The Gunfighters

The TARDIS arrives in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. The Doctor, suffering from toothache, seeks out the local dentist – none other than the notorious Doc Holliday. 

Meanwhile, Steven and Dodo decide to explore the town, and soon find themselves the replacement act at the Last Chance Saloon. Tensions are running high in the feud between the Clanton family and Doc Holliday, while the local lawman, Wyatt Earp, struggles to keep the peace. When legendary gunman Johnny Ringo comes to town, events escalate further. 

Can the Doctor, Steven and Dodo do anything to diffuse the situation, or is a gunfight at the OK Corral a historical inevitability?

• "The Gunfighters" unfortunately, is a real stinker of a story (which is a shame really).  The script certainly had potential with lots of humorous moments.  However, the production was ultimately doomed by poor acting, even poorer American accents, and the inclusion of "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon."  An annoying little tune sung incessantly throughout the story.

• Several performances do stand out in this story including the regular cast of William Hartnell (the Doctor), Peter Purves (Steven Taylor) and Jackie Lane (Dodo) as well as Laurence Payne (Johnny Ringo).  You may recognize Payne as he appeared later in the eighteenth season opener "The Leisure Hive" as well as the Sixth Doctor story "The Two Doctors."

• Viewing figures for this story were particularly low and was one of the reasons why the production team decided to phase out pure historical stories in place of pure science fiction or at the least then science fiction stories set in an historical context.

• "The Gunfighters" was also the last story to have individual titles for each episode.

• For the U.K. release, this story was packaged along with "The Sensorites" and "The Gunfighters" as part of a First Doctor Box Set.

• As well as the usual high quality of restorative work done by the Doctor Who Restoration Team, a new "videoising" effect (called VidFIRE) was used on this release.  Originally shot on videotape, then transferred to 16mm film for overseas sales, all 60's Who stories have a film look to them.  The new process restores the sharper, more "live" feel of videotape (and what would have been seen by the public when originally screened).  For more information on the VidFIRE process click HERE.