Genesis of the Daleks

] [cite web
url= http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/4e.html
title= Genesis of the Daleks
publisher = A Brief History of Time Travel
last = Sullivan
first = Shannon
date = 2007-08-07
accessdate = 2008-08-30]
*The title for the story when commissioned was "Daleks — Genesis of Terror".
*The end of Part 2 is one of only a few part endings to end in a freeze frame

Reception

The serial is described as "one of the most popular of all time" by the Outpost Gallifrey episode guide, [OG | id=4e | title=Genesis of the Daleks] and as "a gem of a story" by David Howe and Stephen James Walker in their "Doctor Who Television Companion" [cite book
author = Howe, David J & Walker, Stephen James
year = 1998
title = Doctor Who: The Television Companion
edition = 1st ed.
location = London
publisher = BBC Books
id = ISBN 978-0-563-40588-7 ] , and in a 1998 poll of readers by "Doctor Who Magazine", over 2500 voters placed "Genesis" at the top of a poll to find the greatest "Doctor Who" stories of all time, and it has regularly featured in the top-tens of other similar polls down the years, such as in 2004 wheb it topped "Doctor Who Magazine" 's "greatest "Doctor Who" story ever" vote. However at the time of broadcast, there were some complaints about the level of violence portrayed. Mary Whitehouse's National Viewers' and Listeners' Association complained that "Genesis" contained "tea-time brutality for tots". [Brief | id=4e | title=Genesis of the Daleks]

Outside references

The Time Lord who appears at the story's beginning is costumed to resemble Death in Ingmar Bergman's film "The Seventh Seal".cite news |first=Matthew |last=Sweet |authorlink=Matthew Sweet (writer) |title=Who is Hamlet: Playing the Time Lord is perfect preparation for David Tennant's new role |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/who-is-hamlet-playing-the-time-lord-is-perfect-preparation-for-david-tennants-new-role-870518.html |work=The Independent |date=2008-07-20 |accessdate=2008-07-20 ] Gareth Roberts has compared this character to the ghost of Hamlet's father, setting the protagonist (the Doctor) on a violent mission with which he has moral qualms.

Dalek creator Terry Nation based the Daleks on the Nazis, and this episode abounds with deliberate parallels. [cite video |people=Levine, Ian (Director) |date2=2006-04-10 |title=Genesis of a Classic |medium=Documentary accompanying "Genesis of the Daleks" DVD |publisher=BBC Worldwide |location= |time=13:35 |quote= ] A madman leads his own race to its destruction. He is supported by security services that ride roughshod over the military and anybody else that gets in their way. They dress wholly in black, and salute each other by raising their hands and clicking the heels of their boots together. Their bespectacled leader, Nyder, is cold-hearted and ruthless, and even wears an Iron Cross in earlier episodes before the medal later disappears from his costume. Much of the action takes place in "the Bunker".

The discussion between the Doctor and Davros about the hypothetical viral weapon is regarded as a classic moment from "Doctor Who". [cite video |people=Levine, Ian (Director) |date2=2006-04-10 |title=Genesis of a Classic |medium=Documentary accompanying "Genesis of the Daleks" DVD |publisher=BBC Worldwide |location= |time=18:0 |quote= ] The debate is reproduced almost word for word as a homage in the computer game Discworld Noir.Fact|date=July 2008

Martin Wiggins, senior lecturer and fellow at the Shakespeare Institute at Stratford-upon-Avon, suggests that the Doctor's indecision about destroying the Dalek embryos in the "have I the right?" scene is derived from "The Brothers Karamazov".

In print

Doctorwhobook
title=Doctor Who and the Genesis of the Daleks
series=Target novelisations
number=27
featuring=


writer=Terrance Dicks
publisher=Target Books
coverartist=Chris Achilleos
isbn=0 426 11260 1
set_between=
pages=
date=22 July 1976
preceding=Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen
following=Doctor Who and the Web of Fear|A novelisation of this serial, written by Terrance Dicks, was published by Target Books in July 1976. From 1983 it was designated number 27 in the series, although it was not until 1991 that an edition was released bearing that number.

Broadcast, LP, CD & VHS releases

*"Genesis of the Daleks" is the most-repeated "Doctor Who" story on BBC Television's analogue services, having been re-shown in edited form in 1975 and 1982 (on BBC1) and again in its full form in 1993 and 2000 (both on BBC2). It was also shown on digital television channel BBC Choice in 1998, and has been transmitted several times on satellite television station UK Gold.
*In 1979, the BBC released a condensed audio version of this serial as an LP. Tom Baker recorded newly written narration for this release. In 1988, this recording would be reissued by BBC Audio alongside a later radio play, "Slipback". It was subsequently released on CD in a revised and expanded version by BBC Audio paired with in 2001.
*The serial was released on VHS by BBC Enterprises in 1991 with "The Sontaran Experiment", and again as part of a box set of stories featuring Davros in 2001.

DVD release

It was released on DVD in the United Kingdom by BBC Worldwide on April 10 2006 and in the United States by Warner Home Video on June 6 2006 as a two disc special edition. Both sound and picture were digitally remastered. Special features included 'Genesis of a Classic', a documentary about the making of this story, 'The Dalek Tapes', a 55 minute feature which tells the story of the Daleks, a commentary with Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Peter Miles and David Maloney, plus a photo gallery. It is available on its own or as part of a box set along with Destiny of the Daleks, Resurrection of the Daleks, Revelation of the Daleks and Remembrance of the Daleks.

References

External links

*BBCCDW | id=genesisofdaleks | title=Genesis of the Daleks
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2006/04/19/film_doctor_who_lis_sladen_interview_feature.shtml BBC - Watch interview with Elisabeth Sladen talking about Genesis Of The Daleks]
*Brief | id=4e | title=Genesis of the Daleks
*Doctor Who RG | id=who_4e | title=Genesis of the Daleks

Reviews

*OG review | id=4e | title=Genesis of the Daleks
*DWRG | id=gene | title=Genesis of the Daleks

Target novelisation

*DWRG | id=genenov | title=Doctor Who and the Genesis of the Daleks
* [http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~ecl6nb/OnTarget/1976/genesis/76genesi.htm On Target — "Doctor Who and the Genesis of the Daleks"]