The Smugglers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article refers to a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The Smugglers can also refer to The Smugglers (band), a band from Vancouver, BC who regularly tour North America.
- For the 1967 French film, see Les Contrebandières.
| 028 - The Smugglers | |
|---|---|
| Doctor | William Hartnell (First Doctor) |
| Writer | Brian Hayles |
| Director | Julia Smith |
| Script editor | Gerry Davis |
| Producer | Innes Lloyd |
| Executive producer(s) | None |
| Production code | CC |
| Series | Season 4 |
| Length | 4 episodes, 25 mins each |
| Transmission date | September 10–October 1, 1966 |
| Preceded by | The War Machines |
| Followed by | The Tenth Planet |
The Smugglers is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 10 to October 1, 1966.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
The Doctor arrives on the coast of seventeenth century Cornwall, much to the astonishment of Polly and Ben. Pirates led by Captain Samuel Pike and his henchman Cherub are searching for a hidden treasure, while a smuggling ring masterminded by the local Squire is trying to off-load contraband.
[edit] Plot
The First Doctor’s recently joined companions Ben and Polly arrive with him in the TARDIS on the coast of seventeenth century Cornwall. They meet a worried churchwarden named Joseph Longfoot, who lives in fear of "Avery's boys" and, in thanks for the Doctor’s kindness in relocating a dislocated finger, imparts what he calls "Deadman's secret key". It is "Smallwood, Ringwood, Gurney." While the time travellers head off to settle at the local inn, Longfoot has another visitor. This one is Cherub, an ironically named bald pirate, who is his former shipmate under pirate Captain Avery on the Black Albatross. Cherub and his master, Samuel Pike, who now captains the Albatross since Avery died, want to recover Avery's accursed gold. Pike is convinced that Longfoot has the treasure or knows where it is hidden. When the church warden does not co-operate, Cherub kills him – but not before revealing he saw the three travellers who visited Longfoot earlier.
Hours later the discovery of the church warden’s body leads the locals to suspect the three strangers at the inn. The local Squire is called to intervene and adjudicate, and ends up charging Ben and Polly with the murder. Employing trickery to obtain their freedom, they split up. Ben hides at the church as a safe haven until a revenue man, who is tracking the local smugglers, Josiah Blake, disturbs him.
In the meantime Cherub and some pirates have kidnapped the Doctor and taken him to the Albatross. He attempts to bargain with Pike, a cleverer man than Cherub, and finds himself kept aboard ship while the captain goes ashore. Pike also decides to try and make an alliance with the Squire to protect himself while he searches for Avery’s treasure. Cherub accompanies Pike ashore. The greedy Squire is the organiser of the local smuggling ring and offers to cut Pike and his pirates in. They are interrupted by Polly, who has come implore the Squire to help her find the Doctor – and is shocked now to see him in the company of the kidnapping pirate Cherub. The Squire, Pike and Cherub now concoct a 2am beach landing for the smuggling loot.
After an altercation in the cave used for the smuggling, Ben is reunited with Polly but they are handed over to Blake, who pretends to be convinced they are the smugglers. In truth he knows the Squire to be crooked. The Doctor has meanwhile escaped from the ship and finds his friends in the churchyard. Blake works out a smuggling drop is due soon and heads off for more revenue men to break the smuggling ring.
The smuggling alliance has by now fallen apart: the Squire has realised he is dealing with a ruthless pirate who will not honour any bargains with him while Cherub has decided to locate the main prize, Avery’s gold, for himself. The Squire too sets off to the find gold, as do the time travellers since the Doctor is convinced the rhyme of the church warden is the key. He works out the names Ringwood, Smallbeer, and Gurney pertain to graves in the crypt but before he can find the treasure the other seekers arrive. Cherub wounds the Squire, and then forces the Doctor to confess the rhyme – but not their grave significance – and concludes that Deadman too is a name of one of Avery’s former pirates. Cherub in turn is slain by a vengeful Pike, who now threatens to pillage the entire village in his search for Avery’s treasure. The Doctor bargains with Pike for the lives of the villagers if he shows him the treasure and, with this agreed, they identify the four graves and triangulate between them to reveal the location of the gold.
But the treasure is indeed cursed, as Longford and Avery foretold. No sooner does Pike have it than Blake and an armed patrol of revenue men arrive. Aided by the injured Squire – who repents of his sins – Blake kills Pike, and the pirate force is routed. As the battle dies down, the Doctor and his companions slip away to the TARDIS.
[edit] Cast
- Dr. Who — William Hartnell
- Polly — Anneke Wills
- Ben Jackson — Michael Craze
- Jacob Kewper — David Kelly
- Churchwarden — Terence de Marney
- Cherub — George A. Cooper
- Josiah Blake — John Ringham
- Captain Pike — Michael Godfrey
- Tom — Mike Lucas
- The Squire — Paul Whitsun-Jones
- Spaniard — Derek Ware
- Jamaica — Elroy Josephs
- Gaptooth — Jack Bligh
[edit] Cast notes
David Kelly, later known for his role as Mr O'Reilly in Fawlty Towers appeared in the role of Jacob Kewper.
[edit] Production
This was the last story filmed in the third season's production block, although it was intended to be held over until the beginning of the fourth season. During filming, the production team realized that William Hartnell's health had deteriorated beyond the point where he could continue to work. Many months' discussion about replacing Hartnell finally came to a head, and Innes Lloyd decided not to renew Hartnell's contract. It is unclear if Hartnell was contractually obliged to appear in The Tenth Planet or if he agreed to do so after being informed of Lloyd's decision.
[edit] In print
A novelisation of this serial, written by Terrance Dicks, was published by Target Books in June 1988.
[edit] Broadcast, CD and DVD releases
- The soundtrack for the story exists due to fan-made recordings. These have been released on CD together with linking narration.
- All four episodes were destroyed by the BBC. Several brief clips cut by Australian censors for violence were recovered in 1996 and were released on the Lost in Time DVD box set in 2004. Also included in the set is amateur on-location film footage made during production.
[edit] External links
- The Smugglers at bbc.co.uk
- The Smugglers photonovel at bbc.co.uk
- The Smugglers at Doctor Who: A Brief History Of Time (Travel)
- The Smugglers at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Smugglers at Outpost Gallifrey
- Doctor Who Locations - The Smugglers
[edit] Reviews
- The Smugglers reviews at The Doctor Who Ratings Guide
- The Smugglers reviews at Outpost Gallifrey
