The War Machines was the tenth and final story of Season 3. There were several companion cast changes in this story - Dodo Chaplet, played by Jackie Lane, left, while Polly and Ben Jackson, played by Anneke Wills and Michael Craze, joined.
Synopsis
The TARDIS arrives in London in 1966 and the Doctor and Dodo visit the Post Office Tower. There they meet Professor Brett, whose revolutionary new computer WOTAN (Will Operating Thought ANalogue) can actually think for itself and is shortly to be linked up to other major computers around the world - a project overseen by civil servant Sir Charles Summer.
It transpires however that WOTAN considers that humans are inferior to machines and should therefore be ruled by them. Exerting a hypnotic influence, it arranges the construction of War Machines - heavily-armed, self-contained mobile computers - with which to take over the world.
These prove more than a match for troops, but by establishing a magnetic force field the Doctor is able to capture one of them, which he then reprograms to destroy WOTAN. Dodo, now back in her own time, decides to remain on Earth. The Doctor enters the TARDIS alone, but Brett's secretary Polly and her merchant seaman friend Ben Jackson follow him inside just before it dematerialises.
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - William Hartnell
- Dodo Chaplet - Jackie Lane
- Ben Jackson - Michael Craze
- Polly - Anneke Wills
- Major Green - Alan Curtis
- Professor Brett - John Harvey
- Kitty - Sandra Bryant
- Flash - Ewan Proctor
- Sir Charles Summer - William Mervyn
- Professor Krimpton - John Cater
- American Journalist - Ric Felgate
- Interviewer - John Doye
- Worker - Desmond Cullum-Jones
- Tramp - Roy Godfrey
- Taxi-driver - Michael Rathbone
- Machine Operator - Gerald Taylor
- Worker - Eddie Davis
- Captain - John Rolfe
- Sergeant - John Boyd-Brent
- Corporal - Frank Jarvis
- Soldier - Robin Dawson
- Television Newsreader - Kenneth Kendall
- The Minister - George Cross
- Garage Mechanic - Edward Colliver
- Man in telephone box - John Slavid
- Radio Announcer - Dwight Whylie
- US Correspondent - Carl Conway
- Voice of WOTAN - Gerald Taylor
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Lovett Bickford, Margot Hayhoe
- Costumes - Daphne Dare, Barbara Lane
- Designer - Raymond London
- Film Cameraman - Alan Jonas
- Film Editor - Eric Mival
- Make-Up - Sonia Markham
- Producer - Innes Lloyd
- Production Assistant - Snowy White
- Script Editor - Gerry Davis
- Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
- Studio Lighting - George Summers
- Studio Sound - David Hughes
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
References
- WOTAN (somehow) works out what TARDIS means.
Story Notes
- This story had the working title of; The Computers.
- Although Polly was never given an on-screen surname, "Wright" was used in an audition piece for the character at the time. It has since been adopted into various spin-off novels.
- WOTAN is pronounced with a soft V as VOTAN by many of the characters.
- This is the first return to contemporary London for the Doctor.
- There are special 'computer lettering' opening title graphics for each episode.
Ratings
- Episode 1 - 5.4 million viewers
- Episode 2 - 4.7 million viewers
- Episode 3 - 5.3 million viewers
- Episode 4 - 5.5 million viewers
Myths
- Pat Dunlop contributed to the writing of this story. (Dunlop was the writer originally commissioned to turn Kit Pedler's story idea into script form but had to pull out due to a clash of commitments with another BBC series, United! Ian Stuart Black used none of Dunlop's work when he took over.)
Filming Locations
- Bedford Square, London
- Maple Street, Fitzrovia
- Royal Opera House, Bow Street
- Tottenham Court Road, London
- Conway Street, London
- Charlotte Place, Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia
- Berners Mews, Fitzrovia
- Covent Garden Market, London
- Cornwall Gardens Walk, London
- Ealing Television Film Studios
- Riverside Studio 1, Hammersmith, London
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added
Continuity
- This is the first return to contemporary London for the Doctor since An Unearthly Child.
- The appearance and function of the War Machines is mentioned briefly in EDA: EarthWorld.
- Dodo's life following this story is explored in MA: Who Killed Kennedy.
- It's revealed in NA: Original Sin who funded Professor Brett's work.
DVD, Video and Other Releases
VHS release
The Restoration Team did very extensive work on this story for the VHS release. In addition to lots of film and video cleanups, and patching censor clips in for many bits missing from the master copy, this included creation of short sections of new footage from stills and off-cuts to cover missing bits. Despite this, it still has a small amount of missing material where no video could be found to match the complete off-air audio. The audio release is complete. (TV broadcasts prior to the video release usually used the unimproved, substantially cut, and very very dirty master.)
Target Novelisations
- Novelised as The War Machines in 1989 by Ian Stuart Black.
See also
to be added
External Links
- Official BBC Episode Guide for The War Machines
- Outpost Gallifrey Episode Guide: The War Machines
- Doctor Who Reference Guide: Detailed Synopsis - The War Machines
- A Brief History of Time (Travel) Guide to The War Machines
- The Locations Guide to Doctor Who - The War Machines
