Doctor Who: The Dæmons: Episode One starts as the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is told that an archaeological dig at a small English village called Devil's End is to be screened live on BBC television, the Doctor becomes worried when he recognises the name Devil's End & that the dig is taking place at a local barrow called the Devil's Hump & the fact that the date is 30th April, or Beltane the greatest occult festival of the year next to Halloween. The Doctor & his assistant Jo Grant (Katy Manning) leave for Devil's End straight away, meanwhile Professor Horner (Robin Wentworth) plans to break open the barrow at precisely midnight believing that a warrior chief is buried inside. Can the Doctor make it in time to stop him & why is the Master (Roger Delgado) posing as a local vicar & holding satanic rituals in the cavern under Devil's End church?
Episode 21 from season 8 this Doctor Who adventure originally aired here in the UK during May 1971 & was the fifth & final story from Jon Pertwee's second season playing the Doctor, directed by Christopher Barry one has to say The Dæmons: Episode One is one of the very best opening episodes to a story & sets things up brilliantly. Originally just called The Demons rather than The Dæmons the script was written by producer Barry Letts & Robert Sloman under the pseudonym Guy Leopold & is one of those religious themed sci-fi tales where some sort of scientific rationale is given to the unexplained, belief, legend & magic. Having said that the BBC apparently gave Letts & Sloman restrictions, for instance they were to call the crypt under the church a cavern, they had to move the actual satanic rituals performed by the Master from inside the church itself to the underground cavern & they weren't to mention God by name but references to the Devil were perfectly acceptable! The Dæmons: Episode One really builds up the story, it hooks you straight away & feels like a cross between the Hammer horror film The Devil Rides Out (1967) & the Quatermass films which is no bad thing. This is one opening episode which really grabs you from the offset & it's great. Like every other story from season eight The Dæmons features the Master but unlike the previous story Colony in Space (1971) his inclusion in The Dæmons is not hidden & his presence is revealed very early on. This is just a great opening episode to a great Pertwee five parter, most Doctor Who fans should love it.
Besides having a great story The Dæmons is one of the most impressive Doctor Who stories production wise, there's some terrific location filming including a wonderfully atmospheric opening set at night in Devil's End during a torrential thunderstorm that looks like it could grace any horror film out there. There hasn't really been any special effects so far apart from the use of a wind machine & certainly nothing you could criticise. Unfortunately the BBC didn't seem to like it as much as the fans & during the junking's & wiping's that took place in the 70's all but Episode Four was wiped considered of no further use. Luckily they made 16mm black and white film prints & using an off-air recording a fan made during the late 70's from an American broadcast Episodes One, Two, Three & Five were recoloured with tremendous results. I know I brought the VHS when it was released over here in the 90's & the way technology has moved on the DVD will almost certainly look amazing, maybe even better than the original tapes the way film & video can be remastered to such a high standard these days. Interestingly there is talk of BBC 3 during this episode which of course didn't exist at the time but does now!
The Dæmons: Episode One is a fantastic opening episode that comes across more like a horror film than a sci-fi show but I'll happily take that all day long! If your a fan all I can say is find a copy now & watch it as soon as you can.
Episode 21 from season 8 this Doctor Who adventure originally aired here in the UK during May 1971 & was the fifth & final story from Jon Pertwee's second season playing the Doctor, directed by Christopher Barry one has to say The Dæmons: Episode One is one of the very best opening episodes to a story & sets things up brilliantly. Originally just called The Demons rather than The Dæmons the script was written by producer Barry Letts & Robert Sloman under the pseudonym Guy Leopold & is one of those religious themed sci-fi tales where some sort of scientific rationale is given to the unexplained, belief, legend & magic. Having said that the BBC apparently gave Letts & Sloman restrictions, for instance they were to call the crypt under the church a cavern, they had to move the actual satanic rituals performed by the Master from inside the church itself to the underground cavern & they weren't to mention God by name but references to the Devil were perfectly acceptable! The Dæmons: Episode One really builds up the story, it hooks you straight away & feels like a cross between the Hammer horror film The Devil Rides Out (1967) & the Quatermass films which is no bad thing. This is one opening episode which really grabs you from the offset & it's great. Like every other story from season eight The Dæmons features the Master but unlike the previous story Colony in Space (1971) his inclusion in The Dæmons is not hidden & his presence is revealed very early on. This is just a great opening episode to a great Pertwee five parter, most Doctor Who fans should love it.
Besides having a great story The Dæmons is one of the most impressive Doctor Who stories production wise, there's some terrific location filming including a wonderfully atmospheric opening set at night in Devil's End during a torrential thunderstorm that looks like it could grace any horror film out there. There hasn't really been any special effects so far apart from the use of a wind machine & certainly nothing you could criticise. Unfortunately the BBC didn't seem to like it as much as the fans & during the junking's & wiping's that took place in the 70's all but Episode Four was wiped considered of no further use. Luckily they made 16mm black and white film prints & using an off-air recording a fan made during the late 70's from an American broadcast Episodes One, Two, Three & Five were recoloured with tremendous results. I know I brought the VHS when it was released over here in the 90's & the way technology has moved on the DVD will almost certainly look amazing, maybe even better than the original tapes the way film & video can be remastered to such a high standard these days. Interestingly there is talk of BBC 3 during this episode which of course didn't exist at the time but does now!
The Dæmons: Episode One is a fantastic opening episode that comes across more like a horror film than a sci-fi show but I'll happily take that all day long! If your a fan all I can say is find a copy now & watch it as soon as you can.