Planet of Giants
The Doctor and companions shrink to an inch on Earth.
Planet of Giants is the first serial of the second season of Doctor Who, broadcast on BBC1 in three weekly parts from 31 October to 14 November 1964. Written by Louis Marks and directed by Mervyn Pinfield and Douglas Camfield, the story features the First Doctor and his companions shrunk to the size of an inch after the TARDIS arrives in contemporary England. The serial was inspired by Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring and was originally conceived for the first season but rejected due to technical complexity.
Quick Facts
- Number
- 009
- Doctor
- William Hartnell – First Doctor
- Companions
- William Russell – Ian Chesterton
- Jacqueline Hill – Barbara Wright
- Carole Ann Ford – Susan Foreman
- Director
- Mervyn Pinfield, Douglas Camfield (episode 3)
- Writer
- Louis Marks
- Script editor
- David Whitaker
- Producer
- Verity Lambert
- Composer
- Dudley Simpson
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The TARDIS malfunctions but its fault locator shows nothing wrong, so the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan explore and find giant dead earthworm and ant, realizing they have shrunk to an inch on Earth. Ian investigates a matchbox when it is picked up by government scientist Farrow, who visits industrialist Forester to report that his insecticide DN6 has been rejected as too deadly. Forester shoots Farrow, and the Doctor, Barbara, and Susan hear the gunshot and find Ian near the corpse. Forester's aide Smithers arrives but does not report the murder to protect the DN6 project. Ian and Barbara hide in Farrow's briefcase and are separated from the Doctor and Susan when the briefcase is taken inside. The Doctor and Susan climb a drain pipe to find them. Forester alters Farrow's report to support the DN6 licence and makes a supportive phone call disguised as Farrow, overheard by telephone operator Hilda Rowse and her policeman husband Bert, who suspect something wrong.
Production
The concept of shrinking was first proposed as the first story of the first season, titled The Giants, by C. E. Webber, but rejected by Sydney Newman in June 1963 due to technical complexity and lack of character development. It was later assigned to Robert Gould as a four-part serial but dropped by January 1964. Louis Marks was assigned in February 1964, inspired by Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, with the fictional insecticide DN6 based on DDT impacts. Whitaker commissioned Marks in May 1964 under the title The Planet of Giants, with Mervyn Pinfield directing. Special effect inserts of a cat were filmed on 30 July 1964 using silent 35mm film, with sound added later. The regular cast filmed alongside giant props using glass and half-silvered mirrors, but the footage was deemed unsatisfactory and re-shot on 13 August. Rehearsals for the first episode took place on 17 August at the London Transport Assembly Rooms. Weekly recording began on 21 August at BBC Television Centre, Studio 4. The fourth episode was directed by Douglas Camfield due to Pinfield's other commitments, recorded on 11 September.
Reception
Planet of Giants received 8.4 million viewers for the first two episodes and 8.9 million for the third, with an Appreciation Index rising from 57 to 59. An Audience Research Report on the first episode indicated 17% of the viewing audience, with positive response to props and special effects. The BBC Film and Videotape Library did not preserve the serial, and original tapes were wiped in the late 1960s; 16mm film prints were discovered at BBC Enterprises in 1977. BBC director-general Hugh Greene was unimpressed after the first episode and disappointed after the second, eager for the Daleks' return. Retrospective reviews were mixed: The Discontinuity Guide (1995) called it a strange mix of ecological science fiction and cops and gangsters, finding it good fun but unrepresentative. The Television Companion (1998) considered the plot one of the weakest, praising Hill's performance but noting Ford as less impressive. Patrick Mulkern of Radio Times (2008) found the drama less than enthralling and the score annoyingly childish. DVD Talk's John Sinnott (2012) called it a solid installment but noted the main characters do not interact with the criminals. Dave Golder of SFX described it as slow and talky, criticizing Barbara's characterization. Christopher Bahn of The A.V. Club appreciated the ambition but felt it never quite gels together.
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