Best Cave Mouth of the Season (S9E16)

[@kemmdog4444]

It was good to see George Pravda as Jaeger. We last saw him as Denes in The Enemy of the World.

[@gordonwebster2802]

This is also the last time we see Pertwee in the maroon jacket and black and purple Inverness cape combo first seen in "Terror of the Autons". Elements of the story are a bit of the throwback as one of the titles for the first Dalek story was "The Mutants" which was partly directed by Christopher Barry with music by Tristram Cary who wrote the score for this story too.

[@richardbradbury3658]

I don't think there was a mixed cast in Space Pirates, tbh, but regarding later Troughton era diversity casting, Trinidadian actor Rudolf Walker (Patrick Truman in Eastenders amongst many other roles) played Harper in The War Games.

[@paulhunter6178]

The Marshall's communicator always reminds me of a bicycle pump.

[@ftumschk]

As a 6-year old at the time, that's precisely what my Whovian friends and I used to play-act this story :)

[@stephenreed2093]

This is probably the Doctor Who story whose locations I’m most familiar with. Chislehurst Caves is just down the road from my house. And the Solonian wasteland location is now the site of Bluewater shopping centre, which I have been to many many times over the years.

[@johng5859]

As a child I visited Chislehurst Caves, where much of this story was filmed, and I remember it having quite a spooky atmosphere, which does come over in the story too. It is slightly unfortunate that Cotton’s name wasn’t changed after Rick James was given the role, but it was still a progressive move by Christopher Barry to cast him at the time, and adds some extra weight to the themes being explored. The one drawback is that, as becomes increasingly clear in later episodes, James is not a very good actor… More than Pertwee’s costume, what I notice here when watching his era in order is that this is the point where his hair starts becoming very bouffant, something that Terrance Dicks liked to bang on about on the DVD commentaries. Apparently Katy Manning was to blame, as she had teased him about a minuscule bald spot on his bonce and he responded by doing what he could to hide it!

[@jamesa.fitzpatrick1566]

Did you notice that Kai is Biggs from Star Wars? More Star Wars actors coming up in this story. There is an interesting DVD extra about the casting of Cotton. At the time, UK politics made it difficult for that black actor to be cast, so the director was making a statement by that casting.

[@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio]

One of the best things about this story is the extensive film work, both in and around the caves, and in studio where there's fire involved. Very atmospheric too, with the musical score adding quite a bit to it. Many people probably don't like this music, but I think at least it's not nearly as intrusive as the Sea Devils score. It's weird but it just kind hangs out in the background.

[@TheShallowProclamation]

I agree that the caves are definitely a highlight. And the music is good too.

[@Problembeing]

I do enjoy a connoisseur of cave mouths on the subject of fine cave mouths.

[@curmudgeone]

Christopher Barry was totally unaware that Cotton was meant to be a Cockney (which I find baffling) so Rick James battles gamely with his lines and I have total respect and admiration for him; lines and slang notwithstanding, Cotton is a sympathetic character in contrast to the Marshal’s Goering-like presence and his selfish, pouty posturing, which resonates strongly now. Paul Whitsun-Jones playing the Marshal had previously been in The Smugglers and Christopher Coll playing Stubbs was previously in The Seeds Of Death; Geoffrey Palmer also having appeared in Dr Who And The Silurians.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

The DVD of this story also has a documentary about non-pale-faced actors in Who, and British TV. Noel Clarke, who was mickey Smith narrates. He notes how "black face was used in the Sixties, and "Yellow-face in the mid-70's. Yet there was Earl Cameron, astronaut in 1966 Tenth Planet. A few more Ethnic Actors during the 2nd Doctor (despite Toberman, questions) -rare during Pertwee. More diverse actors cast in the 90's -and continually the Modern Series. Note is made that Rick James was likely glad to act in a prominent BBC show, and get solid pay for a few weeks - yet his character's name should have been changed when he was cast.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

The making of for this story, on DVD, shows there were two cave locations. Some shapes were painted on the walls -some are still fattily visible. And a wooden support structure for the actors to crawl through, the wood is still there too. Must not have have been a National Trust location .

[@TheShallowProclamation]

I do enjoy things that remain fattily visible! 😜

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

@@TheShallowProclamation Ah, yes, spellcheck - faintly!!

[@mark-s]

Nooooo the mutants 😢

[@HudsonMedia]

I think the production of this story saves it for me. I think the caves, the lighting that’s very Giallo esq and adds so much visual flare, the costumes and the set up I think is real cosy who. A lot of people would say this is Pertwees worst. I’d personally still say that goes to Colony in Space.

[@TheShallowProclamation]

Definitely struggled more with Colony. This has a lot going for it.

[@hbomb6775]

The story goes down the toilet is where it goes

[@hbomb6775]

Worst story of pertwee