The Nightmare Begins and Devil’s Planet are the first and third episodes of the epic 12-part serial, The Daleks’ Master Plan. Broadcast once in the UK in November 1965, watched by 9.1 and 10.3 million viewers respectively, these two programmes haven’t been seen anywhere in the world since then. Until now. Television that was once deemed ephemeral and dispensable will now prove everlasting.
The world-building, the hard-nosed, sceptical characterisation and comic-strip storytelling are Terry Nation hallmarks, but much of the drama’s success is down to the masterful direction of Douglas Camfield. He was not an experienced director then (only a year into his career), but what an eye he had for interesting camera angles and movement, creating scale, depth and tension from scant resources.
You really sense that the Space Security agents Kert Gantry (Brian Cant) and Bret Vyon are at their wits’ end, marooned on Kembel. What a joy to observe Nicholas Courtney’s intensity and heroism as Bret in his Doctor Who debut. (Three years later he was of course to become Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the Doctor chief ally on Earth.)
View oEmbed on the source websiteHaving been almost comedy characters in their previous outing The Chase, here the Daleks are back on form as devious schemers, ruthless killing tanks, menacing in every shot, whether in the jungle or their own high-tech environment. All beautifully, economically designed by Raymond Cusick.
It’s also lovely to see more of Adrienne Hill’s performance as Katarina. Everything is new to this refugee from Ancient Troy, who just came aboard the TARDIS in the previous story, The Myth Makers, but Hill downplays her bewilderment, giving us a woman in a state of grace. She knows her death is nigh. There are many delightful, unexpected little touches in these two episodes but perhaps my favourite is when Katarina reaches towards a huge screen showing the stars, an image presaging her demise in the following episode. (Someone please find that one!)
Importantly, everything gels. Everything works like a dream or rather a nightmare. Yes, William Hartnell garbles his lines at various points – my favourite fluff being, "The Daleks will stop at anything to prevent us." (The scripted line was "The Daleks will try anything to stop us.") Notwithstanding that, Hartnell is completely in command. Giving his multifaceted portrayal authority, wisdom, tenderness and a keen sense of urgency. He is the Doctor. This is his programme.
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