INVASION OF THE DINOSAURS

Written by Malcolm Hulke.

Directed by Paddy Russell.

Transmitted originally: 12 January 1974 to 16 February 1974.

"You've got no right to take away the existence of generations of people." 'The Doctor'

THE STORY

The Doctor and Sarah return to present-day London and find it deserted. Initially arrested as looters, they are soon reunited with UNIT forces. The Brigadier explains that central London has been evacuated due to the unexplained appearance of prehistoric monsters. The Doctor and Sarah discover that the dinosaurs are being brought forward in time by two scientists, Whitaker and his assistant Butler, as part of a conspiracy to clear London of people. The Doctor's investigations are hindered by both Captain Yates and the army's General Finch, both of whom are involved in the conspiracy. Sarah visits Sir Charles Grover, the Government Minister in charge of the emergency, but discovers that he too is involved. Captured and hypnotised, she awakes to find herself apparently on board a spaceship travelling to colonise a new planet. She discovers the ship is a fake and those on board have been duped.

The conspirators intend to use a time machine to return the planet to a 'Golden Age', before the Earth became polluted,so they and the would-be-colonists can begin civilisation anew. The Doctor and the Brigadier raid their underground headquarters. Grover attempts to operate the machine, but succeeds only in sending himself and Whitaker back to the era of the dinosaurs. The Brigadier arranges for the misguided Yates to resign from UNIT.

CAST:

The Doctor (Jon Pertwee), Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), General Finch (John Bennett), Captain Yates (Richard Franklin), Sergeant Benton (John Levene), Lieutenant Shears (Ben Aris), Sergeant Duffy (Dave Carter), Corporal Norton (Martin Taylor), Private Ogden (George Bryson), R/T Soldier (John Caesar), Phillips (Gorden Reid), Lodge (Trevor Lawrence), Warehouse Looter (Terry Walsh), Charles Grover M.P. (Noel Johnson), Professor Whitaker (Peter Miles), Butler (Martin Jarvis), Peasant (James Marcus), UNIT Corporal (Pat Gorman), Mark (Terence Wilton), Ruth (Carmen Silvera), Adam (Brian Badcoe), Private Bryson (Colin Bell), Robinson (Timothy Craven).

FACTS:

The first episode of this story was titled simply 'Invasion', to conceal the presence of the prehistoric monsters as a suprise.

The story marks the first appearance of the Doctor's futuristic car, named the Alien by its makers, but generally known as 'The Whomobile'.

OTHER FORMATS:

The Third Doctor Novelisations

Back to the Third Doctor Programme GuideBack to 'The Time Warrior'