The classic BBC radio drama Aliens in the Mind is currently available to stream on BBC Radio 4 Extra. A fine science fiction tale from the mind of great scriptwriter Robert Holmes, you can listen to it here (at time of posting, the serial is on episode three of its six-part run). Here is my old review of this story, originally posted on The History of the Doctor.
Aliens in the Mind began life as a
submission for the Doctor Who in
the late 1960s by the now legendary Robert Holmes. Then titled Aliens
in the Blood, it would have
featured the second Doctor, Jamie, and presumably Zoe. For various
reasons, it wasn’t picked up, but the outline was several years
later to form the basis of this radio serial. Holmes was apparently
unable to write the script himself, and it was instead handled by one
Rene Basilico - although, having been unable to find any further
information on this individual, he may be a pseudonym for all I know.
Rewritten
in its entirety, the story is centred on two academics, John
Cornelius and Professor Curtis Lark, played by two absolute legends
of horror and sci-fi. The more stoic and mild-mannered Cornelius is
played by Peter Cushing, while the witty American parapsychologist
Prof. Lark is voiced by Vincent Price. Cushing is, of course, perfect
in his role as a gentlemanly surgeon, while Price is as wonderfully
fruity and sardonic as ever. Honestly, I could listen to that man
read out telephone book - what a marvellous voice he has, capable of
making anything seem witty or haunting. The duo are old
acquaintances, reunited when their friend, Dr. Hugh Dexter, is killed
under mysterious circumstances.
Travelling
to the remote Hebridean island of Lerwigh, the doctorish duo discover
that Baxter’s death is just one part of a far greater mystery. For
the Lerwigh is plagued by something known as ‘island sickness,’ a
strange affliction that affects the locals minds in their teens.
Further investigation reveals that this is merely the maturation
stage for a race of mutants - human anomalies with telepathic
tendencies. Tendencies that even they, for the most part, are unaware
of. They’d be harmless were it not for the occasional second-stage
mutation, the so-called Controllers or Masters, who have the ability
to psychically control the main mutant populace.
Uncovering
the signs of a conspiracy, the pair take the young Flora (Sandra
Clarke) away for examination. To all appearances, she is nothing more
than a mentally-disabled young adult, but is, in fact, a budding
Controller, able to call her fellow mutants from anywhere within a
mile radius to obey her every command. In London, they discover that
the ongoing emigration from Lerwigh has created a greater threat to
humanity than they could ever have realised.
It’s
a slow-paced drama, concerned with gently racking up the tension
rather than providing action and thrills. It’s perhaps too slow at
times, dragging a little in the middle episodes, although continual
revelations and plot developments maintain interest. Cushing and
Price dominate a fair-sized cast, their voices always distinct
against the array of Scots accents. Scenes which have them simply
sitting down to dinner are used to summarise the plot, with a
smattering of banter to keep it diverting. There are flashes of
Holmesian wit, but the dialogue does sometimes slip into dry
exposition. Nonetheless, the tension gradually mounts to a chilling
finale, which manages to tie up the immediate threat, while leaving
the ending open to the greater consequences. Who fans will
enjoy hearing Richard Hurndall in the cast, bringing two substitute
first Doctors together. There’s some subtle but effective sound
work, including some very restrained gunshots, but the main strength
of the play lies in Price and Cushing’s earnest depiction of the
concepts, which take in telepathy, hypnotism, slavery, politics and
eugenics.
While
not the classic Holmes’s reputation might suggest, Aliens in the
Mind is a worthwhile and intriguing example of audio science
fiction.
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