STORY
PLOTLINE
London,
1983: an old house mysteriously burns to the ground.
London,
1883: The Doctor and Ace arrive at a sinister mansion in the rural hamlet of
Perivale. Horrors old and new await the time travelers amongst the peculiar residents
of Gabriel Chase.
But
it is Ace who must confront her own worst nightmares when she discovers that
her past and the house's future are inextricably linked.
COMMENT Spoliers
ahead
(Having
just viewed GHOST LIGHT DVD)
GHOST
LIGHT is an extraordinary…
(A
while later after a second viewing)
…ordinary DOCTOR
WHO production that claims nonchalantly to be a movie for the small
screen…
(a
day later after a third viewing)
…that,
even more so than THE CURSE OF FENRIC, deserves further illumination
(sic) and treatment for a DVD release. Multiple…
(a
weekend later after yet another viewing, two bags of Tortilla Chips and
a bottle - or two - of Chardonnay)
…viewings
enhance appreciation for a simply plotted story that, with blatant conceit for
the viewer, adopts a seemingly convoluted manner. Replaced the £100k budget
with £1 million, GHOST LIGHT would be a masterpiece of
modern television drama. For the first time, a DOCTOR WHO story
that would have benefited for a fourth episode, and there are not many production
that you could say that about.
There
not many McCoy productions that would benefit from ‘re-mastering’ for
a re-release with only THE GREATEST SHOW…, SILVER
NEMESIS and SURVIVAL remain as viable options. With GHOST
LIGHT, BBC WORLDWIDE has missed an opportunity to show the story as ‘feature-length’ format
sans titles/credits and adding CGI visual effects (the lightening strike Gabriel
Chase could have ‘treated’ for more impact). Congealed, with the
aid of the deleted and extra scenes that embellish this package, to - if you
excuse me - evolve into the perfect form.
The
commentary, in comparisons to those recorded by the Davison crew, was tepid and
gladiatorial, with individuals clawing for airtime. The winner was Mark Ayres.
Obstructive, ‘loud’ and, well, ‘loud’. Such a domineering,
self-appointed geek personality created imbalance within the discussion with
his arrant nonsense. An ideal combination would have been: Aldred and/or McCoy,
Cartmel or Platt, and Wareing.
Much
overlooked in DVD reviews is the Information Text. An essential element of watching
a DOCTOR WHO DVD is accessing the lesser-known facts, provided
by Martin (J) Wiggins, which add value to re-watching a production one knows
far too well. A few choices cuts from GHOST LIGHT include: John
Hallam played a Burpa in CARRY ON UP THE KHYBER, and that Marc
Platt was influenced by the work of artist, William Blake and playwright, Dennis
Potter. Also revealed is that fact that British comedy actor, Harry Enfield was
considered for the part of Redvers and Mrs Pritchard was optioned to SECRET
AND LIES actress, Brenda Blethyn.
The
main documentary, LIGHT INTO DARKNESS - ILLUMINATING GHOST LIGHT,
allows the cast and crew to, after 15 years, admit that they didn’t know
what the story was about did not care but did have fun in doing it. Josiah Smith
actor, Ian Hogg comes out as DOCTOR WHO fan (will be appear
in the New Series?) and relates WHO to Shakespeare (in particularly
his comedies); you don’t have to analyse and understand the intricacies
of plot and sub-plot to play it well. Quite true. On the quality guest star cast,
Sylvester McCoy labeled Sylvia Syms as an “intellectual sex symbol”.
Something that Colin Baker said about Joan Sims, I am sure.
For
any DOCTOR WHO fan to watch the behind the scenes recording
is beguiling, exciting and garners respect for the professionalism of the active
participants. In SHOOTING GHOSTS, we become intimate voyeurs
on the last recording ‘block’ for the production. Amid the panic
of finishing on time (before supper or the 10:00 pm ‘lights out’ deadline),
the cast remain relaxed yet highly adept at last minute changes of direction
and lines. A prime example being McCoy’s respectful re-working stage directions
as he takes Josiah Smith hostage in the hallway and, later, summons Light from
the lift. The footage is more poignant for it was the final recording for the ‘classic
series’.
In WRITER’S
QUESTION TIME, Marc Platt discusses his work at a 1990 DOCTOR
WHO convention. Nice but dry.
GHOST
LIGHT remains a dramatic televised treat that moved the series theough
its gestation period that had started with Battlefield, moving DOCTOR
WHO to darker and subtler place. Unfortunately, we never saw its re-birth.
But
we may.
We
may.