Doctor Who (TV story)

Synopsis
Full Doctor Who: The TV Movie  Story Synopsis

Plot
to be added

Cast
The Doctor — Paul McGann

The Seventh Doctor — Sylvester McCoy (credited as "The Old Doctor")

The Master — Eric Roberts

Dr. Grace Holloway — Daphne Ashbrook

Chang Lee — Yee Jee Tso

Salinger — John Novak

Dr. Swift — Michael David Simms

Wheeler — Catherine Lough

Curtis — Dolores Drake

Pete — William Sasso

Gareth — Jeremy Radick

Bruce - Eric Roberts

Miranda — Eliza Roberts

Motorcycle Policeman — Bill Croft

Professor Wagg — Dave Hurtubise

Ted — Joel Wirkunnen

Security Guard — Dee Jay Jackson

The Old Master — Gordon Tipple

KKBE News Anchor — Mi-Jung Lee

KKBE News Anchor — Joanna Piros

Crew
to be added

Story Notes

 * Doctor Who: The TV Movie was a 1996 co-production between the BBC and Universal Pictures. Its executive producer, Philip Segal, had hoped that it might be a "back-door pilot" for a new series of Doctor Who, but poor ratings in the United States prevented this.


 * The TV Movie was broadcast on Fox Television in America on 14 May, 1996, and on BBC1 on 27 May, 1996. Both during production and during its airing, it was referred to only as "Doctor Who".  Philip Segal later told a convention audience that if fans wanted a distinct title for the TV Movie, they could call it "Enemy Within", but this name was never used in any official capacity.


 * British-born television producer Philip Segal had a longtime ambition to create Doctor Who. While working at various American production companies, including Steven Spielberg's Amblin, he attempted to develop a Doctor Who series or film.  Eventually he was able to arrange a coproduction between Universal Pictures and the BBC.  The script went through several different forms, including some which would have started Doctor Who continuity over again.


 * The eventual script by Matthew Jacobs continued from the BBC series, including a substantial role for Sylvester McCoy, the last occupant of the role of the Doctor.

Ratings
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Myths

 * Many fan rumours surrounded the production, including one which suggested that a futuristically-redesigned version of the Daleks may appear. With more than a passing nod to 'wishful thinking' on the part of those fans, the Doctors' arch-enemies failed to appear.

Location Filming
The story was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 15 January to 21 February 1996.

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
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Continuity

 * Several aspects of this story appear to be at variance with established Doctor Who continuity, most notably the assertion that the Doctor is half-human. Several BBC Eighth Doctor novels deal with this issue, notably Unnatural History, which also deals with the consequences of this adventure.


 * The Big Finish audio adventure "The Apocalypse Element" attempts to explain why the Eye of Harmony, Gallifreyan technology, could be opened only by a human eye.

DVD, Video, and Other Releases
DVD Releases

Released as Doctor Who: The Movie, this release was the fourth release of 2001.

Released:
 * Region 2 13th August 2001
 * PAL - BBC DVD BBCDVD1043

Contents:
 * Philip Segal - Talks about the making of the telemovie.
 * Electronic Press Kit - Cast & crew interviews/behind the scenes footage/tour of the TARDIS set.
 * Alternate/Extended Scenes
 * Music Feature - Songs from the story.
 * Music-only Option
 * Trailers
 * Photo Gallery
 * Production Subtitles
 * Easter Egg (The dedication to Jon Pertwee that preceeded the UK broadcast.)
 * Commentary: Geoffrey Sax

Rear Credits:
 * By Matthew Jacobs
 * Executive Producers: Alex Beaton & Philip Segal
 * Executive Producer for the BBC: Jo Wright
 * Produced: Peter Ware
 * Co-Producer: Matthew Jacobs
 * Director: Geoffrey Sax
 * Incidental Music: John Debney, John Sponsler & Louis Febre

Notes: The 'Based on the BBC Television series' caption used for the US broadcast has been removed from the DVD.

Video Releases

Released as Doctor Who.

Released:
 * UK May 1996
 * PAL - BBC Video BBCV5882


 * Australia/NZ November 1996

Notes: Released in an edited form with the operating scene and gang gun battle trimmed.

Target Novelisations
to be added