The Macra Terror (TV story)
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
- Sunnaa - 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
- Assistant Floor Manager - Anne Faggetter
- Costumes - Daphne Dare, Vanessa Clark
- Designer - Kenneth Sharp
- Film Cameraman - Peter Hamilton
- Film Editor - Eddie Wallstab
- Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
- Make-Up - Gillian James, Jeanne Richmond
- Producer - Innes Lloyd
- Production Assistant - Chris D'Oyly John
- Script Editor - Gerry Davis
- Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
- Studio Lighting - Frank Cresswell
- Studio Sound - Hugh Barker, Gordon Mackie
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
References
- This story debuted a new opening sequence, which had the face of Patrick Troughton, and altered theme music.
- This story had the working titles; The Spidermen, The Spidermen!, The Insect-Men, The Macra.
Story Notes
to be added
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
to be added
Location Filming
to be added
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added
Continuity
- The Macra appear in Gridlock.
DVD, Video and Other Releases
to be added
Target Novelisations
to be added
See Also
to be added
External Links
- Outpost Gallifrey The Macra Terror page
- The Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed synopsis of The Macra Terror
- Photonovel of The Macra Terror on the BBC website
- The Macra Terror transcript
- BBC The Macra Terror episode guide
- The Macra Terror A Brief History of Time Travel
