The Gunfighters (TV story)

The Gunfighters was the eighth story of Season 3 of Doctor Who. Its final episode, "The O. K. Corral", was the last individually-titled episode until The Five Doctors, the ninety-minute 20th Anniversary special.

This story saw Doctor Who's take on the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. William Hartnell would later claim that the Wild West setting was his idea. The director, Rex Tucker, was originally chosen to direct An Unearthly Child but filming interfered with a holiday he had booked. This was Tucker's only Who credit.

The Gunfighters was the only serial to have a song written especially for it until The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, decades later. "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" was sung off screen by Lynda Baron who would later appear in Enlightenment.

The role of Johnny Ringo was offered to veteran actor Patrick Troughton, but he was too busy. Troughton would later be asked back, and won the role of the Second Doctor. The actor playing Doc Holliday, Anthony Jacobs, brought his son, Matthew Jacobs onto the set. Matthew would later write the telemovie.

The poor ratings received by The Gunfighters strengthened Donald Cotton's argument that historical stories should be axed.

Synopsis

Arriving in the town of Tombstone, the Doctor finds himself involved with gunmen, out to kill Doc Holliday...

Plot

A Holiday for the Doctor (1)

Having eaten one of Cyril's sweets, the Doctor has toothache. The TARDIS lands and Steven and Dodo are overjoyed to be in the "wild west". They meet the local marshal, Wyatt Earp, who introduces them to the sheriff, Bat Masterson.

The First Doctor has a tooth removed by Doc Holliday.

Meanwhile, the Clantons (Ike, Phineas and Billy) meet Seth Harper in the Last Chance Saloon. They are hunting Doc Holliday with the intention to kill him. The singer, Kate Fisher, leaves and goes to warn Doc who has just started a new business venture as a dentist. The Doctor visits him and has his tooth removed.

Steven and Dodo visit the Last Chance Saloon and the Clantons and Seth overhear them mentioning "the Doc", an individual they take to be Holliday. Steven and Dodo book rooms for themselves and the Doctor, leaving his key with Charlie, the bartender. Seth goes to Holliday's dentistry and meets the Doctor, telling him to go to the Last Chance Saloon. Seeing it as a chance to escape his hunters, Holliday gives the Doctor some of his possessions, notably a gun with his name engraved upon it.

Seth returns to the bar and, fearing he'll shoot them in the back in the event of a gunfight, they force Steven and Dodo to perform a song. Dodo plays the piano while Steven sings "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon". The Clantons and Seth ready themselves to shoot Holliday as he come through the door. Outside, the Doctor approaches the Last Chance Saloon.

Don't Shoot the Pianist (2)

Steven and Dodo continue to play the piano when Kate returns and sings while Steven plays. Dodo exits to her room. The Doctor enters and, through a number of misunderstandings, is believed to be Holliday. The Doctor realises their mistake and tries to explain. Holliday himself enters the Saloon through a back door and stands on the stair case, listening to the proceedings. The Doctor fails to convince them and accidentally fires his gun, knocking Harper's gun from his hand. Together, the Doctor and Kate threaten the other with a gun each. Hearing the shot, Dodo comes down to check it out but meets Holliday who threatens her and escorts her back to her room.

The Doctor and Kate Fisher take charge.

Wyatt Earp and Masterson enter and try to find out what has happened. They arrest the Doctor and lead him from the saloon. Once they have gone, the Clantons and Harper move in on Steven. In her room, Dodo is being detained by Holliday; Kate joins them.

The Doctor has been locked in a gaol, with Earp suggesting that it is a safety measure due to his status as a wanted man. Masterson realises the ploy, having the Doctor in prison means that the Clantons and Harper will think Holliday is locked up. Earp goes out to find the real Holliday.

In the saloon, Steven tries to convince the others of the Doctor's innocence. Upstairs, Doc is thirsty and Kate reminds him that he left a bottle in his dentistry. He then leaves through the back entrance and returns there. He finds Earp there was asks him to leave town. Earp tells him he'll tell the Clantons the truth tomorrow morning. He goes on to explain that Pa Clanton and his sons are running a large rustling operation.

In the saloon, the Clantons and Harper tell Steven to pass a gun through the gaol-house window to the Doctor with which he can force his way out. They tell Steven they'll wait outside to "welcome him back to society". Steven agrees to the plan, viewing it as foolproof, and then leaves. Phineas follows him, just in case he makes a run for it with "Holliday".

Wyatt Earp talks to the imprisoned Doctor.

Dodo asks Kate is she really intends to marry Holliday, him being an outlaw. Kate replies that she has met many outlaws and that Holliday is the best of the lot, calling him "a real gentleman". Holliday arrives and tells Kate that they have to leave. Asking why, he tell her that Earp is gunning for him and he doesn't want to kill a friend.

Steven gives the Doctor the gun through a window, telling him that the Clantons still think he's Holliday. Once he has gone, the Doctor hands the gun to Earp, asking him to meet Steven outside in his stead and to tell him he wants to remain in gaol for the meantime.

In the saloon, the Clanton incite a gathering of local to become violent, telling them to break "Holliday" out of gaol and hang him from the nearest tree. Phineas brings Steven in and they tie him up, planning to threaten his life so that Holliday leaves the gaol. From an upstairs window, Kate, Doc and Dodo watch the mob pass with Steven and Holliday's operating chair. Doc makes his way downstairs and Kate calls after him. Hearing the name "Doc", Harper enquires if he is Holliday. He says yes and draws his gun faster than Harper, shooting his opponent. Harper falls down, injured. Doc tells Kate to ready three horses, planning to take Dodo with them when they leave. Dodo is resistant, but ultimately complies and they leave the Saloon.

The Doctor is released from gaol and the mob gathers outside. The Clantons announce that they want "Holliday" within two minutes, or Steven will be hung.

Johnny Ringo (3)

The Doctor tries to leave but Masterson holds him and asks him not to. The mob starts preparing a rope with which to hang Steven. Earp leaves and circles around to the back of the mob. Just as they're attaching the noose, Earp attacks, knocking Phineas out. He then frees Steven. Realising they're caught in the crossfire of Earp and Masterson, the mob disperses.

The bartender, Charlie, arrives and tells the Clantons that Harper is dead, shot by Holliday in the saloon. The Clantons confront Earp, acknowledging that he knew the Doctor wasn't Holliday. Earp threatens them, forcing them to leave. Charlie, Earp, Masterson and Steven carry the unconscious Phineas Clanton into the gaol. The Doctor announces his intention to leave in the morning.

The noose is placed round Steven's neck.

In the saloon, Pa Clanton tells his sons that he wants to hire Johnny Ringo to help them fight Earp. His sons protest but he does not think they are capable. They then leave. Steven and the Doctor return to the saloon and Charlie tells them that Dodo left with Holliday. The Doctor claims that Holliday is a friend of his, recalling how he removed his tooth. They then retire to their rooms.

Doc, Kate and Dodo find a place to sleep but Kate wants to continue as they are not far from Tombstone. As Doc leaves to get food, they hear gunfire and he returns, telling them he ran into an old friend who has now "lost his appetite".

Meanwhile, Ringo enters the saloon and talks to Charlie. The barman tells him that the Clanton want help dealing with Earp but Ringo already has a target, Doc Holliday. Charlie tells him that they're also after Doc but Ringo wants to kill him on his own. Charlie promises that he wont tell anyone and Ringo agrees, shooting him dead.

Charlie lies dead on his bar.

In the morning, Dodo asks Doc if he is going to return her to the Doctor today, but he says no. Angered, Dodo takes his gun and threatens him. Doc agrees to take her home and asks Kate to stay. Realising Doc had a gun and was about to shoot her, Dodo faints.

Steven and the Doctor find the dead Charlie. The Doctor asks Ringo to wait in the bar for Earp but he claims that only Holliday would shoot an unarmed barman. Steven tells Ringo about their mission to get Dodo back from Holliday and the Doctor denies any intention to kill him. Ringo invites the Doctor and Steven to ride with him after Doc and they agree.

The Doctor visits the gaol and tells Earp that Steven has gone after Holliday with Ringo. He points out that photos of Ringo are all over the gaol on wanted posters. Ringo and Steven begin searching for Holliday at the saloon where he stayed. Ringo finds Kate, a former girlfriend of his. She lies, telling him Holliday was headed for New Mexico. Ringo tells Kate that he's taking her back to Tombstone. She refuses but he threatens her.

In the gaol, Phineas taunts the young Warren Earp who has been left to guard him. Ike and Billy Clanton enter and threaten him into opening the cell. Warren moves to get the key but then tries to grab his gun. Billy shoots him dead. They free Phineas and leave.

The O.K. Corral (4)

In the saloon, Masterson, Earp and the Doctor cover up Charlie's body. Earp and Masterson work out that it must've been Ringo who killed him. Earp deputises the Doctor, giving him and a badge and a gun. Virgil Earp enters and offers his support for the fight against the Clantons. Masterson and the Earps leave, with the Doctor remaining in the Saloon.

The Clantons return to Pa and find Ringo there with Kate. They tell Pa about killing Warren and he tells them that it really is war now. However, Warren is alive, but injured. His brothers tend to him in the gaol. He tells them it was a Clanton who shot him and then dies. Wyatt tells Virgil to inform the Clantons that they'll meet at dawn, at the O.K. Corral.

The Doctor is deputised.

The Clantons hear Virgil approach and Ringo recognises him as the marshal of Dodge City. Vrigil gives them his message and asks Steven who's side he is on. Steven tells him he supports the Earps, but is unable to leave as Pa threatens him. Ringo, who hid upstairs during the talk, returns and lays out a plan to ambush the Earps from behind while the Clantons goes in from the front.

Back at the gaol, Virgil returns and tells Earp that Kate and Ringo's horse were there and so they figure Ringo is siding with the Clantons. The Doctor tells them that they cannot take on both the Clantons and Ringo, but as he does so, Doc enters and announces that they wont have to. Dodo also enters and runs to the Doctor. Virgil refuses to fight alongside an outlaw but when Doc is told that Kate is with them, he insists. With the Doc back, the Doctor hands over his gun and sheriff badge, happy to be rid of them.

Dodo and the Doctor are sitting in the saloon when Masterson enters and asks the Doctor to talk the Clantons out of the fight. He agrees and visits the Clanton's shack, finding both Pa and Steven there. He is once again wearing his sheriff badge and asks Pa to call off the fight. Steven tells the Doctor about Ringo's plan to circle around and the Doctor tells Pa they predicted Ringo would side with the Clantons and that Holliday has joined the Earps.

Holliday and the dying Johnny Ringo.

The Earps and Clantons meet and the latter open fire, hoping that they can stop the Earps checking there back, even though they're to far to actually be hit. Once in range, the Earps also fire. Ringo is about to shoot Doc when Dodo runs over and alerts him. Ringo takes Dodo as a shield while Doc takes cover. He threatens her, forcing Holliday to drop his weapon. Ringo drops Dodo and prepares to run, but Doc pulls another gun and shoots him. Holliday tells the dying Ringo that he though he would do better, to which he replies "I will, next time". Ringo then dies.

Holliday regroups with Wyatt, telling him that Ringo's dead. Billy makes a move to kill Doc but he misses and Doc kills him instead. Virgil hits Phineas who dies shortly after. Ike, the only man left to oppose the Earps and Doc, attempts to run. Doc corners him and Ike fires his gun, only to find that it's empty. Doc and the Earps kill Ike.

Sometime later, the Doctor and Doc are walking together with Dodo, Steven and Kate. He questions Holliday's reason for leaving and so Kate and Doc unveil a wanted poster Masterson has released with Doc's face upon it. Holliday also mentions that Wyatt is no longer a lawman, having been involved in the fighting. He gives the poster to the Doctor and the leaves with Kate.

The travellers enter the TARDIS and the Doctor tosses the poster on the floor outside. Inside, the Doctor tells his companions that he know exactly what their new destination is: the far future in an age of prosperity. On the scanner, an armed man approaches the TARDIS.

Cast

Crew

References

to be added

Story notes

This story had the working titles; The Gun-Fighters and The Gunslingers.
Thunderbirds voice artistes David 'Brains' Graham and Shane 'Scott Tracy' Rimmer appear as Charlie the barman and Seth Harper respectively. Graham had also provided Dalek voices for a number of earlier Doctor Who stories.
The caption at the end of the final episode reads Next Episode: Dr. Who and the Savages. The Gunfighters was the last story to have individual episode titles.
Patrick Troughton was one of the actors considered for the role of Johnny Ringo.
The serial features an original song, "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon", the last time an original song would be commissioned for the series until the rap song featured in DW: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. "Ballad" is performed off-screen by Lynda Baron, who years later would appear in the serial Enlightenment.
Episode 1 carries the title "A Holiday for the Doctor", the first and only episode of the original series to incorporate the "correct" name of The Doctor (as opposed to an episode of The Chase called "The Death of Doctor Who" and the 1970 serial Doctor Who and the Silurians, both of which used the technically incorrect "Doctor Who"). The only other televised episodes (to date) to include the name "The Doctor" in an episode title were the 2005 episode The Doctor Dances, the 2008 episode The Doctor's Daughter, the 2010 episode Vincent and the Doctor and the 2011 episode The Doctor's Wife.
This was the first full and only serial to take place completely within the United States. It would be 30 years until another US-set story was filmed as the 1996 TV movie, and the next regular episode to be set within the US wouldn't air until Dalek in 2005.
This story contains an example of The "Doctor Who?" running joke - when introducing himself and his companions to Bat Masterson, the Doctor creates aliases for the group, and says of himself, "And lastly, sir, your humble servant, Doctor, er, Caligari." Masterson, confused, asks, "Doctor who?" to which the Doctor responds, "Yes, quite right."
Both Dodo and Steven can play the Piano.
In reality, Johnny Ringo did not participate in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral whereas Warren Earp did not die until July 1900, almost 19 years after the events of this story take place.

Ratings

A Holiday For The Doctor (30/04/1966 17:50) - 6.5 million viewers
Don't Shoot The Pianist (07/05/1966 17:50) - 6.6 million viewers
Johnny Ringo (14/05/1966 17:55) - 6.2 million viewers
The O.K. Corral (21/05/1966 17:50) - 5.7 million viewers

Myths

The Gunfighters was the lowest-rated Doctor Who story ever. (There were a number of stories with lower ratings, including The Savages, The War Machines and The Smugglers.)
A similar rumor holds that The Gunfighters is consistently the lowest-ranked story among fans. (While it may have at one point held this dishonor, the last few polls conducted by Doctor Who Magazine place the story 20 points or more above the bottom)
Sheena Marshe, who played Kate Fisher, was director Rex Tucker's daughter. (She was unrelated to him; his daughter Jane Tucker, later to find fame as one third of the Rod, Jane and Freddy group of children's entertainers, did however appear as a walk-on in the story.)

Filming locations

Ealing Television Film Studios, Ealing Green, Ealing
BBC Television Centre (TC4), Shepherd's Bush, London

Production errors

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.

to be added

Continuity

Directly follows DW: The Celestial Toymaker.
The Doctor would later return to the Wild West in CC: A Town Called Fortune and NSA: Peacemaker.

Timeline

This story occurs after DW: The Celestial Toymaker
This story occurs before ST: 64 Carlysle Street

Home video and audio releases

DVD cover

Video Release - Released as "Doctor Who: The Gunfighters"

UK Release: November 2002 / US Release: October 2003

PAL - BBC Video BBCV7277

NTSC - Warner Video

Released as part of The First Doctor Collection in the UK (BBCV 7268)

Released as part of The End of the Universe Collection in the US

Editing for VHS release completed by Doctor Who Restoration Team.

There is a small error in the restoration, as the OK Corral gunfight was VidFIREd despite it being shot on film.

To be released on DVD in 2011 as part of a boxset called Earthstory which also includes The Awakening, as confirmed by Doctor Who Magazine 430 (13th January 2011). Extras include a commentary, the Tomorrow's Times feature on the First Doctor and a documentary (called End of the Line?).

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Earth Story Boxst Region 4
Region 2 cover
The Gunfighterscd.gif

CD Release
The Gunfightersvhs.jpg

AUS VHS Cover

Novelisation and its audiobook

Main article: The Gunfighters (novelisation)

Novelised as The Gunfighters in 1986 by Donald Cotton. Cotton's book contains many differences from the televised story, including a startling moment where the Doctor initially takes Doc Holliday's place in the gunfight, and actually triggers it by accidentially discharging his firearm and apparently killing two men.

External links