A slightly overdue blog, about two things that were released
last week.
Firstly, there’s another instalment of The Blogs of Doom in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine. The 19th! Proof, if any were needed, that
letter-writing campaigns don’t always work. I wonder how long I can keep it
going! But anyway, I think this is one of the funnier ones, particularly if you
happen to know by heart the script of a 1965 missing episode of Doctor Who. So that’s most of you.
And secondly, my Black
Archive book on The Dalek Invasion of
Earth was published, by Obverse Books. It’s already had some good reviews
over at SciFi Bulletin and We Are Cult. Also:
“I loved this” – James Goss
“Just started reading this, it’s already *amazing*” –
Clayton Hickman
“Strong recommend... Tons and tons of facts and things to
make you go ‘ooh!’ and it’s given me even more love for David Whitaker.” –
Gareth Roberts
What’s in it? A quick rundown. There’s an introduction, where
I explain why The Dalek Invasion of Earth
is a story close to my heart, then:
Chapter 1 – The Return of the Daleks. Pulling together all
the information we know about the commissioning of the story, what was going on
behind-the-scenes at the time, who was on their way in, who was on their way
out, and discussing why the story marked a significant shift in the series’
format.
Chapter 2 – Doctor Who and the Daleks. A brief discussion on
the story’s influences – brief because there aren’t many to be found, it’s not
a textually involved piece of work.
Chapter 3 – The Invaders. A scene-by-scene
analysis/discussion of Terry Nation’s draft of the story, based on the draft
scripts. This chapter includes some exciting revelations (for me, at least) about
the authorship of the TV series Survivors
and explains the episode title The
Waking Ally which has hitherto left Who scholars baffled.
Chapter 4 – Serial K. An analysis/discussion of story editor
David Whitaker’s rewritten version of the story, based on the camera scripts. I
don’t merely list everything that Whitaker wrote, fascinating though that is, I
also try to work out why he rewrote
what he did. I’m particularly proud of the bit where I look at the otherwise
mystifying cliffhanger to episode one.
Chapter 5 – The Dalek Invasion of Earth. In this chapter I
look at how director Richard Martin realised the scripts in the TV version of
the story; what changed between the camera scripts and the finished version
(for instance, the dramatic discovery of Barbara’s mislaid handkerchief being
dropped at the last minute). This is also where some of the most overt World
War Two references/imagery come in, and where I explain why the iconic image of
the Daleks crossing Westminster Bridge isn’t in the story.
Chapter 6 – The Daleks are Here! A brief look at the story’s
promotion and broadcast.
Chapter 7 – Daleks Invade Earth. Now, this is the thing that
nobody else has ever written about before.
You see, while I was researching this, I checked the BFI Archive index, to see
if they might have anything. Their directory at the time (it has since been
updated) listed two scripts for Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 AD. I asked to see them
both, and the BFI helpfully obliged. One of them was a release script, in other
words a minute-by-minute, second-by-second transcription of the film as
released. The other script that was presented to me, though, was a screenplay
entitled Daleks Invade Earth by
Milton Subotsky. As I leafed through it, I discovered, to my insane delight,
that this was an early draft of the film that was almost entirely different to
the finished script! (Whilst also being obviously an intermediate step between
the TV version and the final film). And so I spent a very enjoyable couple of
hours going through it, making detailed notes, which formed the basis of this
chapter. You see, with me, you get brand new info!
Chapter 8 – Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150AD – In this chapter
I look at the finished film, how Milton Subtosky rewrote his script and how it
was realised on screen. I point out a few things which have not been pointed
out before.
Chapter 9 – Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth. All
about Terrance Dicks’ novelisation. I did email Terrance about it but he
remembers nothing so once again I had to do some actual research. Essentially,
I look at how he novelised it, and in particular, how he drew on elements of
the Nation scripts, the Whitaker scripts, the TV version and the film version
in doing so.
Chapter 10 – Legacy of the Daleks. In which I attempt to
cover the story’s legacy in terms of Doctor
Who; I daresay I have missed something out, as it is probably the story
which has had the most references made to it (and of course I’m not going to cover
every odd line). But it was interesting to look at things like the novelty pop
records it inspired and the various recreations of the iconic shot of the Daleks
on Westminster Bridge.
There’s also a bibliography, in which I list every book that
was on my desk while I was writing it, and everything else which was referred
to. It’s like a proper academic text – except you can buy it as an ebook for
about the cost of a pint of lager in London. A bargain!
Anyway, it was lots of fun to do, I’m glad I did it and
proud that I managed to find out a few new things. I don’t think I’ll do
another one; I think one of the great strengths of the range is the variety of
authors and that everyone is covering a story that means something special to
them. And, of course, how can I hope to top The
Dalek Invasion of Earth? I can’t!
You can order it here.
You can order it here.
