Gerald Taylor Movies

The six-part Doctor Who adventure "The Monster of Peladon" takes place some 50 years after the events depicted in the ninth-season story arc "Curse of the Peladon." The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) makes a return visit to the troubled planet Pelodon, where he ends up in the middle of a war between hostile factions of the the Galactic Federation, and also a labor-management mining dispute which likewise threatens to tear the the planet apart. And that's not all: A former adversary of the Doctor may again be at large -- in the form of a hostile ghost. Like its "prequel," "The Monster of Peladon" was written by Brian Hayles. Episode one originally aired on March 23, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

One of the stars of Walt Disney's Mary Poppins, Dick Van Dyke, is re-united with that film's composer and lyricist, Richard M.Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, in this big budget and bloodless children's fantasy musical, based on the children's book by James Bond author Ian Fleming. Van Dyke plays Caractacus Potts, a failed inventor who lives in a big house with his two children -- Jemima Heather Ripley and Jeremy Adrian Hall -- and eccentric father Lionel Jeffries. Potts has to raise 30 shillings so his children can buy a broken-down racing car from the junkyard. After a disastrous attempt to sell his invention of whistling sweets to Lord Scrumptious (James Robertson-Justice), the local candy maker, he finally gets enough money for the car by doing a Dick Van Dyke dance routine at the county fair. Potts takes the car and miraculously transforms the vehicle into a shiny new car named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. While on a picnic with the children and Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), Lord Scrumptious' beautiful daughter, Potts concocts a fantasy tale about the magical powers of the car, which can now float on water and fly. In the tale, Baron Bomburst (Gert Frobe) wants the car for himself and kidnaps the automobile and the inventor. But Bomburst captures Grandpa by mistake along with the wrong car, so Potts, Truly, and the children have to enlist Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on a rescue mission to Bomburst's lair to save Grandpa. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the seven-part story "The Evil of the Daleks," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions have been transported to the Dalek home city of Skaro. From here, the villains hope to mount an assault on Earth, armed with the "human factor" of unpredictability, which they believe will enable them to triumph. Even worse, it appears as though the Doctor has become a Dalek himself. With this episode, Deborah Watling became a series regular in the role of Victoria Waterfield. Written by David Whitaker, "The Evil of the Daleks, Episode 7" was first shown on July 1, 1967, as the final episode of Doctor Who's fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the seven-part story "The Evil of the Daleks," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions are still imprisoned in the Victorian era, still at the mercy of the Daleks. In hopes of obtaining the "human factor" of unpredictability, the Daleks force poor Jamie (Frazer Hines) into a series of perilous situations, the first of which finds him pitted against "the Terrible Turk" (who is as much a "victim" as everyone else) in a wrestling match. Written by David Whitaker, "The Evil of the Daleks, Episode 4" was first shown on June 10, 1967. This episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the sixth episode of the seven-part story "The Evil of the Daleks," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions continue to be at the mercy of the Daleks, who are intent upon using their captives to obtain the "human factor" of unpredictability which will enable them to conquer the world. Suddenly vanishing from Victorian London, the Doctor, Jamie (Frazer Hines), and Victoria (Deborah Watling) are spirited away to the Dalek city of Skaro, where the villains have already impounded the long-missing TARDIS for their own sinister purposes. Written by David Whitaker, "The Evil of the Daleks, Episode 6" was first shown on June 24, 1967. This episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the 11th episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor tries to stop the Daleks from destroying the universe without risking the lives of his travelling companions. Captured by the villains, Steven (Peter Purves) and Sara (Jean Marsh) are in for the biggest surprise of their lives. And there's more to come; the Doctor abruptly vanishes without a trace. Written by Dennis Spooner, "The Abandoned Planet" originally aired on January 22, 1966; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the eighth episode of the 12-part story "The Dalek Masterplan," the Doctor (William Hartnell) resumes his efforts to foil the mass-destruction schemes of the mutant Daleks. Unfortunately, he stymied by the unexpected appearance of his old enemy, the renegade Time Lord known as the Meddling Monk (Peter Butterworth). On another front, the Daleks, angrier than ever, step up their campaign of devastation. Written by Dennis Spooner, "Volcano" originally aired on January 1, 1966; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Power of the Daleks," the hitherto unheeded warnings of the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) are suddenly given weight, as the Daleks prepare to decimate the Earth colonists on the planet Vulcan. It is up to the Doctor and his companion, Polly (Annika Wills), to prevent this disaster from occuring, but even they may be powerless agains the Daleks' final assault. Series regular Michael Craze (Ben) does not appear in this episode. Written by David Whitaker and (uncredited) Dennis Spooner, "The Power of the Daleks, Episode 5" first aired on December 3, 1966; at present, this episode is believed to be lost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Power of the Daleks," the three resuscitated Daleks show their true colors by turning on the Earth colonists who released them from suspended animations. Seizing a golden opportunity, a band of rebels align themselves with the Daleks, believing that the mutants can be "harnessed." But the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) knows better, and he must prevent his old enemies from wreaking their usual havoc. Written by David Whitaker and (uncredited) Dennis Spooner, "The Power of the Daleks, Episode 3" first aired on November 19, 1966; this episode is believed to be lost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "The Power of the Daleks," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions arrive at the earth colony at Vulcan, where a trio of Daleks repose in a state of suspended animation. The thick-eared colonists, convinced that the Daleks can be trusted, prepare to thaw out the bodies -- an act of largesse that the Doctor must prevent at all costs. Written by David Whitaker and (uncredited) Dennis Spooner, "The Power of the Daleks, Episode 2" first aired on November 11 1966; this episode is believed to be lost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "The War Machines," the self-starting computer WOTAN (Will Operating Thought Analogue) begins the first phase of its campaign to conquer the world. As a terrifying army of robot war machines descend upon London, the Doctor (William Hartnell) tries to disable WOTAN -- but alas, it has been designed by Professor Brett (John Harvey) to be impervious to such shutdown efforts. Meanwhile, Brett's secretary Polly (Anneke Wells) and her seaman boyfriend Ben Jackson (Michael Craze) work behind the scenes to help the Doctor, if indeed anyone can help him. Scripted by Ian Stuart Black from a story idea by Kit Pedler, "The War Machines, Episode Three" first aired on July 2, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Web Planet," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions are still mired in a power struggle on the planet Vortis. Aligning himself with the exiled butterfly-like race the Menoptera, the Doctor endeavors to free the planet from the rule of the ant-like Zarbi. This requires him to make a perilous foray into the Web Centre, the better to solve the mystery of the force that holds the planet in thrall. Written by Bill Strutton, "Escape to Danger" first aired on February 27, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of the six-part story "The Web Planet," the Doctor and his traveling companions attempt to investigate an unknown force that has been consuming space vessels. They soon discover the source of this phenomenon when the TARDIS is sucked into the atmosphere of the planet Vortis. Almost immediately, the travelers are caught in the middle of a power struggle between two tribes of insectoid creatures: the ant-like Zarbi and the butterfly-like Menoptera. Written by Bill Strutton, episode one of "The Web Planet" first aired on February 13, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide