by Martin Unsworth

Following on from his excellent look at the making of Escape from New York, writer John Walsh tackles the two big-screen Dr Who movies in this stunning coffee table book.

Lamented and loved in almost equal measure by Who fans and sci-fi lovers, the films were produced by Amicus, most famous for portmanteau horror, but without using the notorious Amicus name. Milton Subotsky and Max J. Rosenberg teamed up with an American production company (Aaru) to make these family-friendly, beautifully colourful pictures. Walsh’s book takes us through the two movies, Dr Who and the Daleks (1965) and Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966), in easily consumable detail. The films are separated into their own sections, and individual chapters cover the cast, directors, set design, marketing, and so on.

Everything about the book is quality. From the embossed cover to the stunning images, many of which are rarely seen and certainly not published. We especially loved the section on the Sugar Puffs promotion for Invasion Earth, in which a lucky muncher won a full-size Dalek. We miss those cereal tie-ins; they were so much fun for kids. Walsh’s research is impeccable, and he manages to speak to as many people who are still around from the productions as possible and uses quotes from older interviews from the folk who are not.

It’s a shame the films are derided by some because they are not official Who canon, but they are lots of fun and hold up well today. Peter Cushing was a wonderfully whimsical Dr (actually called Who), and it’s a shame he didn’t take up the offer of reprising the role in the series proper. With this book, you’ll appreciate those iconic sets, matte painting backgrounds, and brilliant models all the more.