Paradise Towers (TV story)
- You may be looking for the titular domicile.
Synopsis
Mel wants to go swimming so the Doctor takes her to a tower block called Paradise Towers where there is reputed to be a fantastic pool. When they arrive they discover that the place is far from being the superb leisure resort they had expected - it is run-down and dilapidated.
The hallways are roamed by gangs of young girls known as Kangs; the apartments are inhabited by cannibalistic old ladies, the Rezzies; and the building is managed by a group of dictatorial caretakers, presided over by the Chief Caretaker.
The latter is in thrall to the disembodied Great Architect Kroagnon, the building's creator, who is using giant cleaning machines systematically to kill all the occupants as he considers that they are spoiling his creation by living there.
The Great Architect eventually manifests himself by taking over the Chief Caretaker's body, but the Doctor and Mel join forces with the Kangs, the Rezzies and Pex - the only young man left in the complex - to defeat him. Pex, however, is apparently killed in the struggle.
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
- Mel - Bonnie Langford
- Chief Caretaker/The Great Architect - Richard Briers
- Deputy Chief Caretaker - Clive Merrison
- Tabby - Elizabeth Spriggs
- Tilda - Brenda Bruce
- Maddy - Judy Cornwell
- Pex - Howard Cooke
- Fire Escape - Julie Brennon
- Bin Liner - Annabel Yuresha
- Blue Kang Leader - Catherine Cusack
- Yellow Kang - Astra Sheridan
- Red Kang - Nisha Nayar
- Young Caretaker - Joseph Young
- Video Commentary - Simon Coady
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Val McCrimmon
- Costumes - Janet Tharby
- Designer - Martin Collins
- Incidental Music - Keff McCulloch
- Make-Up - Shaunna Harrison
- OB Cameraman - Alastair Mitchell, David Hunter
- Producer - John Nathan-Turner
- Production Assistant - Frances Graham
- Production Associate - Anne Faggetter
- Script Editor - Andrew Cartmel
- Special Sounds - Dick Mills
- Studio Lighting - Henry Barber
- Studio Sound - Brian Clark
- Theme Arrangement - Keff McCulloch
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
- Visual Effects - Simon Taylor
References
- Paradise Towers, designed by Kroagnon, otherwise known as the Great Architect, won many awards in the 21st century.
- Kroagnon was also responsible for Golden Dream Park, the Bridge of Perpetual Motion and Miracle City.
- The TARDIS swimming pool was leaking and has been jettisoned.
- There is, according to the Doctor, a spectacular pool on the planet Griophos, although it is for the exclusive use of the Gulmeri, flesh eating octopi.
- The Robotic Self activating Megapodic Mark 7Z cleaners have oxymotive blades.
- The Doctor describes an antique telephone as a splendid piece of audioarchitectonicalmetrasynchosity.
- Kroagnon 'transplants' his brain into the Chief Caretaker's body via corporal ectoscopy.
Story notes
- This story had a working title of; Paradise Tower.
- Julie Brennon, who played Fire Escape, was at the time married to former companion actor Mark Strickson.
- This music score for this story was originally made by freelance composer David Snell. John Nathan-Turner rejected the music after it was completed on grounds of it being too repetitive. Keff McCulloch provided the replacement score in a very short timeframe.
Ratings
- Part 1 - 4.5 million viewers
- Part 2 - 5.2 million viewers
- Part 3 - 5.0 million viewers
- Part 4 - 5.0 million viewers
Myths
to be added
Filming locations
- Elmswell House, Nightingales Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire (Location of the pool)
- BBC Television Centre (TC1 & TC8), Shepherd's Bush, London
Production errors
to be added
Continuity
- The Doctor is once again called an "Old One" by locals, as he was in DW: The Mysterious Planet.
- The TARDIS is graffitied again in DW: Aliens of London.
- The TARDIS pool last appeared in DW: The Invasion of Time. It was later rebuilt by the Doctor some time between this episode and The Eleventh Hour, but was once again ejected in The Doctor's Wife.
Timeline
- Paradise Towers occurs after: BFA: Red
- Paradise Towers occurs before: DWM: Plastic Millennium
Home video and audio releases
VHS
Paradise Towers was released onto VHS on the following Dates;
- UK (October 1995)
- Australia (January 1997)
- United States (June 1997).
- 238px-Paradise towers uk vhs.jpg
VHS UK cover
- Paradise towers australia vhs.jpg
VHS Austraila cover
- 200px-Paradise towers us vhs.jpg
VHS US cover
DVD
A DVD release is expected for 2011 according to a blog post by Stephen Wyatt. Wyatt, Andrew Cartmel, Richard Briers and Howard Cooke have been interviewed for the release. The commentary features Wyatt, Judy Cornwell, Dick Mills and Mark Ayres. Wyatt has also stated that the original music score by David Snell will be included as an alternative.
Novelisation and its audiobook
- Main article: Paradise Towers (novelisation)
- Novelised by Stephen Wyatt in 1988.
