Destiny of the Daleks (TV story): Difference between revisions
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* This is [[Terry Nation]]'s final script credit on ''Doctor Who''. However, [[director]] [[Ken Grieve]] claimed that the script was in fact "98% written by" [[script editor]] [[Douglas Adams]]. ([[BBC DVD]]: ''Destiny of the Daleks''). These remarks seem consistent with comments by Adams quoted in ''Don't Panic'' by [[Neil Gaiman]] (published within the lives of both Adams and Nation). Adams states therein that he had discovered that other writers on ''Doctor Who'' considered it the role of the script editor to get the scripts into the correct broadcast order. | * This is [[Terry Nation]]'s final script credit on ''Doctor Who''. However, [[director]] [[Ken Grieve]] claimed that the script was in fact "98% written by" [[script editor]] [[Douglas Adams]]. ([[BBC DVD]]: ''Destiny of the Daleks''). These remarks seem consistent with comments by Adams quoted in ''Don't Panic'' by [[Neil Gaiman]] (published within the lives of both Adams and Nation). Adams states therein that he had discovered that other writers on ''Doctor Who'' considered it the role of the script editor to get the scripts into the correct broadcast order. | ||
* Romana wears a pink and white outfit stylistically similar to the Doctor's, complete with scarf. | * Romana wears a pink and white outfit stylistically similar to the Doctor's, complete with scarf. | ||
* The Davros mask was [[Michael Wisher]]'s from [[TV]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'', and was only repaired to fit David Gooderson as there wasn't money in the budget to construct a new mask for Gooderson. Because the mask was too small to fit properly, Davros's mouth is noticeably stiff whenever he talks. | * The Davros mask was [[Michael Wisher]]'s from [[TV]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'', and was only repaired to fit [[David Gooderson]] as there wasn't money in the budget to construct a new mask for Gooderson. Because the mask was too small to fit properly, Davros's mouth is noticeably stiff whenever he talks. | ||
* The addition of [[Douglas Adams]] is evident here with references to ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' and Adams' own brand of humour. | * The addition of [[Douglas Adams]] is evident here with references to ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' and Adams' own brand of humour. | ||
* A [[steadicam]] — a rig used to obtain smooth, stable shots from a handheld camera — is used for the first time in this story. | * A [[steadicam]] — a rig used to obtain smooth, stable shots from a handheld camera — is used for the first time in this story. | ||
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* The Daleks executing prisoners to get the Doctor to surrender is similar to a scene in the ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]'' episode ''[[w:c:blakes7:Space Fall (episode)|Space Fall]]'', which was also written by [[Terry Nation]]. | * The Daleks executing prisoners to get the Doctor to surrender is similar to a scene in the ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]'' episode ''[[w:c:blakes7:Space Fall (episode)|Space Fall]]'', which was also written by [[Terry Nation]]. | ||
* According to [[David Gooderson]], [[Tom Baker]] would never allow people to think the series was a joke and would reprimand actors he felt were out of order. | * According to [[David Gooderson]], [[Tom Baker]] would never allow people to think the series was a joke and would reprimand actors he felt were out of order. | ||
* Winspit Quarry in Dorset was used for the planet Skaro, also used were the quarry's small stone cottage and two larger brick buildings, (which all stood side by side and were just empty derelict shells, with their roofs missing). The BBC added to the flooring of the two larger buildings a large number of silver-coloured cylinders and pipes, sticking out of the rubble; the cylinders transformed these two derelict shells into the external ruins of the long abandoned Dalek city and the disused Kaled bunkers. | * Winspit Quarry in [[Dorset]] was used for the planet Skaro, also used were the quarry's small stone cottage and two larger brick buildings, (which all stood side by side and were just empty derelict shells, with their roofs missing). [[BBC|The BBC]] added to the flooring of the two larger buildings a large number of silver-coloured cylinders and pipes, sticking out of the rubble; the cylinders transformed these two derelict shells into the external ruins of the long abandoned Dalek city and the disused Kaled bunkers. | ||
* The serial was one of the first British productions to make use of a Steadicam; due to the high cost of such a set-up, nearly all the props and sets were reused, including the Davros mask. | * The serial was one of the first British productions to make use of a Steadicam; due to the high cost of such a set-up, nearly all the props and sets were reused, including the Davros mask. | ||
* The instalments of this serial are credited on-screen as "episodes", rather than "parts" – the only serial made after [[The Green Death (TV story)|''The Green Death'']] to do so. In the next story it was returned to "parts". | * The instalments of this serial are credited on-screen as "episodes", rather than "parts" – the only serial made after [[The Green Death (TV story)|''The Green Death'']] to do so. In the next story it was returned to "parts". | ||
*It was [[Lalla Ward]]'s idea for Romana to wear a costume similar to the Doctor's, because she thought that her ego was great enough for her to believe that she was on par with him. | *It was [[Lalla Ward]]'s idea for Romana to wear a costume similar to the Doctor's, because she thought that her ego was great enough for her to believe that she was on par with him. | ||
*[[Graham Williams]] and [[Douglas Adams]] suggested that [[Terry Nation]] draw upon a short story apparently written by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov Isaac Asimov] about two armies, each reliant upon a battle computer which was logically unable to outwit its counterpart. | |||
*Tyssan was initially named Valtan. | |||
*The Movellans were first called the Petrans, and were conceived as being exclusively female. | |||
*Romana's regeneration was written by [[Douglas Adams]]. The scene was a parody of the costume montage in [[Robot (TV story)|''Robot'']]. | |||
*[[Ken Grieve]] developed a number of concerns about the production, and convinced [[Douglas Adams]] to accompany him to [[Paris]], where [[Graham Williams]] was involved in location filming for ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]''. Despite Williams' misgivings about Adams' absence from the production office, the trip turned into a continental pubcrawl which also encompassed a stop in West [[Germany]], before the two men returned to [[London]] the following day. | |||
*The Dalek casings were in poor condition as a result of spending four years in storage. The budget would permit some refurbishment, but could not extend to new construction. One Dalek was made up of elements left over from the [[1960s]], one was composed of “goon” components created for ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]'', and one was a mixture of both. A fourth Dalek was assembled from the top section of a “goon” Dalek and an unusually symmetric skirt section which had been built in [[1978]] for display at exhibitions. These diminished ranks were bolstered by six immobile, vacuum-formed Daleks which were intended only for long shots and scenes in which a Dalek needed to be destroyed on screen. | |||
*The Daleks' destruction of the Doctor's barrier had to be refilmed when smoke from the explosion was sucked into the fan built into Davros' chair. A visiting fan named [[Kevin Davies]] was accused of changing the setting on the fan; years later, Davies would direct various ''Doctor Who'' projects beginning with [[More than 30 Years in the TARDIS|''More Than Thirty Years In The TARDIS'']]. | |||
*The Davros mask was in such disrepair that, after cast and crew had gone home one evening, it was discarded by a cleaner who mistook it for rubbish. Fortunately, the mask was soon recovered. | |||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
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** In the same scene, Davros hits the side of the door on his way out, causing it to visibly shudder. | ** In the same scene, Davros hits the side of the door on his way out, causing it to visibly shudder. | ||
** Still in this scene, after the camera can see Davros again, a Dalek's top section comes off its body. | ** Still in this scene, after the camera can see Davros again, a Dalek's top section comes off its body. | ||
* David Gooderson's uncredited voice acting for certain additional Daleks noticeably stands out from the acting provided by Roy Skelton. | * [[David Gooderson]]'s uncredited voice acting for certain additional Daleks noticeably stands out from the acting provided by [[Roy Skelton]]. | ||
*Cassandra (Movellan Guard) is credited on-screen and in ''Radio Times'' for episode four, but actually appears in episode three. | *Cassandra (Movellan Guard) is credited on-screen and in ''Radio Times'' for episode four, but actually appears in episode three. | ||
