what a magnificent head!

[incandescens]

I was watching some classic Doctor Who earlier this evening - Tom Baker (fourth Doctor), The Brain of Morbius, a ridiculous but enjoyable one. You could see where the author had thrown in all the classic tropes. Deserted planet with shipwrecks. Solitary house in thunderstorm. Mad scientist resident with somewhat-deformed minion. Cultish group of superstitious witches. Evil plot to cut off the Doctor's head and use it as part of new constructed body to contain brain of mad would-be Galactic Emperor who would then go on to conquer the universe.

I was trying to work out why I enjoyed it so much, and got so annoyed with some more recent Doctor Who. I think it's partly because they play it straight. No sideways glances, no meta-commentary, no sharing jokes with the audience, but just total straight-faced classic horror movie acting. All right, not always good acting. But they tried.

And it did have Tom Baker. It's true what they say about your first ever Doctor Who. There's always something special about him.

---

SOLON: Great heavens, you can't go walking on a night like this. I wouldn't dream of letting you proceed one step further. Condo, stir yourself. Our guests are cold and tired and wet. Let me take your hat, sir. There. Oh, what a magnificent head!
SARAH: What?
SOLON: Superb head.
DOCTOR: Well, I'm glad you like it. I have had several. I used to have an old grey model before this. Some people liked it.
SARAH: I did.
SOLON: What?
DOCTOR: I said, some people liked it, but I prefer this model.
SOLON: Forgive me. What a surly host you must think me. Please, come in, come in. Make yourselves at home. Warm yourselves and sit down. Condo, pour the wine.

-- Doctor Who: The Brain of Morbius

Comments

[fadethecat.livejournal.com]

I miss the earnestness of old Doctor Who. Someone once told me that the primary qualification for playing the Doctor was the ability to pretend you were distraught at being strangled by a rubber tentacle while tugging around its strangling motions yourself, and, well. That.

(My first Doctor was the Fifth, and I've always had a soft spot for him. Him and the Seventh, really.)

[incandescens]

I think I heard something similar about appearing with the Muppets. You need to play it with the sincerity of high Shakespeare. :)

I've always been fond of the Fifth and Seventh, too.

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

Sounds like Dr. Who meets The Tempest meets Macbeth!

[incandescens]

Doctor Who always did get it off the back of a lorry, no questions asked. ;)