Carole Ann Ford Movies

Four years after its "official" demise as a weekly series, Doctor Who briefly resurfaced in the form of a two-part, 14-minute special. Created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series' birth, Part One of "Dimensions in Time" was shown as a segment of the BBC's Children in Need Telethon. The plot proper pitted five of the Doctor's seven incarnations -- played by surviving series stars Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy -- against renegade Time Lady Rani (Kate O'Mara), who hoped to determine the outcome of the universe's evolution. This cliffhanger was resolved on November 27, 1993 with Part Two of "Dimensions in Time," shown as a six-minute component of the series' Noel's House Party. It was truly an "interactive" effort, with the home viewers calling in their suggestions for the outcome. Also appearing were several cast members of the popular British soap opera Eastenders (one of whom was selected by popular vote to "save" the Doctor). Written by John Nathan-Turner and David Roden, "Dimensions in Time" represented the Doctor's last TV appearance until the 1996 two-hour "revival" film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Doctor Who celebrated its 20th anniversary with the 90-minute special "The Five Doctors." The life of the present Doctor (Peter Davison) is jeopardized when his four previous incarnations -- played by William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, and Tom Baker -- are taken out of time by an illegal Time Scoop. Even worse, the five doctors are confronted by a seemingly endless series of past enemies, included Daleks, Cybermen, and Yetis. The climax takes place in the Forbidden Zone on Gallifrey, where the instigator of the aforementioned time-scooping forces the five doctors to engage in the potentially deadly Game of Rassilon. Can any of the doctors save themselves -- and if not, will robot dog K-9 come galloping to the rescue? The late William Hartnell appeared only in clips from the second-season episode "Invasion of Earth: Flashpoint"; he was replaced in the body of the 20th anniversary special by Richard Hurndall. Written by Terrance Dicks, "The Five Doctors" was first presented in America on November 23, 1983, two days before its British TV debut. Since that time, it has been reedited into a four-part cliffhanger for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This typical western tale of beleaguered townsfolk mustering up the courage to fight the villain that controls their town with an iron fist features atypically bloody violence. Supposedly the top peacekeeper in the frontier town of Jericho, Sheriff Alex Flood (Dean Martin) is actually a ruthless bully and racketeer who owns or profitably intimidates every enterprise in Jericho with the help of his henchmen, including the Yarbrough (Slim Pickens). That is, every business except the lucrative stagecoach line run by the widow Molly Lang (Jean Simmons) and Hickman (John McIntire). Predictably, Flood wants command of the stage business, too, but Lang resists him, even when threatened with bodily harm. Tough gambler Dolan (George Peppard), a former marshal, rides into town intending to work for Lang as a driver, but when he learns of the tension between Lang and Flood he backs off, not wanting any trouble. However, when Yarbrough is caught by Lang trying to sabotage a coach on her property, the thug savagely beats her, forcing Dolan to get involved. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

The TARDIS materializes in pre-Columbian Mexico, within the walls of an ancient tomb. Escaping, the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions -- Ian (William Russell), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), and Susan (Carole Ann Ford) -- discover that the tomb was that of Aztec hight priestess Yetaxa, whose followers practice human sacrifice to honor their deity. The plot thickens when Barbara is mistaken for the reincarnation of Yetaxa. Written by John Lucarotti, the four-part adventure "The Aztecs" began on May 23, 1964, with this episode, titled "The Temple of Evil." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story arc "The Aztecs," the followers of high priestess Yetaxa are still convinced that Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) is the reincarnation of their deity. Accordingly, Barbara is forced to mete out punishment when her travelling companion Susan (Carole Ann Ford) -- now a mere handmaiden -- commits a grievous error. Meanwhile, Ian (William Russell) is appointed chief of the Aztec warriors (and is forced to defend his new title to the death), while the Doctor (William Hartnell) unexpectedly finds a romantic soulmate. Written by John Lucarotti, "The Bride of Sacrifice" first aired on June 6, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the seven-part story arc "The Daleks," the Doctor (William Hartnell), Ian (William Russell), and Susan (Carole Ann Ford) join forces to rescue Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) from the mutant Daleks. In his efforts to find out why the Daleks want to resume their nuclear war with the humanoid Thals, the Doctor discovers that the mutants need radiation to survive. Unfortunately, this will require the utter descruction of Skaro by a neutron bomb. Written by Terry Nation, "The Survivors" first aired on January 4, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the seven-part story arc "The Daleks," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions are still faced with the twin dilemmas of escaping back to the 20th century and preventing the mutant Daleks from detonating a neutron bomb that will destroy the planet Skaro. With all but Susan (Carole Ann Ford) having fallen ill from radiation poisoning, it is left to Susan to return to the time-jumping TARDIS. Her journey is fraught with peril, but she receives unexpected assistance from a band of humanoids called the Thals. Written by Terry Nation, "The Expedition" first aired on January 18, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the seven-part story arc "The Daleks," the Doctor (William Hartnell), Ian (William Russell), and Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) escape their Dalek captors with the help of Susan (Carole Ann Ford). Aligning himself with the humanoid Thals, the Doctor makes a last-ditch effort to prevent the Daleks from detonating a neutron bomb that will provide them with life-restoring radiation, but will also blast the planet Arko into bits. Written by Terry Nation, "The Rescue" originally aired on February 1, 1964. Since that time, "The Daleks" (aka "The Dead Planet" and "The Survivors") has been released on video in both episodic form and as a two-hour TV movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the two-part story arc "The Edge of Destruction" (aka "Inside the Spaceship"), the TARDIS has been thrown off course and its occupants are hurtled to the beginning of time, or, as the Doctor (William Hartnell) refers to it, Event One. In a surprising display of ill will, the Doctor, Ian (William Russell), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), and Susan (Carole Ann Ford) take turns blaming one another for the present crisis. But as it turns out, the TARDIS itself is responsible -- and the "danger" at hand may actually be a blessing in disguise. Written by David Whitaker, "The Brink of Disaster" first aired on February 15, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story arc "The Keys of Marinus," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his friends are forced to locate four of the five keys needed to keep the dictatorial Conscience of Marinus in working condition. First stop for the time travellers is the mysterious city of Morphoton, where wishes -- and nightmares -- come true. The difficulties and dangers encountered herein are but a mild prologue of what is to come. Written by Terry Nation, "The Velvet Web" originally aired on April 18, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story arc "The Keys of Marinus," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions have managed to locate two of the four keys necessary to keep the evil Conscience of Marinus alive. Their odyssey has already taken them to the sinsiter city of Morphoton and the treacherous Screaming Jungle. Now they have arrived in an icy wilderness -- and come face to face with the dreaded Soldiers of Ice. Written by Terry Nation, "The Snows of Terror" originally aired on May 2, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the six-part story arc "The Keys of Marinus," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions have managed to locate three of the four keys needed to sustain the omnipotent Conscience of Marinus. It hasn't been easy, what with the terrors inherent in the city of Morphoton, the Screaming Jungle, and the snowy Marinus wilderness. But worse is still to come; upon arriving in the city of Millenius, the time travellers are arrested for murder and sentenced to immediate execution. Written by Terry Nation, "Sentence of Death" originally aired on May 9, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Doctor Who wound up its first season with episode one of "The Reign of Terror," written by Dennis Spooner. Assuming that they've returned to 1964 England, the TARDIS crew instead finds itself in 18th century France at the height of the Revolution. The first episode in this six-part story arc ends with the Doctor (William Hartnell) trapped in a burning house, and his companions -- Ian (William Russell), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), and Susan (Carole Ann Ford) -- caught in a power struggle between fanatical revolutionaries and a moderate underground movement. First telecast on August 8, 1964, "A Land of Fear" is one of four episodes of "The Reign of Terror" still known to exist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide