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Marco Polo (TV story): Difference between revisions
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(Doomsday and The End of Time both have narrators, and the map thing isn't really worth mentioning on its own. Fixing numerous other minor things in this list.) |
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* This is the earliest ''Doctor Who'' story to be missing from the BBC Archives. | * This is the earliest ''Doctor Who'' story to be missing from the BBC Archives. | ||
* This is also the only incomplete story to have two directors. | * This is also the only incomplete story to have two directors. | ||
* In crafting his scripts, [[John Lucarotti (writer)|John Lucarotti]] drew heavily from Polo's memoirs, published in the fourteenth century as ''The Description | * In crafting his scripts, [[John Lucarotti (writer)|John Lucarotti]] drew heavily from Polo's memoirs, published in the fourteenth century as ''The Description of the World''. The route followed by Marco in the serial was inspired by his first journey to Peking, which culminated around 1275. His escort of Ping-Cho was based on a real event in 1292, in which Marco brought the young Princess [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6k%C3%B6chin Kokachin] to Persia to wed Kublai Khan's grand-nephew [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arghun Arghun], only to learn upon their arrival that the older man had passed away. Tegana, Acomat and Noghai were all named for Tartar rulers mentioned in Polo's memoirs. | ||
* This was the second story of ''Doctor Who'' to be commissioned, discounting previous storylines that were later abandoned. | * This was the second story of ''Doctor Who'' to be commissioned, discounting previous storylines that were later abandoned. | ||
* Many colour and black-and-white photographs of this story remain. Along with the soundtrack, these were used by [[Loose Cannon Productions]] to make a full colour video reconstruction of this story. (''See external links'') | * Many colour and black-and-white photographs of this story remain. Along with the soundtrack, these were used by [[Loose Cannon Productions]] to make a full colour video reconstruction of this story. (''See external links'') | ||
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* Originally, it was intended that the narrators would be the Doctor, Ian and Barbara before it was decided instead that these should represent extracts from Marco Polo's diaries. | * Originally, it was intended that the narrators would be the Doctor, Ian and Barbara before it was decided instead that these should represent extracts from Marco Polo's diaries. | ||
* During production, ''Doctor Who'' featured for the first time on the cover of ''[[Radio Times]]''; the debut episode of ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'' had originally been slated to receive this treatment the previous November. The black-and-white photograph featured [[William Hartnell]] with guest stars [[Mark Eden]] and [[Derren Nesbitt]]. Unfortunately, this provoked an angry response from [[William Russell]], via his agent T. Plunkett Green, who felt that the rest of the regular cast had been slighted by their omission from the cover. | * During production, ''Doctor Who'' featured for the first time on the cover of ''[[Radio Times]]''; the debut episode of ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'' had originally been slated to receive this treatment the previous November. The black-and-white photograph featured [[William Hartnell]] with guest stars [[Mark Eden]] and [[Derren Nesbitt]]. Unfortunately, this provoked an angry response from [[William Russell]], via his agent T. Plunkett Green, who felt that the rest of the regular cast had been slighted by their omission from the cover. | ||
* According to [[Heather Hartnell]], William Hartnell's widow, this was her husband's favourite story. She also alleged that it was his idea to do a Marco Polo serial. | * According to [[Heather Hartnell]], [[William Hartnell]]'s widow, this was her husband's favourite story. She also alleged that it was his idea to do a Marco Polo serial. | ||
* The cast found the spider monkey difficult to work with. [[Carole Ann Ford]] recalled that "it was a nasty little thing, peeing all over the place and biting anyone who came near it". | * The cast found the spider monkey difficult to work with. [[Carole Ann Ford]] recalled that "it was a nasty little thing, peeing all over the place and biting anyone who came near it". | ||
* The serial's designer, [[Barry Newbery]], used Aurel Stein's ''Ruins of Desert Cathay'' (1912) and Nelson Ikon Wu's ''Chinese and Indian Architecture'' (1963) for research of the 13th century designs. Newbery also found that Korean architecture from 1900 was similar to that of the 13th century. | * The serial's designer, [[Barry Newbery]], used Aurel Stein's ''Ruins of Desert Cathay'' (1912) and Nelson Ikon Wu's ''Chinese and Indian Architecture'' (1963) for research of the 13th century designs. Newbery also found that Korean architecture from 1900 was similar to that of the 13th century. | ||
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*For the role of Ping-Cho, [[Waris Hussein]] wanted an "oriental" actress who had not appeared in the West End production of ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_of_Suzie_Wong_(play) The World of Suzie Wong]'' or the film ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/55_Days_at_Peking 55 Days at Peking]'' (1963), due to the prominence of those productions. [[Zienia Merton]] auditioned at Hussein's home, and was offered the role. | *For the role of Ping-Cho, [[Waris Hussein]] wanted an "oriental" actress who had not appeared in the West End production of ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_of_Suzie_Wong_(play) The World of Suzie Wong]'' or the film ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/55_Days_at_Peking 55 Days at Peking]'' (1963), due to the prominence of those productions. [[Zienia Merton]] auditioned at Hussein's home, and was offered the role. | ||
*[[Zienia Merton]], who was born in [[Burma]], is the first non-caucasian actor with a speaking role in the show's history. | *[[Zienia Merton]], who was born in [[Burma]], is the first non-caucasian actor with a speaking role in the show's history. | ||
* When [[William Hartnell]] became ill, quick rewrites were performed on "The Singing Sands" to eliminate the Doctor from most scenes; Hartnell only had one line of dialogue in the episode. | * When [[William Hartnell]] became ill, quick rewrites were performed on "The Singing Sands" to eliminate the Doctor from most scenes; Hartnell only had one line of dialogue in the episode. A scene of him and Susan at the beginning of the episode was re-written for Barbara. | ||
* For the sandstorm in "The Singing Sands", a wind machine was used, with other footage superimposed on top; [[Waris Hussein]] was unhappy with the effectiveness of the effect, later stating that "it looked like everyone's aerials had blown over". [[Zienia Merton]] recalled the wind machine blowing sawdust into her eyes, rendering her unable to see for the rest of the scene. | * For the sandstorm in "The Singing Sands", a wind machine was used, with other footage superimposed on top; [[Waris Hussein]] was unhappy with the effectiveness of the effect, later stating that "it looked like everyone's aerials had blown over". [[Zienia Merton]] recalled the wind machine blowing sawdust into her eyes, rendering her unable to see for the rest of the scene. | ||
* During camera rehearsals for "Assassin at Peking", [[Mark Eden]]'s right hand was accidentally lacerated by a dagger used by [[Derren Nesbitt]]. | * During camera rehearsals for "Assassin at Peking", [[Mark Eden]]'s right hand was accidentally lacerated by a dagger used by [[Derren Nesbitt]]. | ||
