode 3 - 8.1 million viewers
- Episode 4 - 8.4 million viewers
Myths
to be added
Location Filming
to be added
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added
Continuity
- This is a sequel to Spearhead from Space.
- The Nestene Consciousness appear again in PDA: Synthespians™, Business Unusual and DW: Rose.
DVD, Video and Other Releases
to be added
Target Novelisations
- Novelised as Doctor Who and the Terror of the Autons in 1974 by Terrance Dicks.
External Links
- BBC Episode Guide Page for Terror of the Autons with video clips
- Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - Terror of the Autons
- A Brief History of Time (Travel) - Terror of the Autons
- Outpost Galifrey entry for Terror of the Autons
- Terror of the Autons entry at Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television
