Why You SHOULD Watch The Peter Cushing 'Dr. Who' Movies

They're not canon, he's not a Time Lord, and yes, he's ACTUALLY called 'Dr. Who.' Should you watch Peter Cushing's 'Dr. Who' films? Yes, and here's why. #DoctorWho #Daleks

[@AndreiTupolev]

Why would anyone need urging to watch anything with Peter Cushing in it? The man is an absolute hero

[@jaymartin8273]

Hear! Hear! Totally agree! :=)

[@VampireJack10]

You're goddam right. The guy's a true legend, and still missed to this day.

[@TheBudgie29]

Legend. RIP Peter Cushing.

[@michaelrodgers6776]

Cool guy who loved his wife so he sàid wen I die we meet again X bless him love the 1960s ling time were it was such nice time to live s bless that time and him x

[@obibraxton2232]

Never heard of him now I’m discovering

[@aitchpea6011]

Peter Cushing was the first Doctor I remember seeing. I later fell in love with the show during the Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker eras, but the films will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@thomaselliott2755]

William Hartnell was the first and best Doctor Who in my opinion - 1963 to 1966...

[@NoahAG]

He is not The Doctor he is just a human who was a Dr.

[@TheAnonymousShade]

Tom Baker was my introduction to The Doctor at a young age. I remember catching re-runs with my parents on PBS back in the day. My parents were Sci-fi nuts, and I remember seeing a lot of Who as a kid. Bakers intro scared me for a few years, but as I got a little older I came to appreciate it. I remember my parents had a copy of Dr. Who and the Daleks on VHS that I had seen on many occasions, and loved it just as much as classic Who. My favorite classic Doctor would have to be either Pertwee, or Troughton.

[@rjjcms1]

The first Doctor Who story I watched from start to finish was Day of the Daleks in its 4 Saturday teatime episodes from the start of 1972,with Jon Pertwee as the Doctor,Katy Manning as Jo Grant and of course UNIT. As a 7-year-old I quickly developed a fascination with the show and the Daleks in particular. The first of these feature films was on TV one night going into that year's school summer holidays,and by the end of those holidays I'd made more than 30 paper model ones to play with. They inhabited my bedroom table,windowsill,etc. along with a host of other toys,model characters and things to enact battle scenes,horror stories,etc. with. I also got to see some late night horror movies,typically on a Saturday night,that scared me occasionally but also challenged me now and again to think deeply about some concepts at a tender age,particularly about what I would and should do to deal with the situation shown. The Daleks Invasion of Earth 2150 AD film,a favourite of mine,was on TV one evening going into the Christmas holidays. I've seen that one repeated on TV a few times since,but the first one has been reshown rarely and not at a time when I was at home and with the free time to watch it again. I would love to have seen how a film version of the Chase turned out. It was before my time watching the TV series so I'd never seen it - until I watched the version on Dailymotion,patched up with animation for the missing parts,in early 2020.

[@PureExile]

@@rjjcms1 Not sure what you saw in 2020 but The Chase has no missing parts.

[@patchworkfellow4262]

*The Master destroyed Gallifrey, Peter Cushing’s Doctor destroyed Alderaan* 😏

[@sigmalater]

Peter Cushing is the Dark Dimensions 1st Doctor?

[@archiewood4599]

Lol

[@dubstepzsi]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAaaaaaa that is funny

[@SeeminglyOdd]

Now, Lord Vader will provide us with the location of the rebel fortress by the time this station is operational. We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke.

[@lonew2657]

This is the Doctor Who that introduced me to the tv series, I'll always appreciate this.

[@Fiyero1982]

I've actually used the Peter Cushing films to help friends of mine get into Doctor Who. Something about the 60's camp of it all helped them get into the frame of mind to watch the original series because instead of this "GRAND MYTHOS" thats built up around the past 50+ years if you think about it, the show back then is just plain campy sci-fi fun now

[@OpenMawProductions]

I mean, it's not. Doctor Who was aiming to be a serious science fiction series when it started out, and maintained that tone for most of its original run, until the tail end.

[@paulhunter6742]

I liked the Jon Pertwee/ Patrick Throughon eras because the Dr Who was purely entertaining. It didn't take itself so Seriously. The Time Lords/Darleks Wars have become so utterly depressing. And finally see Time Lord race been elasticated from history.

[@rockysandman5489]

​@paulhunter6742 *Daleks. Not "darleks".

[@johnboy2562]

The scene where the Dalek emerges from the river Thames still creeps me out to this day; it emphasizes just how versatile they were. Also, the Dalek ship in flight, along with that high pitched whine it makes, is one of the most realistic effects in any film.

[@Lumibear.]

I’ve heard the reason why sometimes the lights blink when the daleks aren’t talking is because initially the director didn’t realise they served a purpose and got them to just blink constantly at different rates. Later he realised they were meant to flash in time to their words, so in some scenes they do, some they just blink, and some they DUBBED. VOICE. CES. TO. THE. BLINK. ING.

[@stevedickson5853]

WE - UNDERSTAND, BUT- ITS - STILL- ANNOYING

[@Lumibear.]

@@stevedickson5853 IT. IS. IS. N’T. IT?

[@Novasky2007]

An D Th Us Th E Da Le K... Ac ce nt wa S... BO RN!

[@JayDragonarcProductions]

It is, indeed. Francis was not much familiar with Who... One has to wonder at what point the matter came to be realised.

[@experi-mentalproductions5358]

Finally somebody giving these films the respect they deserve!

[@GeorgeTheDinoGuy]

Yeah the Peter Cushing movies are great, they’re still doing their work today. When I was very young I asked my dad for more Daleks and he got me these two movies, ever since I’ve loved them!

[@HedeccaTamer]

Hello there fellow human!

[@GeorgeTheDinoGuy]

Hello there fellow humans! That into was actually invented because of doctor who, not a copy it just felt right.

[@jamieolberding7731]

@@GeorgeTheDinoGuy Both of the amazing Peter Cushing Dalek movies are definitely worth the watch.

[@markroke9368]

There is a delightful charm to these movies. Very of their time and should not be discounted. Thank you for reminding and introducing these to a new audience. Had them for years and love their innocence.

[@peterlee4753]

When I was a kid in the 70's we never got repeats of early episodes. I only saw these films and I thought Cushing was the first Doctor. They are iconic for me.

[@chrisst8922]

Same here. It wasn't until thr internet arrived that I learned about Patrick Troughton and Bill Hartnall. To me Hartnall was the boss in Hell Drives or in Carry On Sargeant.

[@reachandler3655]

Snap!

[@vocalist92]

Well he was very nearly the 2nd, after being offered the role and turning it down. Which he later regretted

[@rjjcms1]

I do remember them repeating the Green Death (one of my favourite Dr Who stories) all in one feature film-length shot around the Christmas after its original showing in 6 episodes in late spring/early summer 1973. So we got to see that one twice. Otherwise,you're right,it was never repeated so if you missed it you missed it! They did a similar feature-length showing of Genesis of the Daleks in 1982,which meant I finally got to see fully what happened in part 2 of the 6 it was originally shown in in 1975 (part 1 ended with Davros's first appearance as the prototype Dalek was tested,part 2 ended and part 3 began with the prisoner breakout in the Thal rocket silo).

[@rjjcms1]

Come to think about it,I seem to remember them re-showing the Daemons (the first Dr Who story I saw) in a feature-length format one Sunday morning not long after its original showing,in the familiar Saturday teatime slot,in 1971.

[@Shiny_Hunter_Rob]

I know the world of chemistry is huge, and there are still things humans do not know. But seeing fire extinguishers blow up a house is mind-boggling...

[@greedycapitalist8590]

Dalek fly spray is the most effective in the galaxy.

[@garethspotfur1]

yeah, i was never a fan of the gas weapons. could be worse though, first idea was real flamethrowers.

[@redblade8160]

Roberto Coutinho The smoke from the Dalek guns carry tiny atom bombs!

[@kwilfort]

Saved on special effects...

[@grahamcann1761]

As a young American, who started his schooling as a young lad in England I became a big fan of Doctor Who with William Hartnell, (yeah, that old,) but after a couple of years I was back in the states. And for years, (Until Jon Pertwee came to NBC, then PBS started running the Doctor Who series,) Peter Cushing's movies were the only Doctor Who I could get, and I loved, still love, them. As always thank you so very much for the video.

[@redblade8160]

Graham Cann I still remember watching the original TV series of Dr. Who in 1963 as a 6-year-old.

[@robinhood2980]

@@redblade8160 Me to I used to hide behind a sofa when the Daleks appeared, they did not talk as much then as they do now and when they did it was EXTERMINAT!!!!!

[@redblade8160]

@@robinhood2980 I was too brave to hide behind the sofa and I didn't want to miss the excitement of looking at the Daleks (but my little brother would hide). I think the Daleks are more menacing when they don't speak as much like they did in the early years.

[@jefferyyoung2580]

Dr.who cool movie 🎬

[@ritchiewalker570]

These two films are ALL I used to watch as a kid, it’s what got me into Dr Who! I can’t believe how good they still look!!!

[@jabbawonger6572]

Love Peter Cushing in the role, I think if like me you are of a certain vintage, you have no snobbery about these movies not being canon and just enjoy them for what they are, especially if you saw them on TV as a kid. I'm very fond of them.

[@rjjcms1]

Same here.

[@dirkjenkinz595]

I love both these films. One thing worth mentioning is how much Invasion Earth was influenced by the 2nd World War (which was a fairly recent occurence) and people wondering what life in Britain would be like if the Nazis had won. The parallels between the Daleks and the SS are screamingly obvious.

[@PsilocybinCocktail]

I think there are some Daleks doing Nazi salutes in the original TV series

[@JayDragonarcProductions]

Even Dr. Who and the Daleks is, too, thinking about the scene where the black Dalek gives the rally to all the other Daleks and they're all effectively Nazi saluting.

[@adiebarrett]

Interesting points, I think "Genesis Of The Daleks" was influenced by that thinking, and might not have been so obvious without both movies being repeated on TV from time to time.

[@paulashe61]

Watching the Tv DIoE you see the Daleks saluting while gliding around London

[@BigJulieWasDead]

I just saw both films today at the movies (in Sydney) and that absolutely leapt off the screen.

[@realbadger]

It is said one never forgets one's First Doctor... In 1966 when I was a young child my family visited England, and "Dalek Invasion Earth 2150 AD" was released in cinema that summer. Fortunately my parents loved sci-fi (and even horror), so we saw the feature in the cinema. Up to then (certainly as Americans), we were used to movie aliens being men in rubber suits. To see these metallic monsters with the most awesome voices (and we were already aware of Peter Cushing from his Hammer films), we were blown away. I immediately became a lifefan fan of Daleks (and the concept of the TARDIS). We loved the film. In the UK Dalekmania was at its height; and we brought back a few Dalek friction-drive toys, as well as not only the 1966 Doctor Who Annual (which puzzled me as as obviously it was Hartnell focused, but our relatives neglected to point out it was a TV series... I only learned it was a TV show a few years later via Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine); we also got that years Dalek Annual "The Dalek World," both books of which I've retained (I still want my own Orbitus). I still love the TARDIS, and long before "The Doctor's Wife" episode, the idea of the TARDIS being in danger was more of a horror to me than any of the other characters. To this day I love the second Dalek feature for having introduced me to the series; when the Tom Baker era began airing in the US, I procured its press kit, on the cover art was a Dalek, so I began watching, having to catch up with the show's canon, including but certainly not limited to regarding the fantastic concept of regeneration. [I loathe the poorly designed Paradigm Daleks (looking like they're wearing Skarosian mu-mu outfits), and I consider those an aberation, and I'm pleased proper Daleks still exist in the Doctor Who Universe.]

[@elwoodjacobs4353]

My dad watched Baker's Doctor when he was young, but he didn't know about regeneration until New-Who. My mom's only exposure to D.W. before she met him was seeing a wax figure of Baker's Doctor in a museum. Eventually she saw the Mcgann tv movie, & she & my dad began watching Eccleston's Doctor on Netflix. I grew up with New-Who, Eccleston, Tennant, Smith & Capaldi but I love Classic Who as well, including the Cushing films.

[@liamc9998]

I love these movies. They got me into Doctor Who as a child.

[@loanaoftheshellpeople5627]

Me too. I saw these films long before I watched any episode of Doctor Who.

[@rjjcms1]

When I first saw the films I'd seen most of the Daemons from the end of the 1971 series,plus the whole of Day the Daleks,the Curse of Peladon,the Sea Devils (minus one of the later of its 6 episodes on a day we moved house),etc. from the 1972 series.

[@zaccarpenter621]

I still remember when I first saw wilf in Voyage of the Damned my young mind instantly recognised him from one of my favourite films of all time

[@lintonkenneally7954]

Same here. I just love Bernard Cribbins. The first thing I ever saw him in was Fawlty Towers, and everything seen him in since, always puts a smile on my face. To me, he is one of Britain's icon's

[@andrewdrabble8939]

I will always remember Bernard Cribbins as the voice of The Wombles

[@fus149hammer4]

About time Bernard Cribbins became a "Sir" isn't it?

[@electragaming4140]

I wonder if RTD’s inclusion of Cribbins, during the Tennent era, was tipping a nod to the films, without making it overly obvious?

[@peterjf7723]

Maybe, but I doubt it. I think Bernard Cribbins was a good actor who was available and right for the part.

[@baggieboydan82]

Bernard Cribbins was also in big finish audios

[@michaelpettitt8656]

Could Wilfred be Tom but after having had a mind wipe same as Donna?

[@jb888888888]

I think that Cribbins' appearance in "Voyage of the Damned" was a winking cameo. When the actor who played Donna's father died he was retconned into being Wilf, Donna's grandfather. (ETA) In "Voyage"'s original script Cribbins' character is named Stan. raindance.org/scripts/Doctor_Who_4x00_-_Voyage_of_the_Damned.pdf

[@Spectahman2.0]

@@jb888888888 not retconned, he was replaced.

[@chrischibnall593]

"Daleks Invasion Earth" is an excellent film. The music is good, and I love the surreality of how the Dalek's ship looks like a giant, silent flying teapot, which somehow makes it more disturbing. Why is it, every time I watch this film, I end up craving Suga Puffs?

[@russellpotter7294]

As a kid I found them very exciting and fun. I still remember the excitement leading up to the first film. Had no trouble separating them from the tv series even as a fan at the time. But did enjoy the first one more. Just more spooky and thrilling. Have them on DVD and they still rekindle the excitement I felt all those years ago. Far more part of the original then any of the awful modern series feels.

[@robertfeld5829]

It is a shame The Chase was never made. It would have been glorious to see the Daleks of this reality become time travellers.

[@Mjk10957]

There is some odd footage of the 3rd movie floating around not a lot but there is some. They seemed to decide to go back to the original movie daleks for the 3rd film. I use to have a VHS tape called dalekmania when i was a kid in the mid 90s it had the 3rd flim footage in that. Type in the mission of doom surviving footage on you tube thats the footage form the 3rd movie

[@greedycapitalist8590]

@@Mjk10957 "Mission of Doom" was an uncompleted amateur production, inspired by the Amicus movies, but with no direct connection. Still worth watching the bits that were made, though.

[@Novasky2007]

Michael Bay should make it now using the rogue one CGI Cushing assets XD it'd be insane

[@NOtroll]

Man I grew up on these movies. I love them. Im glad you are giving them praise.

[@jasps6549]

So this will date me: Went to see "ABBA - The Movie" at a long-lost ABC Cinema, in the days when the main feature had a support film. And it was "Doctor Who and the Daleks." Bonus, though when I went for a wee some staff members were moaning that the projectionist was drunk and had missed out a whole reel!

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

ABBA the movie? Now that's obscure!

[@shialtin]

Probably the misremembering of nostalgia, but I feel like I grew up with these; they always seemed to be run during the school holidays. I'm sure I must have seen both three or four times before I was ten years old - and that was in the dinosaur years of terrestrial television, without the benefits of a video recorder. I loved Doctor Who, but also loved Peter Cushing, being an underaged afficionado of the old Hammer Horror films. Brilliant performance by a fantastic actor. While his portrayal may not be canon, he encapsulated the character of the Doctor as well as anyone before or since.

[@philwebb8049]

First saw these in the 80's when I was young. They were a massive part of my childhood and I always look back on them with the fondest of memories. Great video 👍

[@Lone_Cyberman_Productions]

In the story planet of the daleks, which featured one of the original Dalek supremes, the daleks prop used was a reused one from the Cushing films that was also owned by Terry Nation The creator of the daleks

[@ianotimelord]

I love the Dalek films. Especially Daleks 2150AD. The sfx of the spaceship I still think is fantastic. Also like the Dalek hierarchy, red, black & gold. . Finally good video.

[@rjjcms1]

I always thought the Red Dalek was a kind of all-action captain/foreman getting its pincer dirty marshalling the silver-and-blue regular Daleks and the Robomen,and de facto third in the chain of command,while the Gold Dalek was the overall leader/head honcho and the Black Dalek was the second-in-command and/or scientific specialist/expert.

[@nicolebee3283]

They are canon as movies. In the day of the doctor novelisation copies of the movies are in the black archive and the 3 doctors call each other dr who as a joke

[@Novasky2007]

Yes the films themselves exist in universe as inspired by The Doctor and Cushing was his reccomendation for the role XD its a fun nod and a wink

[@s.panimations]

I actually saw both of these movies years ago before embarking on my journey through all of classic who, and I am so happy that you are talking about them. They're fantastic and, in my opinion, much easier to stomach than the original serials. I have to agree that Daleks Invasion of Earth is the better film, but both are just great watches.

[@christopherwilson3754]

The simple fact that they star Peter Cushing makes these films worth watching.

[@apollomoon8]

Tbh I really liked the Peter cushing doctor who movies

[@joshimations894]

Same

[@JoesAnimationHub]

Same, shame they never made the third one they wanted... could've made a great movie trilogy. Could've had some good Hammer Horror stars like "Invasion Earth 2150AD" did too... I could probably see people like Peter Sallis either as a newly named companion or as Steven Taylor alongside Peter Cushing and Roberta Tovey, Roy Kinnear, Christopher Lee and Dave Prowse (for the haunted house)... it's fun to imagine what it would be like. I also imagine that Dr Who would watch the time space visualiser and they watch the Beatles promo film for "Strawberry Fields Forever" before coming face to screen with Dalek leaders (because if the film had been made it's release would've been probably during or height of the Sgt Pepper era).

[@nigeh5326]

I agree I really enjoyed them as a kid in the 70s. My cousin had a toy Dalek and one memory I have is of arguing with her about me playing with her dalek, I was so jealous

[@LennyT007]

i remember watching watching them both as the late late movies back in the late 1970s. both have a bit of camp and slapstick added to the stories, but they are enjoyable. 👍👍👍

[@michaelpettitt8656]

We actually got our first colour TV to watch the first one, great timing there. Loved the whole same but not the same vibe. I was only a toddler back then so, arrrhhh Dalek, quick hide. I must have missed over half the film. I watched years later, still awesome. So many wonderful memories, sweet.

[@williamwatson4354]

Dalek Invasion is still my favorite Hartnell story. And that Bernard guy in the second movie. Would have loved to see him as a real companion. "Wink."

[@RobSchofield]

2150 also featured music and sound effects by Barry Gray - the composer behind the bulk of Gerry Anderson's shows. Nice review of two great films!

[@poshingtonno1157]

It was these films that got me into Doctor who. Daleks invasion earth is an amazing film and I have watched it so many times I can't count.

[@stewsretroreviews]

Me and my brother used to love these Dalek films back in the 80s as it was repeated so many times, just remember all the different coloured daleks. Peter Cushing was great and should have been the 2nd Doc really, we had the 8th in a film? I enjoyed both films!

[@peterwindhorst5775]

It was not the first time Cushing was not called "doctor" - the other times he was called "Dr. Van Helsing" and "Doctor Frankenstein"...

[@lightningijdanimations2835]

i really liked watching these films and think they're underrated so i'm happy someone who agrees with me finally made a video about them

[@simondennis9460]

Loved both of these movies as a youngling. Very watchable and well paced like you say. The production was top notch, the daleks really do look incredible for the time.

[@TheBorgAssassin]

Thanks for making this, there isn't enough love giving to these Movies.

[@EyeInTheSky982]

I saw the Cushing Dr. Who movies as a kid in the 70's; and decades later, I have one on dvd, and the other on blu ray. Loved them back then, and I love them now. Peter Cushing is amazing in everything he does; and his Dr. Who films are fun family entertainment. 😊😊

[@clogs4956]

Me, too! I have both movies on a DVD and love them (dare I say it: they are better than the tv episodes.... pacing, indeed).

[@EyeInTheSky982]

@@clogs4956 I was lucky to find them in the only movie store still around where I live. 😊😊 *GASP!!! 😲😲* Dare you say that indeed. 😲😲 I guess it all depends on what episode you're watching. 🤔🤔 Some tv episodes are better than others. 😊😊

[@Ryadalyl]

Sir Peter Cushing did an amazing job. The films are fun and excellent remakes of the relevant Dr Who episodes. You'll never look at Grand Moff Tarkin the same way again, he made Star Wars 11 years later.

[@roberthelme8000]

I remember seeing these as a wee lad and loving them. It’s been years- I’ll have to check them out again! Thanks, Rich!

[@RobertRodriguez-ro5lf]

Growing up in Texas my first Doctor was Tom Baker and the movies were the first non Baker stuff I ever saw. Really enjoyed them both.

[@AnubisX1]

Dalek invasion of earth is my favourite. I just love the dalek colour schemes, some of the best dalek colours period. Also the voices in the 2nd movie are brilliant. Its a shame we didn't get a 3rd film but given the chase was an attempt to give daleks comedy, not sure how well it would of worked. I would still love to see another dalek movie made, would even have to be an adaptation of a story could be their own movie just without the doctor, like the big finish dalek empire series

[@TheMazimai85]

I had no idea Peter Cushing was Dr who. I'll have to find it. I love Peter Cushing

[@LennyT007]

both are on BritBox.

[@brianartillery]

You won't regret it. Both movies are time well spent. I envy you watching them for the first time.

[@emperortrevornorton3119]

They may be retellings of some of my favorite TV episodes of William Hartnell

[@paulashe7460]

@@emperortrevornorton3119 they were spellbinding in the cinema

[@illaveyoubutler3588]

.....also on Blu-ray

[@vic5015]

Carrie Fisher used to tell these *amazing* stories about what Peter Cushing was like between takes on Star Wars. Seems that he liked to sit around in a velvet dressing gown, sipping tea, reading the paper, and smelling of lavender. She also said that he was always very kind to her and that knowing what he had just been doing sometimes made it hard to keep a straight face during their scenes together. He also apparently still smelled of lavender while shooting those scenes, which did not help her try to keep a straight face.

[@Njbear7453]

I believe his mother wanted a daughter and she raised him as a female, or dressed him as a little girl growing up.

[@vic5015]

@@Njbear7453 I have no idea if thats true 9r not, so I have nothing to say about it. Besides a dressing gown is not the same as a nightgown. Its basically a robe. That's just what they called it back then.

[@MrBulky992]

@@Njbear7453 Historically, for centuries, until the end of WWI, young boys in western countries were dressed as girls until they were "breeched" and put into knickerbockers or short trousers. Cushing was born in 1913 so might have just fallen into that era.

[@Njbear7453]

@@MrBulky992 I did not know that!

[@rf3162]

I just noticed a huge flaw in "Blink" that would have froze the angels sooner. There were mirrors all over the first floor hallways. They could have used those to hunt down the angels one by one and trap them into staring at their own reflections. But them all staring at eachother was probably a bit more permanent a solution.

[@Grizzly01]

That's great, and so relevant to the 1960s Dalek films!

[@senonimoustv2497]

Actually no, at the beginning of the episode it was established that no one quite knew gow the Angels worked until after they sent the Doctor back in time. It's only throughout the course of the episode that we fully learn how to combat the angels.

[@markwardel6751]

as a Dalek crazed kid in the 1960s I saw both these films at my local ABC cinema and still remember it as being a totally thrilling experience. The set design, lighting and art direction still holds up in these more 'sophisticated' times and as a bit of comfort/nostalgia viewing I occasionally watch them even today. Simply for the gorgeous lighting and amazing set design, the first film is my favourite.

[@sigmalater]

I love these Dalek movies, Invasion is hands down my favourite. Peter Cushing would've made a brilliant Doctor I think but I'm really glad we got to see him in the role in these movies

[@Benji568]

Had both of these on VHS and used to watch them repeatedly. I have got them on DVD since then. They are very much of their time like most of 60s Doctor Who but they are still a lot of fun to watch.

[@lisaheisey6168]

I saw both of these films in 1985, on a double bill, in a movie theater that specialized in niche films, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, etc. I never imagined then, that years later Bernard Cribbins would play such a vital role in Doctor Who, when New Who arrived. But, even if I hadn't already loved Doctor who so much, in 1985, I still would have gone to see them, because I'll automatically watch any movie starring Peter Cushing or Vincent Price.

[@kimothy1701]

As a Dr Who fan I love both these movies. Actually saw invasion in the cinema. Did originally go to see Bedknobs and Broomsticks with my uncle but they were literally queuing right round the block. The end of the queue was actually by the front at the cinema entrance. No chance of getting in so went to another cinema and watched invasion instead.

[@garethmorgan8326]

I love the Cushing Doctor, there was a lot to like in it - besides, the Second Movie was gritty and cool, Cushing's Doctor became the character we know and love from the series in that movie.

[@andrewtickle2367]

I REALLY loved these films and this is what got me into watching actual Doctor Who. It is such a shame that they did not make the third one. Watching this video took me back. thanks for doing the review.

[@jnichols3]

You had me at "Peter Cushing".

[@dogeKiller]

This was my introduction to doctor who 2 years before the revival my dad made me watch them and i fell in love

[@Hawkeye26]

Thank you for covering these with the respect that they deserve. I grew up seeing these a few times BEFORE seeing the B&W versions, and DEFINTELY prefer them to the originals...Tovey > Ford being a strong reason for that. The music in the original is great! The opening theme music is better than the 2nd film and the track known as "The Trap" is by far my favourite track overall; great walking music!

[@hinduismwithpremananddasbhagat]

I've seen so many of Cushing's films, and when you see him as the Doctor and then Moff Tarkin and then Baron Frankenstein ... you realize how good of an actor he was.

[@glennabbott3795]

As a child of the sixties i was taken to see both the films at the cinema and can remember being blown away by how bright and colourful they were and gained a collection of Daleks from them in various colours. Having watched them a lot of times since as an adult i see think they're well made homages to the TV series and great entertainment in their own right, plus they had the legendary Peter Cushing in the title combined with Daleks what's not to love.

[@thefragrantwookiee]

I always loved that the set-dresser decided to show how futuristic the Dalek city is by having a whole shelf full of lava lamps. Hi-tech!

[@TheImperialCommunique]

Thank you so much for this! You're so right. These are throughly enjoyable films.

[@brianartillery]

I agree with every word. I loved these when I first saw them in the late 1960's, and I still do. 'Doctor Who And The Daleks' made us very late for a family gathering once - my late father sat down to watch 'just five minutes' when it was shown on the TV one Saturday morning, and only got up to drive to Essex, when it finished. A fond memory. But they look astonishing, still. Those bigger, badder Daleks (I just knew you'd have a 'Jungles Of Mechanus' Dalek set); those incredible sets, including the first movie's control room with the rotating console. The perfect Dalek saucer in the second movie, the model oviously very large, and filmed against real skies, especially when seen chasing the van, where it looks frighteningly big as it gets closer. The Dalek shaft scared me as a kid, as things and people fall down it. And it also has Philip Madoc, who played several mad and evil bastards in Doctor Who, not disappointing in his bastardy here, but sadly overestimating the strength of a toolshed when shot at by a dozen or so really quite annoyed Daleks.

[@starbard92]

Dr. Who and the Daleks was my very first entry into Doctor Who fandom. My parents owned it on VHS and I use to watch it over and over again. It wasn’t until years later I found out there was a TV show it was based on! Now I have been a dedicated Whovian since 2006

[@beastialmoon2327]

Invasion Earth 2250 AD is surprisingly fun, and I do suggest watching it on its own. However, Rifftrax has the film available on their site alongside their iconic riffing, and it is one of my most replayed commentary tracks. Every other minute is a hilarious joke. Also, a young Bermard Cribbins! It's so wonderful watching him as Wilfred in Series 4 of New Who and then going back and seeing where his acting career began.

[@brianartillery]

If you like Bernard Cribbins, he made a non-Who TV movie called 'Dangerous Davies - The Last Detective'. If you think he's just a comic actor, this is an eye-opener: he's a superb actor, full stop. Interestingly, several years later, a TV series of 'Dangerous Davies' was made - it's very good, too, and interestingly, starred Peter Davison in the title role.

[@RogEdwardsTV]

Great video. I remember reading that the director of DWATD didn’t know the lights had to sync with the dialogue and they shot loads of scenes with the lights just flashing on and off. Later they had to match the voices to the flashes and that’s why some scenes have painfully slow dialogue. Later scenes have the lights correctly synced to the dialogue once they realised. Love Invasion! I’ve watched it hundreds of times. I do wish they’d recreated the scene of the Daleks crossing Westminster Bridge, that would have put the icing on the cake.

[@kwilfort]

Was also to help the camermen know which Dalek was supposed to be speaking for close ups etc.

[@oscarknight2564]

"Let's get back to TARDIS" will never not sound horrific to these ears

[@sixty-four]

Isn't it technically correct rather than saying The TARDIS?

[@oscarknight2564]

@@sixty-four thanks Bill Potts. But yes, if we were going to be technical about details in the world of Who, we'd be here all day and more

[@sixty-four]

@@oscarknight2564 omg, too soon

[@oscarknight2564]

@@sixty-four I'll never be over our loss :(

[@richardenglish2195]

@@sixty-four Hard to say. "Let's get back to The Time And Relative Dimension In Space" sounds less clunky than "Let's get back to Time And Relative Dimension in Space," but as an acronym it works either way. The real question is should it be capitalised, but that's another argument...

[@TheAnonymousShade]

I have seen Dr. Who and the Daleks, but to learn Cushing played in another movie! What a treat sir! I’ve always loved Dr. Who and the Daleks despite the fact it wasn’t canon.

[@theeleventhdoctor2043]

Im mainly loving the Dalek color schemes of the movie

[@chrischatfield8550]

The two Dalek films definitely give you a flavour of the two tv transmitted stories .......the colours are amazing ,the Tardis prop in this is beautiful and the daleks and their voices are excellent .....also the scenery especially in the first film is magnificent for the era ...........beautiful films

[@alankelly1001]

I have loved these movies since I first saw the tail end of "Daleks Invasion Earth" about 40 years ago on an obscure TV channel here in Canada. I was already a Doctor Who fan, having seen the last episode of "Planet of the Spiders" the previous year (thanks to the vagaries of international program sales and endless public broadcasting re-runs). Having seen the tail end of the film, I didn't catch the differing continuity at all. I just absorbed the colourful daleks and went back to reading the classic Target Books adaptations (in fact, having never seen the serial "Planet of the Daleks" at that point, I always assumed that the Supreme Dalek in the novelization was red). I finally got to see the full films when Anchor Bay released them on DVD in North America in 2001, and greeted them as what they were: big colour adaptations, marketed primarily to children, that tried to avoid the heavy background continuity of the TV show (because you can't assume that the viewer in the cinema has actually watched the show). They still sit at the head of the shelf of Doctor Who DVDs and BluRays in my video library. I fully agree that "Daleks Invasion Earth" is the stronger of the two (not least because of Bernard Cribbins, who would have to wait until the revived series to become a true Doctor Who companion, while Philip Madoc, the black marketeer from the Dalek mine, would appear multiple times in different roles in the original series).

[@rjjcms1]

I was another avid devourer of the Target books for a few years spanning the middle part of the 70s,nearly always of stories the TV visualisation I hadn't seen because they were from before my time watching the show. Imagining what things would have looked like was frequently better than some of the budget-limited realisations. The first story I read in that format was the original Dalek story I'd recently seen in the movie. Without having seen the TV versions I also read both of the Auton stories,at least a couple of Cybermen ones from the 60s,both the Yeti stories and a few others. I was also given,at Christmas in 1972,a colourful A4-sized book all about the series,which had in one of its chapters a run-through of all the stories thus far in chronolgical order,with a brief synopsis of each story and some key details about it. There was also a chapter about building your own lifesize Dalek out of wood and bits,painting it,etc. but we never attempted that!

[@rhy5d3ll]

I’ve been wanting to watch these films for a while and this video gave me the push I needed. Both films are excellent and I love them, they’re now on my favourite films list. I do prefer the first film but the second is also fantastic and I wish we’d had more of Peter Cushing as Dr. Who.

[@F5ss]

They are Canon, the Peter Cushing Movies exist in Universe, in the Day of the Doctor Novelisation the 10th and 11th Doctors watch them together and even Pitch a third Movie.

[@danieljensen2626]

I mean, existing as movies in the TV universe is not exactly the same as them being Canon.

[@-tcbms-8849]

@@danieljensen2626 no, it is. The movies are cannon in the sense that they are movies in the TV universe as well as ours. The events of the movies never took place in the whoniverse, but the movies themselves were released there. Geez that’s confusing.

[@MetroTitanD78]

These are still my favourite Daleks of all time and like many people these two films introduced me to the world of Doctor Who. I was just old enough to remember watching Rememberance of the Daleks and I class the Imperial Daleks a close second.

[@Jedi_Spartan_38]

BTW, they're on Britbox. I remember watching these at some point so I was already intending to watch them at some point in Lockdown.

[@treknology1068]

Terry Nation played a huge role in converting these from TV to cinema. Daleks were taller so that operators could stand and then move with greater agility, Stronger color schemes were used to introduce rank.

[@greenmonsterprod]

I really enjoy the movies, and that includes the Rifftrax versions (recommended by another poster below). One interesting idea is that, in a way, these movies prepared us for regeneration by showing that there was more than one way to play the Doctor while staying true to the basic character. And I'm surprised you didn't mention that the second movie featured Andrew Keir, the third incarnation of the Doctor's sci-fi rival, Prof. Quatermass.

[@josephabrams4059]

I saw both of these back in the mid 80's. Love both of them. I still have a VHS copies of both movies.

[@hunterkiller1440]

I actually wish Guy Henry played this Doctor in the Fugitive of Judoon instead of Ruth.

[@ianbillericay]

I’ve met Guy Henry

[@ItsButterBean1020]

I love Ruth but this would honestly be wild

[@GeorgeTheDinoGuy]

Why not have both?

[@harvestturkey1339]

I feel if it were to be canon in some way it works more as an “alternate universe“ because it wouldn’t make since as the doctors past since meeting the Daleks like that can’t of happened twice in the same timeline.

[@JayDragonarcProductions]

Wouldn't happen sadly. Rogue One was a careful thing that Cushing's estate agreed to as a one-off that cost a massive amount of money. He has, however, cropped up in a few print stories since though... and also the original Human Nature novel-ish. Cornell sort of implied him as a past Doctor.

[@TobiasFernison]

Nostalgia as the first Doctor Who thing I watched was Peter Cushing's Dr who and the daleks and is what got me into doctor who.

[@lukeamsterdam]

a fantastic articulation of why I love these two films and why every fan should see them with expectations set firmly to 'fun'. excellent video! 👌

[@barianbakura2116]

I absolutely love these films. At an annual festival I go to there used to be an old style cinema type thing and the guy who ran it had a reel of Dr who and the Daleks and watching it was always the highlight of the festival !

[@tobylerone4285]

The sets in the Daleks are just glorious, and I think evoked quite splendidly in Twice Upon a Time

[@dr.feelgoodmalusphillips2475]

Best part about the films is they got the original voice actors from the tv series, Peter Hawkins and David Graham. They really perfected their Dalek voices and sound phenomenal.

[@funjuror]

I remember very clearly, going to the cinema to see this, I was 12. But very disappointed, it was not Dr Who!!!, but the colour was astonishing( as you have pointed out). I always liked the anti-hero that William Hartnell portrayed, he was dangerous and unpredictable, so different from TV heroes of the time. It saddened me, as the series went on, that he was written, to be kinder, and more a Grandfatherly. He will always be my favourite. As a 9-year-old in 1963, I found it refreshing to have a darker science fiction series, with good drama for children and appreciated not being talked down to. My love of Astronomy, Science, Palaeontology, Archaeology etc, that I have enjoyed my whole life, was seeded by the first few years of Dr Who. I will re-watch both the Peter Cushing films.

[@edwardtobias200]

Thankyou for the memory, in Canada we saw the movies before the tv show so i guess its just our timeline

[@samuellawrence1045]

so it's funny I think the first piece of Doctor Who Media I experienced was actually the Peter Cushing Dalek film

[@NightmareproductionsOFFICIAL]

Just watched these movies in the cinema double bill. Everyone in the audience had a great time. Full of old folks surprised it was such a packed theatre. Hope to see more doctor who in the cinema in future.

[@deronhanson5454]

have always heard that you learn something new every day-didn't know about these films until now-thank you so much!!!

[@bryansalvagejr757]

I really hope we get a 5inch Character Option Peter Crushing Doctor Who figures! Great movies with an amazing actor in the role. Great video mate, couldn't agree more!

[@EthanDolan61101]

I loved these Movies I watched them ask a kid and was obsessed with them. I even dressed up as one of the movie Daleks as a kid one Halloween. Thanks for caring for these movies, they have a been a staple of my childhood and helped me develop my evergrowing love of Doctor Who.

[@SolitaryWolf]

Great review! I have always loved these movies since I discovered them in the mid-80s. They are different but they’re not that bad. Not to mention you get to see early Doctor Who in color.

[@ChuckDeFuque]

His were my first introduction to Dr. Who. Loved them then and now along with series.

[@EnchantedIDK]

Dr who was such an amazing show, i watched him all the time So weird and so great! Love this channel

[@angelskye6966]

I've seen them countless numbers of times as a huge peter cushing fan as well as Doctor Who. I LOVED his rendition of the doctor better than some in the TV series.

[@awc6169]

i do love the Dr.Who movies and got both on DVD as well they have my all-time favorite Dalek designs.

[@jeffdave8884]

I first watched these films as a child in the 1970s and loved them both. I have both on DVD and watch them about every year or so. Total enjoyment, big, bold and enchanting, I highly recommend them both.

[@hamarlow]

I first saw these as School holiday viewing back in (I think) the mid-70s, and have always had a soft spot for them; I didn't see the original serials until decades later, so I was making no comparisons. I saw the second film first - I remember idly wondering what had happened to Louise when I saw the first movie. They're wonderful, cinematic adventure stories - they could easily have been transcriptions of the 50's pulp science fiction novels I've devoured over the years, and are all the better for that. I think I feel a rewatch coming on....