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SYLVESTER McCOY 1986-89
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SEVENTH DOCTOR | GHOST LIGHT

 
"...the behind the scenes recording is beguiling, exciting

and garners respect for the professionalism

of the active participants..."

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.

EOH CONTRIBUTOR
MATTHEW WALTER
EOH RATING

5/5 EOH RATING

INFORMATION

SYLVESTER McCOY as the Doctor

DOCTOR WHO - GHOST LIGHT

DVD Released 09.2004


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Rehearsal footage sans 'quizzical' jumper

Rehearsal footage sans 'quizzical' jumper

Trying to have a cup of tea, McCoy is pestered by a roving cam

Trying to have a cup of tea, McCoy is pestered by a roving cam

 

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