The Fourth Doctor Adventures - Series 6, Episode 3 - The Silent ScreamBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 5 April 2017 - Reviewed by Matt Tiley
The Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Silent Scream (Credit: Big Finish)

Written By: James Goss, Directed By: Nicholas Briggs

Cast

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Lalla Ward (Romana), 
John Leeson (K9), Alec Newman(Dr Julius), 
Pamela Salem (Lorretta Waldorf), Jane Slavin (Nelly), 
Andrée Bernard (Lulu Hammerstein), 
John Banks (Cab Driver/ Director)

Producer David Richardson
Script Editor John DorneyExecutive
Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

"We were in the era, for reasons we won't bore you with now."
 
It turns out the Doctor is a bit of a film buff (who knew?). He and Romana pop in on the famous Loretta Wilson, a silent film legend that the Doctor adores, in fact it is quite fun hearing the Doctor gush in such a way.
 
The Silent Scream finds the Doctor, Romana and of course K9 in Hollywood of the 1920's. A Hollywood that is just starting to make the transition from silent films to 'talkies'. Casting is out for the big new film Fires of Fate, and the director wants to utilise sound in the best way, but the production seems cursed as all of the actors involved suddenly lose their voice, some mid scream......and then later mysteriously disappear. The story also features a crazed surgeon with a wonderful love of exposition, and terrifying two dimensional creatures that can flit from room to room, whose mere touch means death. 
 
The Silent Scream is obviously a love letter to classic Hollywood with a Whovian twist. Imagine a villain that wants to steal voices, and taps into a time when the famous are literarily queuing up to use them. The story quickly evolves from an intriguing set up, to full on medical horror, with the villain of the piece manically waxing lyrical about his outrageous plans, when performing a horrendous piece of brain surgery. While in the background (playing rather loudly) is Tchaikovsky's thundering theme from Swan Lake. It's all rather delicious.
 
But for all the body horror and gore, there are of course wonderfully comedic light touches. My favourite being K9 literally becoming a 1920's Sat-Nav in the back of a cab as he and Romana manically hurtle around the streets of Los Angeles to try to rescue the Doctor.
 
Lalla Ward is actually the stand out in this, the latest from the wonderful James Goss. Her character has to take control of a lot of the action and dialogue thanks to the Doctor pretty much losing his voice (imagine!). However when Tom Baker is centre stage, he does of course own it. John Leeson is ever perfect as the Tin Dog.
 
The rest of the cast do very well. Alec Newman plays the villain of the piece, Dr Julius in full on, manic mad scientist mode. The other supporting cast all also fare very well. They include Pamela Salem (Toos in The Robots of Death, as well as The Face of Evil and Remembrance of the Daleks) as  Hollywood actress Loretta Waldorf, Jane Slavin as Nelly and Andrée Bernard (The Shakespeare Code) as an almost would be companion to the Doctor, Lulu Hammersmith. We also have  Big Finish regular John Banks as both the (K9 Sat-Nav'd) Cab Driver and the Director of Fires of Fate. The action is perfectly directed by Nicholas Briggs.
 
I found there were obvious comparisons between the 2D monsters here and in Jamie Mathieson's Peter Capaldi led Flatline. Its a shame that there couldn't have been a small connection between the two, even a throwaway line, but I suppose that's rights for you.
The Silent Scream is a great addition to the Fourth Doctor's audio adventures, and is available now from Big Finish as a CD or download.




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