The Macra Terror (TV story)

Who wants to see their face in a pair of suede shoes?The Doctor

The Macra Terror was the seventh story of Season 4 of Doctor Who. It was the first Doctor Who story to feature the lead actor's face in the opening title sequence.

Synopsis

When the Doctor, Polly and Ben visit a human colony that appears to be one big holiday camp, they think they have come across a truly happy place. But a shadowy presence soon makes them realise that the surface contentment is carefully controlled.

The colony's inhabitants have been brainwashed by giant crab-like creatures - the Macra. Insidious propaganda, broadcast by the Controller, forces the humans to mine a gas that is essential for the Macra to survive - but fatal to them.

The colony must be saved - but how? The Doctor and his team are up against it, particularly when Ben falls under the influence of the Macra. Can he be rescued from their evil clutches? Can the gas pumping equipment be destroyed, getting rid of the Macra for good?

Plot

To be added.

Cast

The Doctor - Patrick Troughton
Ben Jackson - Michael Craze
Polly - Anneke Wills
Jamie McCrimmon - Frazer Hines
Pilot - Peter Jeffrey
Medok - Terence Lodge
Ola - Gertan Klauber
Barney - Graham Armitage
Questa - Ian Fairbairn
Sunaa - Jane Enshawe
Chicki - Sandra Bryant & Karol Keyes (Episode 4)
Drum Majorette - Maureen Lane
Controller - Graham Leaman
Alvis - Anthony Gardner
Control Voice - Denis Goacher
Broadcast and Propaganda Voice - Richard Beale
Macra Operator - Robert Jewell
Officia - John Harvey
Guards - John Caesar, Steve Emerson, Danny Rae
Cheerleaders - Roger Jerome, Terry Wright, Ralph Carrigan

Crew

References

The ancestors of the colony came from Earth many centuries ago, and they retain the title of 'Pilot' for their leader.

Story Notes

This story is the first to use a new title sequence incorporating an image of Patrick Troughton's face, designed by Bernard Lodge and realised by Ben Palmer. The series' theme music was also rearranged slightly at this point by Delia Derbyshire, with assistance from Dick Mills. This arrangement remains in use (with some variations) until 1980.
This story had the working titles; The Spidermen, The Spidermen!, The Insect-Men, The Macra.
The Macra seen to be in charge in the last episode is white rather than black (a scene for which the sole Macra prop had to be repainted).
All four epsiodes are missing, though some clips survive.

Ratings

Episode 1 - 8.0 million viewers
Episode 2 - 7.9 million viewers
Episode 3 - 8.5 million viewers
Episode 4 - 8.4 million viewers

Myths

The image of the Controller seen on the screen in the Pilot's office was a photograph of story editor Gerry Davis. (It was a photograph of Graham Leaman, who played the Controller.)

Filming Locations

Associated Portland Cement Company Quarry, Houghton Road, Dunstable
Ealing Television Film Studios, Ealing Green, Ealing
Lime Grove Studios (Studio D)

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

The Macra's top claw is longer than the bottom, but when it grabs the controller, they are the same size

Continuity

The Macra returned to Doctor Who 40 years later in DW: Gridlock. To date, this marks the longest interval between appearances by a character or alien race in franchise history.

Timeline

This story occurs after The Moonbase
This story occurs before The Slave War

DVD, Video and Other Releases

The full soundtrack was released with linking naration by Colin Baker
surviving clips were release on the lost in time dvd boxset

Novelisation

Main article: The Macra Terror (novelisation)

Novelised as The Macra Terror by Ian Stuart Black in 1987.

External Links

Template:Season 4