The Gunfighters [TV/1966.4.30 ~ 5.21]
★★★★★
That The Gunfighters -- what I consider to be one of the most sublime pieces of television and one of the best First Doctor serials -- got such a terrible reception on first broadcast and became the reason pure historicals were excised from Dr. Who is a crime, and a terrible shame to boot. With a cast of characters so vivid and memorable as these, a story as fun and melancholy as a "best-of" Western fiction extravaganza could ever be, and a central motif of the song The Last Chance Saloon presenting the serial a wonderful tune as well as tying in the different conflicts and themes fo the story, this is a beautiful slice of historical Who and a perfect blend of light-hearted comedy and melancholy drama.
Many bemoan the inclusion of The Last Chance Saloon, the song frequently played during the serial, and I get it. Listening to the same tune on and on again may well become tiresome. I do, however, have a counterpoint -- that the song is actually very fun and very well-performed. It's also an integral part of the serial; much like Vangelis' score for Blade Runner, the narrative is inseparable from the music because they work hand in hand. It's almost as if they exist in the same reality (in contrast to most other works where the music is obviously not what the players are hearing in-universe), with the song laying out the fates of each and every character. Plus, you can't tell me that The Last Chance Saloon doesn't add a healthy dose of melancholy to a scene whenever needed. The death of the bartender, the final defeat of the Clanton family, and the deepening crisis between the family and the combined forces of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday... these are all moments with surprising gravity in what is ostensibly a Western romp, and the song helps that emotion tenfold. Justice for Lynda Baron!
In fact, justice for all involved! William Hartnell, Peter Purves and Jackie Lane who are having the time of their lives here (even Hartnell himself, whose Doctor has his rotten tooth removed and is accused of being a serial gambler), the homely and fun set pieces, the guest star performances and the entertaining criss-cross between comedy and straight drama -- justice for them all. The Gunfighters is a prime example of how the sixties' pure historicals weren't all just kings and European conflicts... and how they could both be hilarious, warm and thrilling and tragic at the same time. Words cannot begin to describe how much I love this adventure.
That The Gunfighters -- what I consider to be one of the most sublime pieces of television and one of the best First Doctor serials -- got such a terrible reception on first broadcast and became the reason pure historicals were excised from Dr. Who is a crime, and a terrible shame to boot. With a cast of characters so vivid and memorable as these, a story as fun and melancholy as a "best-of" Western fiction extravaganza could ever be, and a central motif of the song The Last Chance Saloon presenting the serial a wonderful tune as well as tying in the different conflicts and themes fo the story, this is a beautiful slice of historical Who and a perfect blend of light-hearted comedy and melancholy drama.
Many bemoan the inclusion of The Last Chance Saloon, the song frequently played during the serial, and I get it. Listening to the same tune on and on again may well become tiresome. I do, however, have a counterpoint -- that the song is actually very fun and very well-performed. It's also an integral part of the serial; much like Vangelis' score for Blade Runner, the narrative is inseparable from the music because they work hand in hand. It's almost as if they exist in the same reality (in contrast to most other works where the music is obviously not what the players are hearing in-universe), with the song laying out the fates of each and every character. Plus, you can't tell me that The Last Chance Saloon doesn't add a healthy dose of melancholy to a scene whenever needed. The death of the bartender, the final defeat of the Clanton family, and the deepening crisis between the family and the combined forces of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday... these are all moments with surprising gravity in what is ostensibly a Western romp, and the song helps that emotion tenfold. Justice for Lynda Baron!
In fact, justice for all involved! William Hartnell, Peter Purves and Jackie Lane who are having the time of their lives here (even Hartnell himself, whose Doctor has his rotten tooth removed and is accused of being a serial gambler), the homely and fun set pieces, the guest star performances and the entertaining criss-cross between comedy and straight drama -- justice for them all. The Gunfighters is a prime example of how the sixties' pure historicals weren't all just kings and European conflicts... and how they could both be hilarious, warm and thrilling and tragic at the same time. Words cannot begin to describe how much I love this adventure.
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