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Dalek's Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.

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1966-09 Films and Filming.jpg

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Directed by Gordon Flemyng. Produced by Max J. Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky. Screenplay by Milton Suhotsky, from the BBC-TV serial by Terry Nation. Director of photography, John Wilcox. Editor, Ann Chegwidden. Music, Bill McGuffie. Art Director, George Provis. An Aaru production, distributed by BLC/British Lion. British. Techniscope. Technicolor. Cert. U. 84 mins.

Dr. Who, PETER CUSHING; Tom Campbell, BERNARD CRIBBINS; David, RAY BROOKS; Wyler, ANDREW KEIR; Susan, ROBERTA TOVEY; Louise, JILL CURZON; Wells, ROGER AVON; Conway, KEITH MARSH; Roboman, GEOFFREY CHESHIRE; Leader Roboman, STEVE PETERS; Brockley, PHILIP MADOC; Thompson, EDDIE POWELL; Dortmun, GOD-FREY QUIGLY; Man on Bicycle, TONY REYNOLDS; Man with Carrier Bag, BERNARD SPEAR; Young Woman, SHEILA STEAFEL; Old Woman, EILEEN WAY; Craddock, KENNETH WATSON; Robber, JOHN WREFORD and Leader Dalek Operator, ROBERT JEWELL.

The Earth has been subject to an invasion by those motorised dustbins, the Daleks, and London is much the worse for wear. And if this is what London will look like in 2150 AD., I can only say that it looks very old-fashioned: positively 1966. I cannot really believe that hideous Battersea Power Station will stand in 2150. I certainly hope that it won't, although t shall not be there to see it. The face of London will surely change so radically during the next two hundred years that very little of what is now familiar will remain. Given this basic inconsistency (and the clothes are stolidly 1960's too) the film is good, undemanding entertainment, particularly suited to the younger cinemagoers who have formed an attachment for the Daleks via the BBC-TV series. They will miss William Hartnell as Dr. Who, although Peter Cushing makes an acceptable substitute. Unfortunately, Cushing was ill during much of the shooting and Flemyng was forced to shoot round him a lot so his appearances are But the real stars are the Daleks. I was intrigued to find that the Daleks have a strict hierarchy. Ordinary Daleks are silver with blue spots. Next in line is a red one with silver spots, above that a black one with gold spots and the top Dalek is gold with black spots. They are splendid creations and quite frightening at times providing that one can forget Robert Jewel and his buddies sweating profusely inside, pushing the things along with their feet. And the Special Effects department has dreamed up a super spaceship for the Daleks which is quite enchanting.

Equally enchanting is Bernard Cribbins who provides comic relief as a 20th century special constable unwillingly caught up in the travels of Tardis (Dr. Who's time and space machine for those not in the know). There is one beautifully judged scene when, disguised as a brain-washed Roboman, Cribbins joins seven other zombies in a nourishing meal of techni-colored pills. The Robomen eat in absolute unison but Cribbins has difficulty in synchronising with them—short and to the point, it's a deliciously funny sequence. There are a lots of laughs as well as thrills sprinkled around but happily none of the laughs are unintentional. Flemyng keeps things moving, throwing in plenty of action and explosions for good measure

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  • APA 6th ed.: Rider, David (Sept. 1966). Dalek's Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.. Films and Filming p. 7.
  • MLA 7th ed.: Rider, David. "Dalek's Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.." Films and Filming [add city] Sept. 1966, 7. Print.
  • Chicago 15th ed.: Rider, David. "Dalek's Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.." Films and Filming, edition, sec., Sept. 1966
  • Turabian: Rider, David. "Dalek's Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.." Films and Filming, Sept. 1966, section, 7 edition.
  • Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Dalek's Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dalek%27s_Invasion_Earth_2150_A.D. | work=Films and Filming | pages=7 | date=Sept. 1966 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=29 March 2024 }}</ref>
  • Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Dalek's Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dalek%27s_Invasion_Earth_2150_A.D. | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=29 March 2024}}</ref>