THE REIGN OF TERROR

Written by Dennis Spooner.

Directed by Heinrich Hirsch/ John Gorrie (Episode 3 only).

Transmitted originally: 8 August 1964 to 12 September 1964.

Episode 1: A Land of Fear

Episode 2: Guests of Madame Guillotine

Episode 3: A Change of Identity

Episode 4: The Tyrant of France

Episode 5: A Bargain of Necessity

Episode 6: Prisoners of Conciergerie

"You can't influence or change history. I learned that lesson with the Aztecs." - Barbara "The events will happen, just as they are written. I'm afraid so, and we can't stem the tide. But at least we can stop being carried away with the flood! - The Doctor

THE STORY

The TARDIS materialises not far from Paris in 1794 - one of the bloodiest years following the French Revolution of 1789. The travellers become involved with an escape chain rescuing prisoners from the guillotine but get caught up the machinations of an English undercover spy, James Stirling - alias Lemaitre, governor of the Conciergerie Prison. Twice, the Doctor, posing as a Regional Officer of the Provinces - is brought before the great tyrnat Robespierre himself, and is forced to talk himself out of trouble.

Ian and Barbara, meanwhile have a close encounter with the future ruler of France, Napoleon Bonaparte. As events reach their climax, Robespierre is overthrown - shot in the jaw and dragged off to the prison - and the Doctor and his friends slip quietly back to the TARDIS.

CAST:

The Doctor (William Hartnell), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Ian Chesterton (William Russell), Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill), Small boy (Peter Walker), Rouvray (Laidlaw Dalling), D'Argenson (Neville Smith), Sergeant (Robert Hunter), Lieutenant (Ken Lawrence), Soldier (James Hall), Judge (Howard Charlton), Jailer (Jack Cunningham), Webster (Jeffry Wickham), Road works overseer (Dallas Cavell), Peasant (Denis Cleary), Lemaitre (James Cairncross), Jean (Roy Herrick), Jules Renan (Donald Morely), Shopkeeper (John Barrard), Danielle (Caroline Hunt), Leon Colbert (Edward Brayshaw), Robespierre (Keith Anderson), Physician (Ronald Pickup), Soldier (Terry Bale), Paul Barrass (John Law), Napoleon (Tony Wall), Soldier (Patrick Marley).

FACTS:

The second episode features Doctor Who's first ever location filming: some shots of the Doctor walking through the countryside supposedly toward Paris, with Brian Proudfoot doubling for William Hartnell.

This story was a replacement for a postponed and ultimately abandoned David Whitaker six-parter about sixteenth century Spain after the Armada.

Only Episodes 1 to 3 and Episode 6 survive intact.

OTHER FORMATS:

The First Doctor Novelisations

Back to the First Doctor Programme GuideBack to 'The Sensorites'.