Sylvester McCoy Movies

About 350 years ago, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) launched into space a statue made out of a deadly living metal called Nemesis. Now the statue has returned, threatening the universe in general -- and earth in particular -- with total destruction. Watch for a cameo appearance by British jazz great Courtney Pine. Written by Kevin Clarke, the first episode of the three-part story "Silver Nemesis" was originally shown on November 23, 1988. Appropriately enough, it was also the "silver" 25th anniversary of the very first Doctor Who telecast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the three-part story "Silver Nemesis," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) steps up his efforts to hurl the deadly living-metal Nemesis statue back into Deep Space. Meanwhile, Ace (Sophie Aldred) finds herself locked in mortal combat with the Cybermen, who want to get their hands on the precious validium within the statue. Musical-comedy favorite Dolores Gray makes a rare TV appearance as Mrs. Remington. Written by Kevin Clarke, "Silver Nemesis, Episode 3" originally aired on December 7, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the three-part story "The Happiness Patrol," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) sparks a revolution against Helen A (Sheila Hancock), dictator of Terra, where the punishment for not expressing constant happiness is death. Once he has neutralized Helen A's robotic henchman, Kandyman (David John Pope), the Doctor goes to work on the dictator herself -- and he doesn't intend to resort to violence. A poignant ending caps Graeme Curry's teleplay for "The Happiness Patrol, Episode 3," which first aired on November 16, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Winning a trip to the Disneyland of 1959, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Melanie (Bonnie Langford) collide en route with a satellite. The would-be vacationers end up in a Welsh holiday camp called the Shangri-La -- which is presently under siege by the Bannermen, a pair of genocidal assassins who have targeted another vacationer, Chimeron princess Delta (Belinda Mayne). American funnyman Stubby Kaye guest stars as Mr. Weismuller, while British TV game show host Ken Dodd appears briefly as the Tollmaster. Written by Malcolm Kohll, the three-episode "Delta and the Bannermen" began its original BBC run on November 2, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the four-part story "Paradise Towers," the residents of the titular apartment complex continue to be held in thrall by a malevolent -- and murderous -- superbrain known as the Great Architect Kroagnon, who, appalled at the untidiness of his customers, has dispatched the villainous Chief Caretaker (Richard Briers) on a killing rampage. Caught in the middle between the complex's helpless residents and the various and sundry threats to their safety, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Mel (Bonnie Langford) must figure out a way of staying alive -- or at the very least, of avoiding the bureaucratic red tape which has tied the other characters in knots. Written by Stephen Wyatt, "Paradise Towers, Episode 3" first aired on October 19, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Melanie (Bonnie Langford) decide to use the swimming pool at the Paradise Towers luxury-apartment complex. Unfortunately, the formerly award-winning complex has degenerated into a breeding ground for crime and vice -- and the current residents seem to be totally unaware of the danger surrounding them. Comic actor Richard Briers does an about-face as the villainous Chief Caretaker. Written by Stephen Wyatt, Episode 1 of the four-part adventure "Paradise Towers" first aired on October 5, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the three-part story "Dragonfire," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and con artist Glitz (Tony Selby) have both been drawn to the frigid trading colony Iceworld. Here both men face death at the hands of the elusive exiled criminal Kane (Edward Peel), who now reluctantly rules the colony. Items essential to the action are a herd of surly dragons and a lost umbrella. Written by Chris Clough, "Iceworld, Episode 2" first aired on November 30, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the three-part story "Delta and the Bannermen," the Bannerman Warfleet steps up its efforts to assassinate Princess Delta of Chimeron (Belinda Mayne), as well as the infant heir apparent to the throne. In trying to prevent this, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Mel (Bonnie Langford) learn to their surprise that the Chimeron infant doesn't really need any help. Watch for the Doctor's eyeglasses in the climactic chase scene (though quite nearsighted, actor McCoy was determined to drive a motorcycle without the assistance of a stunt man). Written by Malcolm Kohll, "Delta and the Bannermen, Episode 3" originally aired on November 16, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "Time and the Rani," the newly regenerated Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) must deal with the renegade Time Lady known as the Rani (Kate O'Mara). Hoping to create her own time manipulator by brain-draining the Doctor and other intergalactic geniuses, the Rani has chosen as her headquarters the peaceful planet Lakertya -- thereby breaking the peace in the process. Originally shown on September 14, 1987, "Time and the Rani, Episode 2" was written by Pip and Jane Baker. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Time and the Rani," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) frees the reptilian residents of the planet Lakertya, then prepares himself for a final showdown with the Rani (Kate O'Mara), whose time-manipulating device could result in the end of the planet, if not the entire universe. The explosive climax takes place on an asteroid hovering high over Lakertya, a triumph of "making a lot out of a little" for the series' artistic designer Geoff Powell. Originally shown on September 28, 1987, "Time and the Rani, Episode 4" was written by Pip and Jane Baker. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Some of the biggest and brightest stars in British comedy appear in this performance film, which documents a revue staged by John Cleese of Monty Python as a benefit for the human rights group Amnesty International. In addition to Cleese and fellow Python members Michael Palin and Terry Jones (who reprise skits from the Python show as well as its lesser-known predecessor At Last The 1948 Show), The Secret Policeman's Ball includes sketches featuring Rowan Atkinson (shortly before his breakthrough success on the UK television series Not The Nine O'Clock News), Peter Cook (who performs classic material from the show Beyond The Fringe), Eleanor Bron, Clive James and The Kevin Campbell Road Show. The show also includes acoustic musical performances from Pete Townshend of the Who, classical guitarist John Williams (who joins Townshend for a version of "Won't Get Fooled Again") and activist singer/songwriter Tom Robinson. The Secret Policeman's Ball was the third in a series of benefits shows organized by Cleese for Amnesty International, and the name was recycled for several filmed stage shows that followed. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Though much of the acting was good, it can hardly be said that the enormously popular British sci-fi television series Doctor Who suffered from a budget surfeit. For all the handicaps under which the show labored in its early years (threatened constantly by cancellation, strangled by budget overruns, almost toppled in the stylistic left turn involved when it went immediately from being an educational program to being an adventure series) it turned out remarkably well overall.
Doctor Who: The Hartnell Years is a fascinating tape because it manages, over its course, to provide insights into the beginnings of the show -- aside from Sylvester McCoy's sometimes blunt narration, there is the original recording of the pilot show, "An Unearthly Child." Rejected for being too harsh, with the Doctor portrayed almost as a villain, the original pilot is an intriguing curiosity for its differences. Originally, the producers were quite specific about the time and place from which the Doctor and his granddaughter hailed -- this was finally abandoned in favor of making the characters as mysterious as possible to the humans who stumbled into their lives, and the viewers who watched the show. The tape also includes a snippet from a show dubbed into Arabic -- while from a highly dramatic show, the mix of Hartnell's overdone acting and the frenetic Arabic dubbing is nothing short of hilarious. Also available for the curious are a couple of orphaned episodes, including the lone survivor from "The Crusades." Overall, an entertaining and fascinating release. ~ Steven E. McDonald, Rovi