"Dalek films" is a common fan term referring to a series consisting primarily of two theatrical films featuring Peter Cushing as the Doctor, adapted from the TV serials The Daleks [+]Loading...["The Daleks (TV story)"] and The Dalek Invasion of Earth [+]Loading...["The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)"].
Cushing portrayed a distinctive variant of William Hartnell's First Doctor, at a time before regeneration had been introduced to the TV series to explain differences between portrayals of the Doctor by different actors. Unlike his televised counterpart, Cushing's Doctor was often referred to as "Dr. Who" in dialogue, and the first film portrayed him as a seemingly human scientist who had apparently constructed his Tardis in his backyard, stripping away the mystery that shrouded the Doctor's early life on television. Roberta Tovey co-starred as a version of Susan in both productions, and the first film also featured its own Ian and Barbara, with the latter reimagined as Susan's sister and another granddaughter of the Doctor.
The films have also received various adaptations, with the first being adapted into the comic Dr. Who and the Daleks as well as the short story The Story of the Film, and the second being adapted into the comic Daleks, invasión a la Tierra año 2150. Elements of the series have also been integrated into not only occasional sequel stories but also parody series such as Doctor Who? and The Daft Dimension, both of which are set in parallel universes.
Though superficially at odds with with mainstream Doctor Who continuity in a variety of obvious ways, the films have been referenced within it on many occasions, with some stories presenting contradictory views on how Cushing's Doctor could be reconciled, or made to coexist, with the televised character.
The Dalek films are notably not part of the Whoniverse on BBC iPlayer, but are available for streaming on ITVX.
Main films[[edit] | [edit source]]
| Title | Writer | Doctor | Featuring | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Who and the Daleks | Milton Subotsky | Dr. Who | Susan, Barbara, Ian, Daleks, Thals | 25 June 1965 |
| Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. | Milton Subotsky, David Whitaker | Susan, Louise, Tom Campbell, Daleks, Robomen | 26 July 1966 |
Adaptations[[edit] | [edit source]]
Dr. Who and the Daleks[[edit] | [edit source]]
The first adaptation of Dr. Who and the Daleks, also titled Dr. Who and the Daleks, was published by Dell Publishing in December 1966, and was later reprinted in Doctor Who Classic Comics #9 on 23 June 1993.
The film was later adapted into the short story The Story of the Film in TV Century 21 #28, published by City Magazines on 31 July 1965.
Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.[[edit] | [edit source]]
Although no English adaptations exist of Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., it gained a licensed adaptation in Argentina entitled Daleks, invasión a la Tierra año 2150, published by Editorial Columba in El Tony Extracolor #400 with a cover date of 14 February 1978.
Later appearances[[edit] | [edit source]]
In 1996, Doctor Who Magazine published the comic story Daleks Versus the Martians, featuring Dr. Who, Susan and Louise in a prequel to Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D..
Told from an in-universe perspective, the Dalek Survival Guide pointed out that "film evidence" presented alternative versions of the Skaro City Daleks and the Dalek Invasion Force which it identified as being from a version of history "B" relative to the version of history "A" experienced by the First Doctor.
The short story The Five O'Clock Shadow depicted Dr. Who and his granddaughter Susan as fictional creations of the Doctor (designed to be versions of himself and his granddaughter free of all angst and strife) who came to life and ended up departing on their own adventures.
To commemorate the 4K remasters of both Dr. Who theatrical films in 2022, Doctor Who Magazine published the comic story Dr. Who & the Mechonoids, featuring Dr. Who and Susan's encounter with the Mechonoids, who were originally introduced in The Chase, the third televised Dalek story.