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The Myth Makers (TV story): Difference between revisions
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== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
* [[Derek Martinus]] was the first choice to direct.<ref name=":0">http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/u.html</ref> | * [[Derek Martinus]] was the first choice to direct, but he was moved over to [[Galaxy 4 (TV story)|''Galaxy 4'']] and [[Mission to the Unknown (TV story)|''Mission to the Unknown'']].<ref name=":0">http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/u.html</ref> | ||
* Within the context of the [[DWU]], the creation of [[Trojan Horse]] is an ontological [[Temporal paradox|paradox]]. The [[First Doctor|Doctor]], Vicki, and [[Steven Taylor|Steven]] all know of the Horse; the Doctor specifically refers to Homer's account of the [[Trojan War]], crediting Homer with "inventing" it for the story. Yet it is the Doctor who gives the idea to the Greeks, whose victory is then recounted by Homer, the ultimate source for the time travellers' knowledge of the Horse. In this context, the [[Fourth Doctor|Doctor]]'s later claim in ''[[Underworld (TV story)|Underworld]]'' that he didn't come up with the idea is technically accurate. | * Within the context of the [[DWU]], the creation of [[Trojan Horse]] is an ontological [[Temporal paradox|paradox]]. The [[First Doctor|Doctor]], Vicki, and [[Steven Taylor|Steven]] all know of the Horse; the Doctor specifically refers to Homer's account of the [[Trojan War]], crediting Homer with "inventing" it for the story. Yet it is the Doctor who gives the idea to the Greeks, whose victory is then recounted by Homer, the ultimate source for the time travellers' knowledge of the Horse. In this context, the [[Fourth Doctor|Doctor]]'s later claim in ''[[Underworld (TV story)|Underworld]]'' that he didn't come up with the idea is technically accurate. | ||
* The working titles for this story were ''The Trojans'', ''The Trojan Horse'', ''The Trojan War'' and ''The Mythmakers''. Working episode titles included "Zeus ex Machina" (episode 1) and "A Doctor in the Horse" or "Is There a Doctor in the Horse?" (episode 4), which [[Dennis Spooner]] liked because of them being puns. They were vetoed by the BBC, however, and only "Small Prophet, Quick Return" (episode 2) retained its humorous title thanks to Donald Tosh's insistence. "Death of a Spy" (episode 3) was always intended to have its more serious title, as if to imply Steven or Vicki would be killed as they were exposed for being spies in the previous episode. The title ultimately refers to [[Cyclops (The Myth Makers)|Cyclops]].{{Fact}} | * The working titles for this story were ''The Trojans'', ''The Trojan Horse'', ''The Trojan War'' and ''The Mythmakers''. Working episode titles included "Zeus ex Machina" (episode 1) and "A Doctor in the Horse" or "Is There a Doctor in the Horse?" (episode 4), which [[Dennis Spooner]] liked because of them being puns. They were vetoed by the BBC, however, and only "Small Prophet, Quick Return" (episode 2) retained its humorous title thanks to Donald Tosh's insistence. "Death of a Spy" (episode 3) was always intended to have its more serious title, as if to imply Steven or Vicki would be killed as they were exposed for being spies in the previous episode. The title ultimately refers to [[Cyclops (The Myth Makers)|Cyclops]].{{Fact}} | ||
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* This is one of the least documented stories, with very limited film and photographic material existing. However, it is one of the easiest stories to listen to on audio — possibly due to Donald Cotton's writing background in radio. | * This is one of the least documented stories, with very limited film and photographic material existing. However, it is one of the easiest stories to listen to on audio — possibly due to Donald Cotton's writing background in radio. | ||
* [[William Hartnell]] was struck and injured by a camera during the filming of "Temple of Secrets" and sustained a bruise to the shoulder. | * [[William Hartnell]] was struck and injured by a camera during the filming of "Temple of Secrets" and sustained a bruise to the shoulder. | ||
* Hartnell suffered a bereavement while working on the story: the death of his Aunt Bessie, who had looked after him during his troubled childhood. Unfortunately, the tight recording schedules prevented Hartnell from taking time off to attend her funeral.<ref name=":0" /> This led to him becoming difficult during production, refusing to speak to actors [[Max Adrian]] or [[Francis De Wolff|Francis de Wolff]] and declaring director [[Michael Leeston-Smith]] a "fool". | * [[William Hartnell]] suffered a bereavement while working on the story: the death of his Aunt Bessie, who had looked after him during his troubled childhood. Unfortunately, the tight recording schedules prevented Hartnell from taking time off to attend her funeral.<ref name=":0" /> This led to him becoming difficult during production, refusing to speak to actors [[Max Adrian]] or [[Francis De Wolff|Francis de Wolff]] and declaring director [[Michael Leeston-Smith]] a "fool". | ||
* | * [[William Hartnell]] was unhappy making this serial. His health had begun to deteriorate, with his arteriosclerosis making it more difficult for the actor to remember his lines. Furthermore, Hartnell was unhappy by what he saw as the Doctor's diminished role in the scripts. He feared that he was being upstaged by prominent guest stars, including [[Francis De Wolff]] and especially [[Max Adrian]]. | ||
* [[Peter Purves]] named this as his favourite story. | * [[Peter Purves]] named this as his favourite story. | ||
* Both [[Cavan Kendall]] and [[James Lynn]] received minor injuries filming the fight scene between Achilles and Troilus, forcing remounts of some scenes. | * Both [[Cavan Kendall]] and [[James Lynn]] received minor injuries filming the fight scene between Achilles and Troilus, forcing remounts of some scenes. | ||
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*Colour photographs of the original Trojan Horse prop from this story exist, but they were taken years after production by [[David J Howe]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/davidjhowe1/status/1423630137367711747?s=21 Twitter]</ref> | *Colour photographs of the original Trojan Horse prop from this story exist, but they were taken years after production by [[David J Howe]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/davidjhowe1/status/1423630137367711747?s=21 Twitter]</ref> | ||
*[[William Hartnell]] and [[Peter Purves]] were both unhappy that [[Maureen O'Brien]] was leaving, while [[Donald Tosh]] felt that her exit could have been handled better. | *[[William Hartnell]] and [[Peter Purves]] were both unhappy that [[Maureen O'Brien]] was leaving, while [[Donald Tosh]] felt that her exit could have been handled better. | ||
*[[Donald Cotton]] originally omitted Paris from his script. | |||
*Originally, Steven and Vicki were freed by Priam after the horse was brought into Troy. They used Morse code to make contact with the Doctor. When the Greeks burst out of the horse, the Doctor and Steven reclaimed the TARDIS, but Vicki returned to the palace to recover a memento given to her by Helen. There she witnessed Priam nearly defeat Achilles in battle, only to be slain by Odysseus. | |||
*The element of Steven being wounded was added at the request of [[Terry Nation]], who planned to make use of the development in the first episode of [[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|''The Daleks' Master Plan'']]. | |||
====Influences==== | ====Influences==== | ||
