No episodes
of this serial are known to survive. If any should resurface and be released
at a later date, please purchase such an official BBC video release to
complement our reconstruction.
Support
The BBC Video Releases.
Bonus
Material
As
well as the reconstruction we are able to bring you the following goodies…
We also include
a mini documentary about the making of The Smugglers, narrated by George
A. Cooper.
Historical
Extract
Also on the
tape is a short documentary about Smuggling on the Cornish coast, beautifully
narrated by George A. Cooper.
Celebrity
Interview
One of Britains
best loved character actors George A. Cooper (Cherub) kindly spared some
time to speak to us. George clearly enjoyed himself recounting his memories
of The Smugglers and his long career in television, etcetera, etcetera. Learn more about George's work
in our Hall of Fame...
Celebrity
Chat
Also included
as a bonus feature is a short chat with elusive ex-designer Richard Hunt.
Richard recalls the four Doctor Who stories on which he worked and discusses
his career and life since leaving the BBC nearly 40 years ago.
Special
Note:
No episodes
of this serial are known to survive. If any should resurface and be released
at a later date, please purchase the official BBC video release to complement
our reconstruction.
Straight
from the pages of Doctor Syn is the Smugglers with good old fashioned
betrayl, murder and deceit and is William Hartnell's final historical
story and the first to feature substantial location filming.
This new
version of The Smugglers contains clearer telesnaps, some previously unseen
set photos thanks to a private collector, occasional CGI and more extensive
use of the cine film than the earlier recon leading to a very polished
recon which we hope you enjoy.
Synopsis:
The Doctor,
Ben and Polly arrive on a beach in 17th century Cornwall and soon become
caught up in a web of intrigue. Pirates led by the villainous Captain
Pike are searching for a hidden treasure, while a smuggling ring led by
the local Squire is trying to offload contraband.
Ben and Polly
are arrested for the murder of the local churchwarden. Meanwhile, the
Doctor is kidnapped by Pike's men after overhearing a cryptic rhyme that
holds the key to the treasure's location.
Can the TARDIS
crew prevent the slaughter that seems inevitable, and still escape with
their lives?
Reviews:
Review
by Chris Longhurst
Another excellent ‘upgrade’ from Loose Cannon; a great improvement on
the original reconstruction (LC#07), with much sharper images and clearer
audio. The sections of film from the censor cuts, etc are nicely integrated
and do not clash with the rhythm of the telesnaps. The Smugglers was surprisingly
violent for a late 1960s children’s programme – a lot of ‘knife work’
which I suspect would be edited out in the UK today !
As
usual with these recent LC reconstructions the extras are superb; particularly
recommended on this one is the interview with ‘Cherub’ – George A Cooper
looks as if he is enjoying himself and comes across with some great anecdotes
on TV in the ‘60s and ‘70s as well as about The Smugglers.
Review
by Rob Hansen
Guys
- A fine, fine job as usual. I'd intended savouring this one by limiting
myself to an episode per night, but I ended up watching all four episodes
straight through. It's odd, but when I watched Doctor Who as a child I
don't recall being particularly fond of the historicals but now these
are among my favourites. And how ironic that the only clips now surviving
from these episodes are those removed by the Australian censors for being
too violent - which by modern standards they are. Comparable stabbings
were routinely excised from recent shows like Babylon 5 before they were
shown over here. Really looking forward to 'Evil of the daleks', a long-unseen
classic I have fond memories of. Keep up the great work.
