VHS : Doctor Who - The War Machines [1966]

Rating: - The War Machines
I think I'm right in saying this is one of the first stories to be completely based on contemporary Earth and to benefit from the 'Yeti in the Loos at Tooting Bec' effect. It's atmospheric and very creepy to watch the War Machines trundle through the streets of London controlled by a super Computer in the then newly opened Post Office Tower. I suppose it was written to touch on the fears of where computerisation would lead and it does scare. It also is the story that introduces the sailor, Ben and the resourceful Polly who are both fun believable characters and an improvement on Dodo who feels very wooden. There are lighter bits, such as a policeman trying to go into the TARDIS thinking it's a real police box until he sees an out of order sign, and William Hartnell seems to be enjoying himself. Well worth a look.

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Rating: - Disco Inferno
I'd have to say this is probably my favourite Hartnell story, with the possible exception of Dalek Invasion Of Earth. It's refreshing to see the first Doctor on contemporary (1966) Earth. Earthbound stories tend to work better in terms of achieving a more realistic look and this certainly does, featuring so heavily such familiar London sights as the Post Office tower, and a slightly different looking Covent Garden!

It is a genuinely chilling story in parts. The idea of being hypnotised by a strange noise at the other end of a telephone line seeming frighteningly possible in this day and age... Hartnell is a little distant at times, nearing the end of his time on the programme and the War Machines themselves are laughably unthreatening to look at, but the overall look of the story is highly realistic and entertaining. Great to finally see a complete Ben and Polly story as well. I think this might be the only one.

Definitely worth buying though. It'll restore your faith in Hartnell as the Doctor and it's great fun to watch the extras doing their psychedelic dancing in Club Inferno!

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Rating: - A Must have For Harnell Aficionados!
London 1966: - Professor Brett's ultra-intelligent computer WOTAN is about to be linked up with other advanced machines around the world to create a problem-solving network. However, trouble is afoot: - WOTAN has hypnotised Brett and several other technical wizards, using their skills to breed a new lifeform - the War Machine, which the computer is using to threaten London. However, WOTAN has a much higher goal than merely London itself, and time is running short for the Doctor and his allies as soon the world will face a merciless army of bloodthirsty Machines programmed to desroy all animal life...

This is very much a tale of it's time - I mean we've got the Post Office Tower (WOTAN's HQ), cameos by BBC news reporters and even a clip from Blue Peter at the start of the vid. WOTAN's scheme is far-fetched in the extreme, and the design of the War Machines themselves leaves a fair bit to be desired. The idea that these roaring clunkers could do anything except knock over dustbins (and believe me, that's what they do for most of the time) can generously be described as ludicrous. However, the direction is fine (like the explosion of WOTAN at the end!), and Hartnell gets the chance to shine in one of his last appearances. Me, I want a copy of that scary music they use when WOTAN hypnotises people. The good news is that Jackie Lane's Dodo abruptly decides to get lost in the last episode, and we have get Cockney couple Polly + Ben as her replacement. All in all, not a bad tale. Try it.

James