A Bluffer’s Guide to the Peter Cushing Dalek Films

There’s DALEKS! In COLOUR!

Okay, so before The Bluffer’s Guide moves on to Patrick Troughton’s time as the Doctor, there’s another Doctor worth mentioning.

I mean, this is basically here for the sake of completism. Not every rewatch needs to include the Peter Cushing Dalek films but every now and then, if you’re rewatching the Hartnells, it’s probably worth a bit of time and checking them out.

First, let’s address what they are. After the incredible success of the Daleks, other people wanted in on the action. Amicus was a British-based film production company that could see the potential in turning the original Dalek serial into a film. And so, they did.

Peter Cushing was cast as Dr. Who. Cushing was a regular British film actor, notably associated with Hammer Films. You have most definitely seen him: He was Grand Moff Tarkin, Darth Vader’s boss, in Star Wars. (It’s also mentioned in Steven Moffat’s novelisation of The Day of the Doctor, that the Doctor and Peter Cushing were friends, something UNIT only discovered when Peter Cushing started appearing in films after he died).

Cushing’s portrayal doesn’t bear many similarities to Hartnell’s. Cushing’s Doctor is more kinder and softer. He has a manic explorer disposition at moments that seems more like Patrick Troughton or Matt Smith. Both actors, however, do play their characters as old men: Cushing gives Dr. Who a physical stoop to imply back problems.

Other important things:

• These aren’t “canon” (as much as Doctor Who has a canon.)
• Dr. Who here is not the same character as in the TV series: He is a human inventor. The TARDIS is not the common name for a Time Lord’s time machine but rather, in the films, it is Tardis, a name that is unexplained.
• Barbara Wright doesn’t exist: Her counterpart is Dr. Who’s eldest granddaughter: Barbara Who.
• Susan Foreman doesn’t exist: She is Susan Who and is much younger than her television counterpart.
• Bernard Cribbins is in the second film

Apart from that, you’ll just have to watch them yourself. Below are a few stray observations to pretend that you’ll seen them. Otherwise, I’ll see you later.

Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965)

Released between The Time Meddler and Galaxy 4.

• Making Susan younger works well (no angst, all adventure)
• The inside of Tardis is a disorganised mess (She is a lovely blue, though. That’ll be a direct influence on the series in 2010)
• A shot of Ian in Tardis’ control room is used twice
• Peter Cushing: Kinder, softer, subtext-less than Hartnell. Being excited by adventure: A late addition to Hartnell who is more guided by curiosity and circumstances.
• Ian’s twig is comical. In the TV show, it’s frightening.
• Comedy with Ian trying to open the door? Really? He’s clumsiness earlier at least led to story beats.
• Credit where credit’s due: Manages to do the first two episodes in 30 minutes
• “Exterminate” used as a verb
• Ian is told that he is going to a deadly swamp. Next scene is “I could do with a wash.”
• Cowardly Thal survives rather than dies.

Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966)

Released between The War Machines and The Smugglers

• What the Hell is this music for the heist scene?
• Louise (the Barbara stand-in) is Dr. Who’s niece. There’s an opening for some Cushing fan-fic here: Who are Dr Who’s siblings?
• Being on location makes everything seem so much bigger than the last film (this is the same effect as the TV version)
• There’s no Roboman suicide at the start. The first episode is reduced to under 14 minutes here.
• Nice spaceship design. Genuinely, would love this design repurposed in the series.
• Dr Who is described by David as having white hair: Surely something left over from the original script?
• The Dalek voices are better than the first film.
• Dr Who asks for something conductive. Tom has a comb. But what about his police whistle? Aristotelian unity and all?

Overall:

They’re actually rather sweet. Arguing about which one is superior is a matter of taste: They are very different and comparing them with their television counterparts does neither mediums any favours.

Worth finding online for a movie night with popcorn but not essential to own. While my observations read to be on the critical side, I do wish we got to see the movie Daleks battle against Mechonoids.