The Gunfighters

A Holiday for the Doctor

Well, it's fitting that the last story with individual episode titles is by the person who uses them best, as we have another lovely pun from Donald Cotton here. I am going to miss episode titles very much, as I am going to miss Donald Cotton. He was far too good to have only written two stories. The Myth Makers was quite good, but this is absolutely brilliant. The Gunfighters is really my type of story. As I was a Thunderbirds fan when I was younger, I must point out Shane Rimmer, who voiced Scott Tracy, as Seth Harper, and David Graham, who voiced Brains, as Charlie. I find it almost off-putting with Shane Rimmer, whose character sounds identical to Scott Tracy. He even looks a bit like Scott Tracy!

Steven shows no sympathy to the Doctor for his tooth problem. "Serves you right for eating that sweet," is his rather harsh judgement, before having a squee with Dodo about being in the wild west. I love Steven's attempts to do tricks with his gun, and call himself the fastest gun in the west, which is what so many people would do in the same situation. But then Wyatt Earp appears and Steven's embarrassed protestation that, "I'm not really a gunman" and Earp's reply of "you did kind of make that obvious, didn't you boy?" is hilarious. And we get a Doctor Who? joke! It's been ages. And a bizarre reference (in my mind, at least) to the 1920 film the Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, as the Doctor introduces himself as Doctor Caligari, to which Earp replies, "Doctor who?" and the Doctor says, "quite right". I know it's silly, but I do love those jokes. Of course, that joke gets taken to another level very soon in the War Machines.

I love the Doctor's reaction to seeing the giant tooth outside the dentists, and how he pretends his tooth is actually better now. Hartnell is so good at these moments. Throughout this story he has so many comic moments that he pulls off brilliantly. Many of them are visual gags, such as the terrific moment where the Doctor accidentally and innocently points Holliday's gun at Holliday and then Kate, so it's lucky this story still exists. The Doctor and Doc Holliday make a great double act. The Doctor asks for anaesthetic, and explains it's to numb the pain, and Doc shrugs and says "I could give you a wrap on the cranium". It's a bit silly, but Doc's "I've never tolerated any complaints yet," is also a great line. It's sweet that he doesn't ask for payment because the Doctor's his first customer, though. Additionally there's Holliday's "goodbye and good luck," to the Doctor, who bizarrely replies, "the same to you, and many of them".

The Doctor is incredibly naive with Seth, not realising that he's been mistaken for Holliday, or that they want him dead. It's cruel but very believable that Holliday sets up the Doctor to be killed by the Clantons. Peter Purves is brilliant in the final scene here. "You'll sing here now and fast," says one of the Clantons. "But, why?" asks Steven. "On account that we're all music lovers," comes the reply, with a number of guns suddenly pointing at Steven. I love it. Steven's reaction when he turns and sees Seth's gun pointing right at him is one of the highlights of the Hartnell era, and Peter Purves' finest moment, amongst many to choose from. A Holiday for the Doctor is pure perfection in Doctor Who form. 10/10.

Don't Shoot the Pianist

Dodo very bizarrely goes off in a strop at the start of this episode, angry that she's not being allowed to play the piano any more, angry she's not allowed to "play with Steven's new friends". She does remember they're being forced to play at gunpoint? This is after Kate arrives and is dubbed over for some reason when she sings. All the more reason to admire Peter Purves and his live singing. When the Doctor finally arrives (just how slowly was he walking?), it's a great moment. Seth tells the Doctor he'd like to introduce him to the Clanton brothers. Hartnell's "the Clanton brothers, oh dear!" is perfect, once again, somehow being both subtle and over the top. And we get more slapstick gold from Hartnell as this time he accidentally points his gun at the Clantons! Then he goes mad and threatens an unarmed Seth, which the Clantons are rather amusingly shocked at, before Wyatt Earp comes to the Doctor's rescue, again.

There's quite a moody scene amongst all the comedy between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, where Earp tells him to get out of town. It's the first serious scene of the story, and is rather well shot by Rex Tucker. Steven is incredibly stupid at thinking the Clantons are actually going to help him rescue the Doctor! Their plan to kill Steven if they can't get the Doctor is quite chilling. Once again the Doctor is given a gun. His line, "people keep giving me guns and I do wish they wouldn't," is funny. Then right at the end Seth finds out that the Doctor isn't Doc Holliday, only to be shot as soon as he does. Which is a shame, Seth's my favourite of the baddies, and not just because he sounds like Scott Tracy.

Is Lynda Baron the only person ever to receive a "sung by" credit in Doctor Who? I know some people are rather tired of her by the end (or even by this point!), but I rather like her presence in this story. It gives it something a little bit different, and for me only adds to the joy of the story. 10/10.

Johnny Ringo

It's almost quite tense when Wyatt Earp goes out into the crowd, risking his life to save Steven. The Doctor's fussing and worry are rather sweet, really. And there's another moment of Purves greatness, where Steven accidentally calls Wyatt Earp "Mr Wurp", as the Doctor has been all the way through. It's funny every time the Doctor does it, but Steven's one is the cream of the crop. The great lines just keep on coming in this story. "Doc Holliday's a great friend of mine. He extracted a tooth, gave me a gun, what more do you want?" states the Doctor.

And in walks Laurence Payne (Dastari!) as Johnny Ringo, the first man to be an episode title since way back in Marco Polo. He's very good. Very menacing. Poor old Charlie is remarkably stupid here. Actually, that's not fair, Ringo intimidates him into being stupid, and babbling endlessly. Saying something like, "I can't wait to see Wyatt Earp's face when he hears you're going against him," is really not a smart thing to say to somebody with that reputation.

The scene with Dodo and Doc Holliday where she pulls a gun on him is brilliant, possibly Dodo's best scene in Doctor Who. Her statement that, "I'll try not to kill you, I'll aim for your arm," and Holliday's reply, "right now you're aiming right between my eyes," is funny, as is her hilarious relief when he agrees to take her back and she can get rid of the gun, quickly asking for a cup of water. Jackie Lane sells it brilliantly, and then is trumped by Anthony Jacobs. When she says, "I didn't want to have to shoot you," he replies, "I didn't want to have to shoot you either," revealing a gun he had hidden on him, causing Dodo to go rather faint. It's such a good scene.

I find it quite funny how Ringo almost seems to quite like the Doctor, and laughs at him for saying he would reason with Doc Holliday. The cliffhanger is rather bizarre, though. They shoot Warren Earp. I mean, that's not an especially nice thing to do, but it's not much of a cliffhanger, is it? I love the moment earlier in the episode with the Doctor showing Wyatt Earp Ringo's wanted poster. Hartnell plays the innocent Doctor so brilliantly. 10/10.

The OK Corral

And it's time to shed a tear, as this is the last episode to have an individual title. At least, it is until 2005, when Russell T. Davies makes a rare good decision and reinstates them. I know this story isn't remembered for its especially strong acting, so it's impressive that I feel Victor Carin as Virgil Earp stands out as being particularly bad. He's extremely wooden. Still, Virgil does try to free Steve, so he's not all bad.

Hartnell's reaction when the Doctor touches Charlie is priceless. I like Lynda Baron's frequent interruptions, but calling the Clantons "bad cruel outlaws" is silly, even by the standards of this story. Dodo and Doc get another great gag where Dodo is twirling a gun around, trying to be clever and Doc very carefully takes it and pulls it away from her. We've had so many Doctor Who spin-offs. I think one with Doc Holliday, Kate and Dodo would have been fantastic. Anthony Jacobs and Jackie Lane work brilliantly together.

Johnny Ringo's a bit of a wimp, really. His battle tactics involve shooting people in the back. People question the scene where the Clantons shoot right at the Earps, yet somehow miss. It's possible the Earps were out of range, or maybe the Clantons were just giving them a sporting chance, and warning them rather than trying to kill them. It wouldn't be cricket to have just shot them there. I like how it's Dodo who saves Doc Holliday from Ringo, and then causes Ringo's death by running away from him. Dodo saves the day! Yippee. And of course the great lines haven't been used up yet, as Doc says, "you try and help me any more, you'll be the death of me," to Dodo.

This episode is slightly slower, as Cotton once again reduces the comedy for the final episode, which is reasonably brutal. The Doctor and Steven are sidelined a little, but that's necessary, and Dodo gets her moment to shine. This is the weakest episode of the four, but that's no criticism. 8/10.

Conclusion

I love the Gunfighters. For starters, William Hartnell gives one of his best performances. He's fantastic. Peter Purves is also terrific. He has perfect comic timing (as does Hartnell). Anthony Jacobs also gives one of my favourite guest performances so far as Doc Holliday. This story is just so much fun, full of great gags, many of which are visual. The historicals are nearly all triumphant, and this is one of the best. It's also the first (intentionally) light-hearted story since the Myth Makers, by, erm, somebody called Donald Cotton. And it was needed. As much as I like the Massacre, grim stories are not a good thing. One a season should be the absolute limit. One an era is preferable. But anyway, my five favourite Hartnell stories are historicals, and the Gunfighters challenges the best. So far it's third, behind the Massacre and the Romans. Thank you to all involved, it was a joy.

Average rating: 9.5

Old Rating: 9

New Rating: 9.5