H. The Reign of Terror

TRANSMISSION DETAILS:

37. A Land of Fear                08.08.64   5.15pm - 5.45pm   6.9M/37th/---
38. Guests of Madame Guillotine   15.08.64   5.15pm - 5.45pm   6.9M/35th/---
39. A Change of Identity          22.08.64   5.30pm - 5.55pm   6.9M/34th/---
40. The Tyrant of France          29.08.64   5.15pm - 5.45pm   6.4M/36th/---
41. A Bargain of Necessity        05.09.64   5.30pm - 5.55pm   6.9M/39th/---
42. Prisoners of Conciergerie     12.09.64   5.30pm - 5.55pm   6.4M/38th/---

LEMAITRE/JAMES STIRLING: James Cairncross; JAILER: Jack Cunningham; JULES RENAN: Donald Morley; JEAN: Roy Herrick; LEON COLBERT: Edward Brayshaw; ROBESPIERRE: Keith Anderson; PAUL BARRASS: John Law; NAPOLEON BONAPARTE: Tony Wall; YOUNG BOY: Peter Walker

STORY:

The TARDIS lands in a forest clearing, and the Doctor believes it is 1963, although in fact the TARDIS is only miles away from Paris, 1794, one of the worst years since the Civil War of 1789.

A farmhouse is stormed by Government troops, and while the Doctor is left concussed Susan, Ian and Barbara are imprisoned. The Doctor and his companions become involved in rescuing prisoners from the guillotine.

The Doctor attempts to pose as Regional Officer of the Provinces on two occasions, and is taken in front of the tyrant Robespierre, and has to talk himself out of trouble, whilst Ian is involved in the counter-revolutionary plot of English spy James Stirling.

Both Ian and Barbara have a close shave with Napoleon Bonaparte, and events reach their climax as Robespierre - shot in the jaw and imprisoned - is overthrown, and Napoleon becomes ruler of France, as the Doctor and his companions slip away.

STUDIOS: Lime Grove Studio D, Ealing Television Film Studios

WORKING TITLES: 2 - Guests of the Guillotine

NOTES: First story to feature an outside location for filming

NOVELISATION: The Reign of Terror Ian Marter