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Spearhead from Space (TV story): Difference between revisions
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* Although the title sequence which debuted in this story remained the same over the next four years, this story is the only one for which the title of the serial zooms toward the screen, apart from ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'' (where only part of the story's title — "The Ambassadors" — zooms toward the screen, while the other words — "of Death" — appeared in full size when a ''sting'' sound effect is heard.) | * Although the title sequence which debuted in this story remained the same over the next four years, this story is the only one for which the title of the serial zooms toward the screen, apart from ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'' (where only part of the story's title — "The Ambassadors" — zooms toward the screen, while the other words — "of Death" — appeared in full size when a ''sting'' sound effect is heard.) | ||
* Due to a technicians' strike at the BBC Television Centre, this story was entirely shot on film and on location. Other than the 1996 TV movie, it is the only ''Doctor Who'' story to be shot completely on film; the 2005 revival is shot on videotape, which is digitally remastered to look like film. | * Due to a technicians' strike at the BBC Television Centre, this story was entirely shot on film and on location. Other than the 1996 TV movie, it is the only ''Doctor Who'' story to be shot completely on film; the 2005 revival is shot on videotape, which is digitally remastered to look like film. | ||
* The ''Radio Times'' programme listing for episode one in certain regions was accompanied by a black and white head-and-shoulders publicity shot of the Doctor and the Brigadier in potholers' helmets from the following adventure, ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians (TV story)|Doctor Who and the Silurians]]'', with the accompanying caption "Dr. Who? Or is it? Find out at 5.15." | * The ''[[Radio Times]]'' programme listing for episode one in certain regions was accompanied by a black and white head-and-shoulders publicity shot of the Doctor and the Brigadier in potholers' helmets from the following adventure, ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians (TV story)|Doctor Who and the Silurians]]'', with the accompanying caption "Dr. Who? Or is it? Find out at 5.15." | ||
* ''Radio Times'' credits [[Ellis Jones]] (Technician) as "UNIT Technician", [[Prentis Hancock]] (2nd Reporter) as "Reporter", [[Betty Bowden]] (Meg) as "Meg Seeley", [[Clifford Cox]] (Sergeant) as "UNIT Sergeant", and [[Edmund Bailey]] (Attendant) as "Waxworks Attendant". | * ''[[Radio Times]]'' credits [[Ellis Jones]] (Technician) as "UNIT Technician", [[Prentis Hancock]] (2nd Reporter) as "Reporter", [[Betty Bowden]] (Meg) as "Meg Seeley", [[Clifford Cox]] (Sergeant) as "UNIT Sergeant", and [[Edmund Bailey]] (Attendant) as "Waxworks Attendant". | ||
* There are scenes featuring real waxworks, shot at Madame Tussauds in London. | * There are scenes featuring real waxworks, shot at Madame Tussauds in London. | ||
* The actor playing the Doctor is credited for the first time as "Doctor Who" in the closing credits, as opposed to "Dr. Who", which had been the norm since 1963. This form of credit would continue until the end of the [[Tom Baker]] era in 1981, after which the character would be more appropriately credited as "the Doctor" (though the Revival Series would switch back to the "Doctor Who" credit for [[Series 1 (Doctor Who)|its first season]], only switching to "The Doctor" again from [[Series 2 (Doctor Who)|Series 2]]-onwards at the request of [[David Tennant]]). | * The actor playing the Doctor is credited for the first time as "Doctor Who" in the closing credits, as opposed to "Dr. Who", which had been the norm since 1963. This form of credit would continue until the end of the [[Tom Baker]] era in 1981, after which the character would be more appropriately credited as "the Doctor" (though the Revival Series would switch back to the "Doctor Who" credit for [[Series 1 (Doctor Who)|its first season]], only switching to "The Doctor" again from [[Series 2 (Doctor Who)|Series 2]]-onwards at the request of [[David Tennant]]). | ||
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* This was the first ''Doctor Who'' story since the [[1965 (releases)|1965]] serial ''[[Galaxy 4 (TV story)|Galaxy 4]]'' (also directed by Derek Martinus) not to feature "the" in the title. It is also the first to not start with "the" since ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'' in [[1968 (releases)|1968]]. | * This was the first ''Doctor Who'' story since the [[1965 (releases)|1965]] serial ''[[Galaxy 4 (TV story)|Galaxy 4]]'' (also directed by Derek Martinus) not to feature "the" in the title. It is also the first to not start with "the" since ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'' in [[1968 (releases)|1968]]. | ||
* [[Stan Speel]] is credited as "Film Cameraman" for episodes one to three, and co-credited with Robert McDonnell as "Film Camera Team" for episode four. | * [[Stan Speel]] is credited as "Film Cameraman" for episodes one to three, and co-credited with Robert McDonnell as "Film Camera Team" for episode four. | ||
* This is the last ''Doctor Who'' story that Derek Martinus directed as he wanted to distance himself from the programme. It is also his only ''Doctor Who'' story that is not missing any episodes. | * This is the last ''Doctor Who'' story that [[Derek Martinus]] directed as he wanted to distance himself from the programme. It is also his only ''Doctor Who'' story that is not missing any episodes and the only one in colour. | ||
* This was the first ''Doctor Who'' story [[Nicholas Courtney]] featured in that was not directed by [[Douglas Camfield]]. | * This was the first ''Doctor Who'' story [[Nicholas Courtney]] featured in that was not directed by [[Douglas Camfield]]. | ||
* This is the first story that [[Peter Grimwade]] worked on though went uncredited. | * This is the first story that [[Peter Grimwade]] worked on though went uncredited. | ||
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* The Autons were originally defeated in the end by a high-frequency sound Liz arranged to have transmitted from Broadcasting House at the Doctor's request. | * The Autons were originally defeated in the end by a high-frequency sound Liz arranged to have transmitted from Broadcasting House at the Doctor's request. | ||
* For a time, Sam Seeley was accompanied by a son. | * For a time, Sam Seeley was accompanied by a son. | ||
* Due to budget restrictions, the crew were unable to film a scene of the Autons smashing through the shop window. Derrick Sherwin remarked in the DVD commentary that he desperately wanted to show the Autons breaking the glass but the BBC would not allow it. [[Russell T Davies]] ensured that this was rectified in ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]''. | * Due to budget restrictions, the crew were unable to film a scene of the Autons smashing through the shop window. [[Derrick Sherwin]] remarked in the DVD commentary that he desperately wanted to show the Autons breaking the glass but the BBC would not allow it. [[Russell T Davies]] ensured that this was rectified in ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]''. | ||
* The script was based on a story that [[Robert Holmes]] wrote for the film ''Invasion'', which featured an alien crashing in the woods near a rural hospital, where a medical examination reveals his alien nature. The hospital is later visited by other aliens, seeking a fugitive criminal. Some of the exact lines of dialogue used by human doctors to describe the physiology of the injured alien were re-used, which ended up creating the defining two-hearted feature of Time Lord anatomy in the process (while also giving viewers familiar with the one-hearted First Doctor something to scratch their heads over). | * The script was based on a story that [[Robert Holmes]] wrote for the film ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_(1965_film) Invasion]'', which featured an alien crashing in the woods near a rural hospital, where a medical examination reveals his alien nature. The hospital is later visited by other aliens, seeking a fugitive criminal. Some of the exact lines of dialogue used by human doctors to describe the physiology of the injured alien were re-used, which ended up creating the defining two-hearted feature of Time Lord anatomy in the process (while also giving viewers familiar with the one-hearted First Doctor something to scratch their heads over). | ||
* [[Derek Smee]] gashed his left index finger while climbing over the barbed wire while on location shooting. He insisted on the doctors administering first aid and placing a flesh-coloured plaster over the finger so he could return to finish the day's shoot. Afterwards, he was immediately rushed to a hospital for surgery. Scenes shot subsequently show him with a plaster on his finger and favoring it while climbing stairs. | * [[Derek Smee]] gashed his left index finger while climbing over the barbed wire while on location shooting. He insisted on the doctors administering first aid and placing a flesh-coloured plaster over the finger so he could return to finish the day's shoot. Afterwards, he was immediately rushed to a hospital for surgery. Scenes shot subsequently show him with a plaster on his finger and favoring it while climbing stairs. | ||
* The serial was repeated on [[BBC Four]] as part of its "Science Fiction Britannia" season in [[2006 (releases)|2006]]. Episodes One and Two aired on [[13 November (releases)|13 November]], and Episodes Three and Four aired on [[20 November (releases)|20 November]]. | * The serial was repeated on [[BBC Four]] as part of its "Science Fiction Britannia" season in [[2006 (releases)|2006]]. Episodes One and Two aired on [[13 November (releases)|13 November]], and Episodes Three and Four aired on [[20 November (releases)|20 November]]. | ||
* Episode 3 of this story is believed to be the first episode of the series to feature no surviving cast members. | * Episode 3 of this story is believed to be the first episode of the series to feature no surviving cast members. | ||
* The extras who played the Auton army in part four were non-union actors. Because of this, the BBC's internal documents for the episode credit them under the pseudonym "Ivan Orton," a play on the phrase "I'm an Auton." | * The extras who played the Auton army in part four were non-union actors. Because of this, the BBC's internal documents for the episode credit them under the pseudonym "Ivan Orton," a play on the phrase "I'm an Auton." | ||
* The Nestene Concious came from [[Derrick Sherwin]]'s discomfort with the emerging technology of plastics. The Autons came from his fear of shop window dummies. He also suggested that a doll factory would make a suitably creepy setting. | |||
* Assistant script editor [[Robin Squire]] was pressed into service as an Auton when the original performer suffered an attack of claustrophobia in the close-fitting mask. | |||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
