Dr. Who and the Daleks

On screen, a brilliant but absent minded scientist known as Doctor Who unveils a new gadget: a time machine housed in a red police box. He, along with his two granddaughters Barbara and Susan and Barbara's friend Ian, steps through the device and is pulled across eras and worlds. They land on Skaro, a world split between two kinds of inhabitants: the peaceful Thals and the warlike Daleks, robotic mutants eager to dominate. What starts as a science adventure quickly becomes a test of courage as the Doctor rallies the Thals and attempts to avert disaster, maneuvering through hostile terrain and moral choices.

Directed by Gordon Flemyng, this 1965 feature adapts the Doctor Who concept for the screen with the team behind the show Milton Subotsky, Sydney Newman, and Terry Nation credited as creators. It marks a cinematic take on the Doctor Who mythos, introducing Peter Cushing as a more human and approachable Doctor and leaning on a compact ensemble to drive the action and the science fiction frontier.

Peter Cushing's portrayal of the Doctor gave the character a dashing, humanist spin that stood apart from the TV version. The Daleks on the big screen cemented the race of villains as cinema icons and helped keep the franchise visible during the 1960s, drawing new audiences with a brisk, self-contained adventure.

Critics noted the brisk, family friendly tone and strong performances, while some compared the budget to the TV series. Core themes include the ethics of intervention, the cost of war, and the Doctor's insistence on clever problem solving over force. The film invites questions about collaboration between humans and aliens.

Awards: The film did not receive notable nominations and is generally remembered for introducing Peter Cushing as the Doctor on the big screen, rather than for accolades. Its place in Doctor Who lore is secured by fans who value the retro cinema take. It remains a curiosity for fans of the era, illustrating how television stories could migrate to theaters.