Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (theatrical film)

Released in 1966, Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. was the second and final feature film based on the Doctor Who television series. Adapted from the television serial DW: The Dalek Invasion of Earth, the colour film stars Peter Cushing as a human scientist named "Dr. Who".

Synopsis
Policeman Tom Campbell stumbles into the TARDIS on a normal day and ends up being taken to 2150 A.D, by Dr. Who. The future seems to be deserted, but the group soon finds out that the world is currently being controlled by the evil Daleks. Those who have still survived are in hiding, to prevent them from being turned into Robomen. Dr. Who teams up with the survivors in order to take down the Daleks.

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * Dr. Who - Peter Cushing
 * Susan - Roberta Tovey
 * Louise - Jill Curzon
 * Tom Campbell - Bernard Cribbins
 * David - Ray Brooks
 * Wyler - Andrew Keir
 * Wells - Roger Avon
 * Roboman - Geoffrey Cheshire
 * Conway - Keith Marsh
 * Brockley - Philip Madoc
 * Lead Roboman - Steve Peters
 * Thompson - Eddie Powell
 * Dortmun - Godfrey Quigley
 * Man on Bicycle - Peter Reynolds
 * Man with Carrier bag - Bernard Spear
 * Young Woman - Sheila Steafel
 * Old Woman - Eileen Way
 * Craddock - Kenneth Watson
 * Robber - John Wreford

Crew

 * Lead Dalek Operator - Robert Jewell
 * Dalek Voices - Peter Hawkins, David Graham

Story notes

 * This film has at least two different spellings of its title; Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. which is used in the actual film's title sequence and Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. which was used in the original film's trailer. Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. title.jpgDaleks - Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. trailer title.jpg
 * More than 40 years later, co-star Bernard Cribbins returned to the world of Doctor Who, voicing a character for the 2007 Big Finish Productions audio drama Horror of Glam Rock and, later, making several appearances as Wilfred Mott beginning in DW: Voyage of the Damned.
 * Philip Madoc later appeared in four television stories: The Krotons, The War Games, The Brain of Morbius and The Power of Kroll.
 * Sugarpuffs contributed to the budget of this film, and as a result there is product placement throughout the movie.
 * André Morell was offered the role of Wyler, but could not accept because he had signed to star in the four-part story DW: The Massacre with William Hartnell, which clashed with the filming dates.
 * The film's original trailer had no (direct) references to Doctor Who, TARDIS, or Daleks.

Myths

 * A third film, based on DW: The Chase and titled Daleks vs. Mechons, was filmed but subsequently lost in a fire. A trailer discovered in the basement of a church in northern England in 2009. The supposed "trailer" was fanmade, as the graphics were too advanced for circa 1967. Although a third film was planned as an adaptation of "The Chase", it was shelved with no work done following the second movie's failure at the box office.

Filming Locations

 * Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Plot Holes, Errors and Mistakes

 * When the van rams through the ranks of blue/silver Daleks in the street, some of those knocked flying and destroyed are clearly seen to be completely empty casings.
 * Wires are visible on the Dalek saucer in almost all shots of it flying.
 * When the red Dalek falls down the shaft, there is a very clear shot of its base with three small furniture casters (though it must be a dummy, as there is no hole for the operator's feet to protrude).
 * Observing the Dalek saucer, the Doctor notes that it seems to be landing in the vicinity of Sloane Square. There is then a lengthy shot in which it is shown to be continuing in level flight for what must be several miles over London (with no apparent intention of landing) before we finally get a close-up of it descending.
 * The Dalek mine is set in Bedfordshire. We see the encampment with high mountains beyond. Bedfordshire is a county of low rolling hills, with virtually no rock.
 * The Dalek in the Thames does not flash its lights when addressing the Robomen.
 * Why isn't there an explanation for Ian and Barbara's absence? They had appeared in the first film.
 * When Dortman dies he moves his legs, despite the fact that he's disabled.
 * One Dalek sees Dr. Who run to the Roboman controls but then looks up anyway, and why don't they kill him while he's telling the Robomen to attack?
 * When the Black Dalek drops a Roboman into the mine shaft the Roboman is heavy enough to break the Dalek's claw off, yet after this the Black Dalek's claw is still there.
 * When the Black and Red Daleks fall down the mine shaft they are completely out of shape. Another oddly-shaped Dalek is seen at the controls during the explosion scene.

Continuity

 * Dr Who mentions some basic plot from the Movie, Dr. Who and the Daleks.
 * Some of the Dalek colours are seen repeated in DW: Day of the Daleks (there's a gold one in charge), and also EDA: War of the Daleks (gives a run down of what all colour Daleks do).
 * The Daleks count in units called Rels, this would be used again in DW: Doomsday, Daleks in Manhattan and Journey's End.
 * A Red Dalek appears in DW: The Stolen Earth / Journey's End, and again in DW: Victory of the Daleks.

TV to film changes
Here are a few of the notable plot changes made between the TV version of the story and the film (not including the fundamental differences involving the character of Dr. Who himself):


 * Ian and Barbara are replaced by Tom and Louise.
 * In this version Dr. Who, Tom, Louise and Susan journey to the mine in different ways. Dr. Who goes with David, Susan travels with Dortmun, and Tom Campbell and Louise use a Dalek ship (in the original, the Doctor and Susan go with David, Barbara travels with Dortmun and Ian uses the Dalek ship.)
 * In the TV version, David and Susan use the sewers to avoid the Daleks.
 * The film doesn't feature the Slyther.
 * The resolution is slightly different: in the TV version the bomb is used diverted to the Daleks' ship to destroy them, but in the film it's the Earth's magnetic properties.
 * Since Susan is depicted as a child in the film (rather than a teenager as in the TV version), the original subplot of the character's romance with David and being left behind by the Doctor is eliminated.

Super 8 Releases

 * Released in UK on Super 8 film (8 reels colour/sound) by Walton Sound and Film Services in 1977.
 * Released on UK on Super 8 film Part 1: (one reel colour/sound and one reel black and white/silent) by Walton Sound and Film Services in 1977.
 * Released on UK on Super 8 film Part 2: (one reel colour/sound and one reel black and white/silent) by Walton Sound and Film Services in 1977.

Video Releases

 * Released in the UK in 1982 on VHS and Beta by Thorn EMI.
 * Released in US in 1985 by Thorn EMI.
 * Released in Japan in 1992 on VHS by King Video/Tohokushinsha Film Co.
 * Released in Australia in 1990 by Warner Home Video.
 * Re-released in US in 1994 by Lumiere.
 * Re-released in UK in 1996 by Warner Home Video.

DVD Releases

 * Released in Australia in 2001 by Universal / Studio Canal as a double release with Dr. Who and the Daleks. and 1995 Dalekmania documentary in the 'Doctor Who and the Daleks...' boxset.
 * Released in US in 2001 by Anchor Bay as a single disc and as a double release with Dr. Who and the Daleks. and 1995 Dalekmania documentary in 'The Doctor Who Movie Collection' boxset.
 * Released in UK in 2002 by Studio Canal/Warner as a double release with Dr. Who and the Daleks.and 1995 Dalekmania documentary in'The Dr Who Movie Collection' boxset and 'The Dr Who - The Motion Pictures'(Gold Edition) boxset.
 * Released in UK in 2006 by Studio Canal/Optimum as a double release with Dr Who and the Daleks and 1995 Dalekmania documentary in the 'Doctor Who:The Dalek Collection' boxset.
 * Released in France (as 'Les Daleks Envahissent La Terre') in 2001 by Canal+ video. with original French soundtrack. and 1995 Dalekmania documentary.
 * Released in Spain (as 'Los Daleks Invaden la Tierra 2150 AD') in 2009 by Universal Pictures Iberia S.L. with original Spanish soundtrack. (original Spanish title: 'Los Machinos Invaden La Tierra 2150 AD)

Novelisations
No novelisation of the screenplay was ever published, however the original teleplay, The Dalek Invasion of Earth was eventually novelised by Terrance Dicks in 1977 as Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth.