The Smugglers (TV story)

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I'm afraid, my boy, we can't leave at the moment.The Doctor


The Smugglers was the first story of Season 4 of Doctor Who. As the last story produced as part of Season 3, William Hartnell's contract expired after production, although he returned for the next story, his final one as the current Doctor.

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives on the coast of seventeenth century Cornwall - much to the astonishment of Polly and Ben. Pirates led by Captain Samuel Pike and his henchman Cherub are searching for a hidden treasure, while a smuggling ring masterminded by the local Squire is trying to off-load contraband.

The Doctor is kidnapped by Pike's men after inadvertently learning, from churchwarden Joseph Longfoot (who is subsequently murdered), a cryptic rhyme that holds the key to the treasure's whereabouts.

Although he manages to escape, the Doctor is eventually forced to tell Pike the rhyme's meaning - it refers to names on tombstones in the church crypt - and the treasure is uncovered. At this point, however, the militia arrive, having been summoned by Revenue officer Josiah Blake. A fight ensues in which Pike and many of his men are killed and the rest taken prisoner. The Doctor and his companions meanwhile slip back to the TARDIS.

Plot

to be added

Cast

Crew

References

  • Ben drinks some beer.

Story Notes

  • The title sequence film is used to represent the space/time vortex as seen on the TARDIS scanner screen in Episode 1, with the story title, writer's credit and episode number captions overlaid in black on the swirling patterns.
  • No complete episodes survive of this story.
  • Telesnaps for episodes 1 - 4 do survive.

Ratings

  • Episode 1 - 4.3 million viewers
  • Episode 2 - 4.9 million viewers
  • Episode 3 - 4.2 million viewers
  • Episode 4 - 4.5 million viewers

Broadcast Dates

  • Episode 1 - 10th Sep 1966, 5.50pm
  • Episode 2 - 17th Sep 1966, 5.55pm
  • Episode 3 - 24th Sep 1966, 5.50pm
  • Episode 4 - 1st Oct 1966, 5.50pm

Duration

  • Episode 1 - 24'36"
  • Episode 2 - 24'27"
  • Episode 3 - 23'55"
  • Episode 4 - 23'37"

Myths

  • For the fight between smugglers and Revenue men in episode four, so few stuntmen were used that they had to play multiple roles achieved by means of frantic behind-the-scenes costume changes. (Although Terry Walsh, one of those involved, recalls the scene being shot in this way, in fact the ten stuntmen under the direction of fight arranger Derek Ware, of whose HAVOC organisation they were members, played only one role each.)

Filming Locations

  • Nanjizal Bay, Cornwall
  • St Grada Church, Grade, Cornwall
  • Trenethick Barton, Cornwall
  • Bonny Mary, Newlyn, Cornwall
  • Bosistow Cliffs, Nanjizal, Cornwall
  • Church Cove, Cornwall
  • Trethewey Farm, Cornwall
  • Riverside Studio 1, Hammersmith, London

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

The rhyme given to the Doctor in episode one is there quoted wrongly. The Doctor gets is right in episode three however.

Continuity

Timeline

DVD, Video and Other Releases

to be added

Novelisation

Smugglers novel.jpg
Main article: The Smugglers (novelisation)

See also

to be added

External Links

Template:Season 4

TVStub.png
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