Jon Pertwee Movies

Four years after its "official" demise as a weekly series, Doctor Who briefly resurfaced in the form of a two-part, off-length special. Created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the series' birth, "Dimensions in Time" was shown as a component of two other TV programs. Part One aired November 26, 1993, as an eight-minute segment of the BBC's Children in Need Telethon. In this installment, five of the Doctor's seven incarnations -- played by surviving series stars Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy -- were pitted against renegade Time Lady Rani (Kate O'Mara, likewise repeating her Doctor Who role), who hoped to determine the outcome of the universe's evolution. This cliffhanger would be resolved the following evening on the series' Noel's House Party. Featured in the cast were several of the Doctor's former "companions," including Nicola Bryant (Peri), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Carole Ann Ford (Susan), Elisabeth Sladen (Sara), and Bonnie Langford (Mel). "Dimensions in Time" was written by John Nathan-Turner and David Roden. ~ 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

Lionel Jeffries directed Water Babies, a children's fantasy based on the story by Charles Kingsley that incorporates live-action and animation in the tradition of The Incredible Mr. Limpet. In Dickensian London, a 12-year-old chimney sweep's apprentice named Tom (Tommy Pender) has to put up with his boss, Grimes (James Mason), and his heavy drinking. One day, in the home of a client, Tom is accused of stealing the silverware. Tom makes a run for it and leaps into a pool, where he comes across a collection of animated characters. While submerged he helps to rescue "water babies," children held hostage by an eel and a shark. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

This children's fantasy is about the "Wombles," borrowed from a British TV series, who are furry creatures (actors in suits), normally invisible to anyone but themselves, and whose mission in life is to clean up after humans -- their first chore was to pick up the forgotten apple core in the Garden of Eden. The British Wombles know something is wrong when humans start to notice them, beginning with little Kim Frogmorton (Bonnie Langford) and then her parents. In a series of vignettes, Wombles alone, or humans alone, or both together handle disconnected misadventures -- such as saving the Womble burrow at Wimbledon, fighting against pollution, and moaning over adult topics like an oil shortage, and a theater shortage, for that matter. A few Wombles are professional beasties (such as Kenny Baker of R2-D2 fame), but for the most part, the scenarios are conventional and range from ordinary to insensitive. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "Planet of the Spiders," the crooked Lupton (John Dearth) has stolen the powerful blue crystal coveted by the spider empress of the planet Metebelis 3. The empress' minions take over Lupton's mind, enabling the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), who brought the crystal to Earth in the first place, to determine that mankind will be destroyed unless the precious item is returned to its rightful owner. Meanwhile, Sarah (Katy Manning) is captured and transported to Metebelis 3 as a means of drawing the Doctor out. Written by Robert Sloman, "Planet of the Spiders, Episode 4" originally aired on May 25, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "Planet of the Spiders," a trio of spider-like creatures from the planet Metebelis 3 are ordered to go to earth to retrieve a powerful blue crystal previously "borrowed" by the Doctor (Jon Pertwee). Unfortunately, there are several other parties interested in the crystal, which is subsequently passed from hand to hand like a hot potato -- with astonishing consequences for the Doctor and his friends. Written by Robert Sloman, "Planet of the Spiders, Episode 2" originally aired on May 11, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the six-part story "Invasion of the Dinosaurs," eco-fanatics Grover (Noel Johnson) and Whitaker (Peter Miles) step up their efforts to hurl the world back to the Prehistoric Era. The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and his UNIT colleagues manage to raid the villains' underground headquarters, but Grover has already activated the device that will enable him to carry out his crack-brained scheme. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Episode 6" was first telecast on February 16, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "Invasion of the Dinosaurs," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) have uncovered a plot to hurl the world back to the Prehistoric Era with the help of a herd of revitalized dinosaurs. Unfortunately, before they can give this information to the authorities, the two-time travelers are arrested as looters and thrown in prison. Though released by their old friends at UNIT, the Doctor and Sarah continue to run up against bureaucracy and treachery in their efforts to save humankind. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Episode 4" was first telecast on February 2, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "Invasion of the Dinosaurs," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) have returned to London, only to find the all-but-deserted city under martial law. The reason? A herd of dinosaurs is running amok through the London streets, spreading terror and destruction in their path. Now that the Doctor knows what's going on, the next step is to find out why. Written by Malcolm Hulke, "Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Episode 2" was first telecast on January 19, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Death to the Daleks," the humans and the Daleks on the planet Exxilon have been forced into an uneasy alliance to destroy the "living city" which has been depleting everyone's energy sources. The Daleks intend to blow up the city from the outside, which would have devastating consequences. But the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) comes up with a safer solution -- and in so doing, he also puts a damper on the Daleks' scheme to spread a deadly plague throughout the Universe. Written by Terry Nation, "Death to the Daleks, Episode 4" first aired on March 16, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Death to the Daleks," an energy drain on the planet Exxilon has rendered the TARDIS useless. During his enforced stay on the planet, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) ends up seeking out an antidote for a plague which has spread throughout the galaxy. Things take a deadly turn when the instigators of the plague, the mutant Daleks, likewise show up on Exxilon. Written by Terry Nation, "Death to the Daleks, Episode 2" first aired on March 2, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Time Warrior," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) has arrived in Medieval England in hopes of rescuing several kidnapped 20th century scientists. His efforts are impeded by Sontaran space warrior Lynx (Kevin D. Lindsay) and pirate chieftan Irongron (David Daker). But help arrives in the form of a primitve but most effective weapon, bringing this story to an explosive climax. Worth noting is the fact that the Doctor identifies his home planet, Gallifrey, by name for the first time in the series (after 11 seasons on the air, it's about time). Written by Robert Holmes, Doctor Who: The Time Warrior, Episode 4 first aired on December 29, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide