retro-the-best....: [New post] Doctor Who and The Highlanders

Saturday, June 4, 2011

[New post] Doctor Who and The Highlanders

Doctor Who and The Highlanders

dailypop | June 4, 2011 at 8:34 pm | Tags: doctor who troughton classic reviews | Categories: Doctor Who- 2nd Doctor | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-2FM

The Highlanders

Story 31
Written by Elwyn Jones and Gerry Davis
Transmitted December 17, 1966 - January 7, 1967

"Oh dear. You should have spent more time with your history books, Ben."

Doctor Who had been running for over three very successful years before its star William Hartnell decided that he disliked the direction that the program was headed. He and head of serials Shaun Sutton were like chalk and cheese, it seemed. After a rotating series of assistants, Hartnell was frustrated with the future of the program he had worked so hard to establish. It's no secret that Bill Hartnell viewed himself as the heart of the program and it is also perfectly understandable as he was the only constant in three years, aside from the TARDIS itself. It became clear that the actor would have to leave the part he had so loved, and not in the best of circumstances. Ill healthy compounded the issue and is often cited as the only reason behind his departure, but in truth there were many factors involved. Even so, on his way out the door he made one proclamation - that if anyone could carry the program it was Patrick Troughton.

Shaun Sutton and series producer Innes Lloyd agreed:

"The producer and I were absolutely determined to have Patrick Troughton, because we knew Patrick Troughton and I had actually been a drama student with Patrick Troughton many years ago, before the war. And even back then, Patrick had those deep lines on his face, he had the look of a thousand-year-old leprechaun, and I remember saying to him once, before the war, 'Pat, you have the secret of eternal age', and I thought that was a very good quality for 'Doctor Who'.
(from DrWhoInterviews)

After pitching the quirky character actor to Doctor Who's creator Sidney Newman, Troughton was confirmed as the new Doctor. His first adventure, Power of the Daleks, saw the 'renewed' Doctor convince both the viewers at home
and companions Ben and Polly that he was indeed the same man... just radically different. Appearing to be a buffoon, this new Doctor directed attention away from himself as a serious threat to anyone, least of all the Daleks. Yet he defeated them once again. Pat Troughton had plenty of ideas regarding how to play the part, mostly as a character role, the kind that he was well known for. Much of this approach is not present in Power of the Daleks, but in his second outing, the Highlanders, one can see a few of these comedic notions. Thankfully he wasn't allowed to pursue them as this story features a very different version of the character that would later develop into the Second Doctor fans know and love.

Ben, the Doctor and Polly try to discern their location in time and space

Throughout The Highlanders, Troughton plays the Doctor mainly as an over the top clown, causing the program to border on the realms of comedy. The supporting cast, however, are in fine form with Michael Craze as Ben proving to be a headstrong hero and Aneke Wills as Polly making the ideal rebellious young Londoner. The pair of companions often get missed by fans as most of their appearances are lost, but after investigating a few of their appearances, they really are quite entertaining and resourceful. Between the two of them they manage to defeat Cybermen, befuddle pirates among other achievements. There is a lot of cockney slang from Ben (I found it fun), but by and large Ben and Polly are in dire need of a reassessment. In fact it is largely Ben and Polly who carry the bulk of the Highlanders as Troughton's Doctor is busy getting into Marx Brothers-style routines.

The adventure is set during the Battle of Culloden, the conclusion to the bloody Jacobite Rising in 1745. Landing in the Scottish highlands, the Doctor almost immediately wants no part of a war zone and attempts to depart at the first sound of gunfire. It's a comedic opening obviously done for laughs as the Doctor has almost always welcomed danger and sought to help those in need. Cajoled into investigating their surroundings by his companions Ben and Polly, the Doctor finds a discarded Tam o' Shanter and prances around in it for a bit. This Doctor apparently had a thing for silly hats, be it his massive stove pipe hat or this one. He soon discovers, however, that it bears the standard of Bonnie Prince Charlie. They are then caught up by a clan of Scots as they retreat to a nearby cottage, their Laird Colin in dire straights.

On account of their accents alone, the time travelers are thought to be part of the English forces mopping up the last remnants of resistance in the hills. The Doctor soon not only earns their trust but also offers to help heal the Laird. Soon the cottage is beset by English soldiers. Seeking to draw them off, Colin's brave son Alexander takes a volley of shots standing his ground against insurmountable odds. With only his piper Jamie, Colin is taken captive and almost hung by the red coats if not for the intercession of Solicitor Grey who takes possession of the lot for his own insidious ends.

It turns out that Solicitor Grey has a very profitable scheme selling rebels to the plantations in Jamaica for a hearty amount. Transferred to a nearby sailing vessel run by the odious Captain Trask, the Doctor, Ben, Colin and Jamie are thrown in a dungeon where they await their end. Wrapped up in the unfortunate turn of events, the Doctor uses his wits to outsmart Grey while on the mainland Kirsty and Polly develop a mad scheme to release their friends from harm, gaining an unwilling ally in the form of the Lieutenant Algernon Ffinch.

The Doctor dances a jig 'I should like a hat like that!'

The Highlanders is a grand adventure and well directed (judging by the audio and few remaining bits of film). Equal parts comedy and drama, there's plenty to keep the viewer's interest as the story unfolds. The only real weak link is the Doctor himself who seems to be acting almost entirely out of character, smashing people's heads in, tying them up and hurling them into closets and the like. It's obviously played for laughs but it is unusual to see a Doctor acting so violent and for comic relief as well. The Doctor puts on a silly German accent, pretending to be a German doctor, and even dresses up in drag at one point to get out of the enemy camp. Meanwhile Ben Jackson thinks up risky ploys to get off of the slave ship to round up help for his friends. It's part of the old school mentality dating back to the character of Ian Chesteron that the male companion plays the physical heroic part while the Doctor is more of a thinking man's hero, but in this case the Doctor isn't exactly heroic as he is a chaotic prankster.

The political angle of the Highlanders is hammered home repeatedly as both Ben and Polly continually mistake the arrival of English troops as a good thing when in fact it is a death sentence. In prison, the Doctor encourages the confined Scots to a rousing rally, prompting Jamie to inquire his support of Prince Charles. But the Doctor admits that he just wanted to make some noise and enjoyed the acoustics.

The reality of the situation at the Battle of Culloden is disturbingly moving. It is clear that Solicitor Grey can get away with murder simply because it is a time of war and all is in disarray. Jamie, Colin and Ben make a valiant stand for nobility and bravery by refusing to knuckle under to Trask and Grey's ploy to sell the prisoners as plantation workers, stating that it is a slow death that they are selling. Yet the Doctor seems glibly unconcerned with the gravity of the situation. Maybe this was an attempt to take the edge off of the violence of war that the story referred to, but it's odd.

The Doctor is held at knife point by Highlanders (and a young Jamie McCrimmon!)

It has been pointed out that playing the Doctor relies greatly on the eccentricities of the actor rather than playing a part. This was the approach that William Hartnell took when he displayed both his irritability and warmth along with a steadfast defiance in the face of danger. His successors Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker likewise played themselves on screen as the Third and Fourth Doctors but the Second Doctor is another kettle of fish all together.

I recall reading that Troughton saw his Doctor as being a character part covered in fake beards and silly clothes that he could remove after performances and disappear into his own private life. A very private man, he was a magnificent actor but was reluctant to reveal anything of himself on camera. There are wonderful moments when what I imagine is the 'real face' of Troughton comes through such as his tenderness toward Victoria in The Tomb of the Cybermen, but most of the time he is clearly playing a part; be it a devious, comedic or dramatic one. In this adventure, he was still finding his footing and the program itself wasn't sure where it was headed as it entered a new era.

Doctor Who - The Highlanders (reconstruction)

watch?v=w20J1BDXMSE

In the years to come, the 'cosmic hobo' Second Doctor would transform into a compelling and brilliant tactician and hero to the innocent, even stating that 'there are evils in the universe that must be fought' in the Moonbase two stories later. But in the Highlanders, he seemed to be an agent of anarchy merely playing about in time and space, much like the other Time Lord seen previously, the Meddling Monk.

I count the Second Doctor as one of if not the finest incarnation of the Doctor. A cunning strategist and brilliant engineer, he could defeat nearly any menace with a handful of loose odds and ends. A scruffy looking tramp, the Second Doctor stood his ground against horrific monsters and mad scientists, often placing himself in harm's way. A soulful and whimsical character, Troughton's Doctor introduced the quirkiness that was later taken up by Tom Baker, Sylvester McCoy and currently Matt Smith. The direct successor to Hartnell's First Doctor, Pat Troughton had a long way to go to remake the character into his own interpretation. The Highlanders is a stumbling block along that path, with the Moonbase acting as a firm foothold on the climb to greatness.

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