"Doctor Who" Genesis of the Daleks: Part 1 (1975)

Director:

David Maloney

Writer:

Terry Nation (written by)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (1963)

Original Air Date:

8 March 1975 (Season 12, Episode 11)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The Doctor and his companions are sent to the planet Skaro by the Time Lords to prevent the creation of the Daleks. |

Plot Keywords:

Time Lord | Good Versus Evil | Super Villain | Fascism | Death

Cast

Tom Baker	...	Doctor Who
Elisabeth Sladen	...	Sarah Jane Smith
Ian Marter	...	Harry Sullivan
Michael Wisher	...	Davros
Peter Miles	...	Nyder
Dennis Chinnery	...	Gharman
Guy Siner	...	General Ravon
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Time Lord
Richard Reeves	...	Kaled Leader
John Scott Martin	...	Dalek Operator

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Betchworth Quarry, Betchworth, Reigate, Surrey, England, UK

Trivia:

This episode was watched by 10.7 million viewers on its original transmission.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Why do the Thal soldiers wear camouflage gear, yet paint their gas masks a garish red and yellow?

Quotes:

Davros: Today, the Kaled race is ended, consumed in a fire of war. But, from its ashes will rise a new race. The supreme creature. The ultimate conqueror of the universe. The Dalek!

Atmospheric opener

A wonderfully striking atmospheric opening to this thoughtful-six parter. The principles are on fine form with top honours going to Baker who was by now starting to find his form in the role.

Nation again turns to WWII Nazi ideology and trappings for inspiration but whereas in the past he has attempted a degree of subtlety, here his references are explicit and blatant and all the more effective for it. WWII would have still been fresh in the memory for many of the mid seventies teatime audience catching this fresh off the back of the football results and I suspect this episode would have resonated a lot more than one would expect for a 'childrens' TV show.

I pity the 6 year old me back in 1975 having to wait an whole week for part 2!!!