A Bluffer’s Guide to Doctor Who: Planet of Giants
Small story, large scale.
Describe Planet of Giants in six words:
Tiny people fight bug spray conspiracy.
This is… the one where the time-travellers are about the size of an inch.
Episodes 43 — 45
What Happens?
The TARDIS lands in the present day but it has shrunk, leaving the occupants miniaturised.
An industrialist, Forrester, has his application for producing a new insecticide, DN6 rejected by government scientist, Farrow. Forrester, obviously used to getting his own way, shoots him.
The travellers become separated and try to reunite. Barbara becomes infected with DN6.
Upon finding the notepad of Smithers — Forrester’s scientist who has created DN6 — the Doctor works out that the insecticide is too deadly to be used. The time-travellers combine their efforts to alert the police and to blow up DN6.
Back in the TARDIS, they return to their original size.
First broadcast: 31st October — 14 November, 1964
Why was this made?
Sydney Newman, Head of Drama at the BBC, had wanted a story about the regulars being shrunk since the start. However, it was postponed due to its technical difficulties. Story Editor David Whitaker met with Louis Marks about writing the story and Marks wrote four episodes of Planet of Giants.
Mervyn Pinfield was assigned to direct the first three episodes with Douglas Camfield directing the fourth.
Donald Wilson, Head of Serials, had issues with the story, particularly as it was opening Doctor Who’s second season (after a six-week break). As Producer Verity Lambert and actress Carole Ann Ford had decided on Susan’s departure being the next story, it was not possible to withhold these episodes until later: As such the third and fourth episode were edited into one 25-minute episode.
Observations / Things to Say:
- Action in the first two minutes — TARDIS out of control. Again, no dematerialisation sound for landing (but present for take-off). TARDIS malfunctions again: The scanner blows up. But this is a mislead for the bigger malfunction.
- As a way of splitting the TARDIS team up, having Ian been carried away in a matchbox is by far my favourite.
- Jacqueline Hill is on fire here. Barbara keeping her poisoning a secret is so classic zombie victim stuff. I like to think the Doctor’s desire to win is motivated by Barbara wanting the same thing.
- The time-travellers decide to stop DN6 and the murderer even when they’ve achieved their objective. They’re becoming the heroes of an adventure series.
- Anyone who watches these episodes and doesn’t fall in love with how ambitious the production team is being has no soul.
- Only in Doctor Who can a cliffhanger be someone plugging the plug out of the sink.
- Setting: A one-off in retrospect being present day with no aliens. But only in retrospect: This series has been crazy so far.
What Are We Missing?
The cut footage from when the third and fourth episodes were combined is lost. However, it has been reconstructed for the DVD release, and it appears in Terrance Dicks’ novelisation. While the editing does damage Hilda’s role in the story, it’s difficult not to agree with the cuts.
Between You and Me
Love the ambition. It almost nearly all works.
Recommend / Further Reading: