The second story of series two, Doctor Who–Dalek Invasion of Earth sees William Hartnell’s Doctor in a six-part adventure pitted against his greatest nemesis, the Daleks. The Doctor, Susan (Carol Ann Ford), Ian (William Russell) and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) arrive in the London of 2164, where the Nazi-like Dalek’s have turned the remnants of the human race into slave workers or “Robomen”, who unfortunately foreshadow Monty Python’s hilarious “Gumbies”. The Dalek’s plan involves a vast mine in Bedfordshire and the final destruction of the human race, while pitted against them is a WWII-style resistance movement led by Dortmun (Alan Judd) and David Campbell (Peter Fraser). One of the most famous of all Doctor Who stories, Dalek Invasion of Earth features such iconic moments as a dalek emerging from the Thames, and a remarkable flight across London showing daleks crossing Westminster Bridge and patrolling Trafalgar Square and the Albert Memorial. Terry Nation’s story is almost insanely ambitious for the budget, and while sets and effects are primitive, the location work is highly evocative. Lavishly remade for the cinema as Daleks Invasion Earth: 2150AD (1966), the plot here is more detailed, mercifully free of comic relief, and delivers a surprisingly sensitive ending to mark Carol Ann Ford’s departure from the series.
On The DVD: Doctor Who–Dalek Invasion of Earth is a comprehensive two-disc set with a generally excellent black-and-white 4:3 picture and mono sound. The highlight of Disc One is a warm and very informative commentary hosted by Gary Russell and featuring director Richard Martin (all episodes), producer Verity Lambert (5 episodes), Carol Ann Ford and William Russell (4 episodes each). There are optional subtitles for the episodes, as well as for the commentary, and further text titles giving detailed background information. Optional new CGI-effects shots have been added, which via seamless branching can be selected over the original 1964 model work. The new material obviously lacks authenticity, but looks about 1000 times better. Disc Two offers an abundance of extras including an amusing extract from Blue Peter (6 min) showing how to make edible Daleks. There is a photo gallery and some very poor quality Rehearsal Footage, but most fun of all is a 27 minute 1994 BBC spoof radio documentary which asks Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman?. Jane Asher plays Susan in an SF comedy as ingenious as it amusing and irreverent. This is a remarkable set, which belongs in any Who fan’s collection. Gary S Dalkin
Classic Restoration as ever is quite exceptional. Acting is a little stilted but WHO cares. worthwhile addition to the collection complete with wobbly daleks as well as dialog. The latest trend with BBC Who DVD is two disks with mounds of extras that makes the purchase price well worth it! The Movie version is glossier, but this TV version is rounder and more detailed. CGI effects available to view are good (you can’t see the strings on the spaceships!) is an excellant feature. A big plus in this disk, we say goodbye to Susan! (why does that girl always twist her ankle (she did it many years later in the Five Doctors)BUY THIS MASTERPIECE!!!
A great Who story The second Dalek outage was a fantastic one! Even better than the first!This is Doctor Who at its best. The beginning episode sets a dark tone (check out the posters on the wall about dumping bodies).The flying saucers are the worse I’ve ever seen – and this I think adds to the charm of the series. It shows how a low budget production can be great if the scripts, plot, and acting is just right.This actually feels quite epic and is great watched in one go as well as being watched over a period of time.The special features are top notch (if the flying saucers REALLY bug you then you can watch CGI smooth ones instead!) interviews are fab and the commentary is worth listening to.The end of this story maybe explains why the Doctor seems rather obessed planet Earth and its people. It gets people who think Hartnell’s doctor is self obsessed and heartless to re-assess their views on him.The Dalek coming out of the Thames is one of the all time great Doctor Who moments.
The passage of time has made the great superb As all the other reviewers cover well, this is great acting, good dialogue and strong plot. Yes is sags slightly when the unnecessary extra monster appears, but most of the real monsters are humans – the ones that help the daleks and the ones that profiteer from the situation.Not only does the strength of the cast / script shine brightly 40 years later, but for me the passage of time has helped make the 60’s East London Docks seem more strange then they could ever have seen at the time and I find myself moved by the discontinuity of the unreachable past posing as the future yet to be.Oh and it’s a lot better than the film!