LAST WEEKEND I examined in-depth the first of Peter Cushing’s two ‘Dr Who’ movies,
1965’s Dr Who and the Daleks. I made the decision to examine links between
the film and TV version in an attempt to understand the hate piled towards it,
a great deal of which I feel is explicitly aimed at the first film. Indeed, a
lot of people’s issues with the Who movies (continuity issues, Cushing’s performance,
the child-like atmosphere) are certainly toned down in Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. For one, Terry Nation’s original
television script on which this story was based, 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth', is a LOT darker than 1963’s 'The Daleks', meaning this film is a
little bit more serious than its predecessor.
SET DURING A DALEK OCCUPATION there is heavy use of WW2 imagery,
including camps, the black market, a Dalek commandant, Daleks giving Nazi-esque
salutes and a rubble strewn blitz inspired London. Of course Subotsky has done
his best to make it all ‘kiddie’ friendly but the essence of the piece remains.
Perhaps responding to this, Cushing tailors his portrayal of the Doctor, becoming
a firmer, stronger figure, the leader type that is visible in the television
series but lacking in the first film.
ALSO GONE ARE any explicit references to
the building of the Tardis and the nature of the Doctor, all that is actually stated
is that his name is still ‘Dr. Who’ and not ‘The Doctor’. Of course these
elements from the first film never particularly troubled myself, it was simply
the nature of the adaptation. Perhaps though it’s one of the reasons that this
sequel receives a slightly warmer reception than its predecessor.
VISUALLY, like its predecessor, the film is a big
step-up from its smaller scale television counter-part but this time, even more
so. The Robomen and the Dalek Saucer are wonderful designs, that far surpass
the television versions of both which were noticeably cheap looking, even for a
sixties BBC budget. Indeed, the movies redesigns even managed to find their way
onto the cover of the 1977 television novelisation.
ONCE AGAIN ACTION sequences
are increased and expanded, the sequence in which the truck drives through the hordes
of Daleks is particularly memorable as is the wonderful final shot of the
saucer getting caught by the magnetism and sucked into the ground where it
crashes. The visual style of the film is also a little darker than the first,
even the Daleks base is an odd faded lime colour when compared to the bright
oranges and blue of the first film.
CUSHING'S DOCTOR TOO is given a more
restrained make up job, the hair slicked back instead of wild, and the
moustache trimmed and refined…Which brings me of course to Cushing’s performance. I
hinted in my last piece that I found his performance in this film to be
superior to the one given in the first film, watching them back to back however
I noticed not only that but how different
the two are. He’s still a warm, grandfatherly figure but here he is
slightly more resilient, far more active and seems to have adopted some of the
‘master planner’ aspects of his television counter-part.
WHEREAS IN THE FIRST FILM Cushing appeared constantly stooped over with a voice that was slightly
mumbly and strained, here he speaks in a clipped-upper class accent and walks
with his back straight. Sequences such as when he expects Brockley to betray
him in order to find his way into the Dalek base, give Cushing an opportunity
to demonstrate this by smirking slightly at his own cleverness, before slipping
his gloves on, staring at the Daleks gravely and giving Brockley one last look,
before being led away.
HOWEVER IT ALL PALES in comparison to those final sequences within the Dalek base, from
entering and going immediately to the microphone (giving the audience some hint
of what he’s planning) to his final speech towards the Daleks. His
confrontation with them in the final moments of the first film, where he and
Susan are caught in a force field as the Daleks prepare to activate their bomb,
shows him as somewhat weak- indeed that’s what the story requires, as Ian
bursts in with the Thals and saves the day. Here however, it is the Doctor who
is in charge and Cushing knows this, strutting determinedly around the set as
he explains the Daleks fear of Magnetism. It is without doubt one of his
greatest on-screen moments.
THE SUPPORTING CAST here is even better, with Bernard
Cribbins giving a slightly more restrained performance than Roy Castle, but
still expected to participate in a number of ludicrous slap stick moments.
Roberta Tovey returns as Susan and works surprisingly well with the films best
supporting actor, Andrew Keir. Keir is ridiculously entertaining as the gruff
rebel Wyler and his scenes with Susan as they escape through the forest provide
a few nice moments in a mostly action packed film.
IN AN INTERESTING side note it appears there was plans
for a spin-off radio series to be produced and a pilot entitled ‘Journey into
Time’ was recorded, with Cushing in the lead. However very little material
remains documenting the show and the pilot itself has never been found.
ALL IN ALL: 'Invasion Earth 2150 A.D' is clearly
the superior film. Now that’s not to criticise or lambast Dr. Who and the
Daleks, but I feel that due to the continuity issues that are more strongly
expressed in the first film, the sequel is often over-shadowed. Now honestly I
enjoy both films. There the perfect example of Sunday afternoon entertainment, now
issues they may have but very few films don’t. The entertainment factor for the
Dalek movies is so high and they look SO good, that to miss out on them is to
do yourself a huge disservice. Not only that, but Cushing’s portrayal in the
first film is often so criticised that the subtle changes made by him between
the two films often go unnoticed. A shame, as Cushing’s Doctor in this film
rivals some of the best television incarnations.
PART ONE OF CALLUM MCKELVIE'S TWO PART FEATURE : HERE!
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