I went to the Gallifrey One convention this year and Peter Purves (the guy that played Steven Taylor) was there. At one point a fan asked Peter to sing this song he said "I'm sorry but I can't remember the lines." The fan said "Don't worry I got the lyrics." Then Peter was handed the lyrics and sang the song. It was funniest moment I had at the convention.
Except, y'know, player pianos weren't around in 1881... Only early prototypes. (Of course, even if there were a player piano in 1881 Tombstone, there wouldn't have been any rolls full of ragtime breaks and figures like this rendition! not to mention the varying dynamics which weren't possible yet.) But hey, there are enough other historical inaccuracies at work here!
1:51 always gets me that Stephen begs that he’s already sang the song four times. Cracks me up thinking about how he’s been singing nonstop for over 15 minutes just waiting for the Doctor to show up!
It's not impossible, though; I know a few pianists who can sight-read and embellish (and rag the heck out of) a tune they've never seen before like this. They've played and read music their whole lives, practically, though.
+HowlingSnail Does she actually stop playing, though? She looks behind her, but she could still be playing without looking at the piano. It's hard to tell with the guy in the way. :P
Peter Perves is such a great guy. He's a good actor, and you can tell he loves every second of his time on the show - this fantastic scene is proof of that. In interviews he always talks about the fact that he was on Doctor Who with such pride, and that he didn't want to leave the series - the producers forced him to.
+TARDIS Tales Yeah, he was basically carrying the series throughout most of season 3; Hartnell was getting sicker and after Maureen O'Brien left, they couldn't manage to find a good replacement for her (Katarina and Sara were killed off, and Dodo just wasn't a strong enough character).
You dont even know. My grandpa apparently saw this episode when it was first aired, and he still whistles it from time to time. I didnt even know what it was until I saw this episode a few months ago and asked him.
Well, Seth Harper was a little more convincing too, as well as Charlie. They were played by Shane Rimmer and David Graham, two professional voice actors from Canada and Britain, who had just done Thunderbirds a year prior to this serial.
I quite like The Gunfighters, but they really were pushing it with the way the song was used in the serial. It's not even that it's a bad song or anything, but using such a repetitive melody with the same few lines again and again to link every event in the story was not a good idea. Sometimes you have to do things sparingly or they lose their impact. I'd happily watch a version of The Gunfighters where Peter Purves does his performance and this is the only time the song appears. They should have just used the studio recorded version with the female vocalist in the end credits of the final episode. Using it to bookend almost every scene was really tedious by the time you get to episode 3.
The weird thing is that this song is so incredibly annoying when Linda Baron sings it at the beginning of every scene, but so funny when Steven sings it here.
I like western movies sometimes, and I love Doctor who. I believe the ballad being sung throughout the episode can get a bit annoying ... Is that how they do it in western movies sometimes? You know, have a non-seen singer sing stuff like this?
Basically, up until VHS came out, there was no way to watch old episodes of Doctor Who, unless they were reruns. This story didn't come out on VHS until 2002. Before that, all that most people knew about was that it was low-rated when it aired and the president of the official fan club said it was terrible. Honestly, I think there are just some people who want Doctor Who to be a typical sci-fi show like Star Trek. Which means more spaceships and less humor. But Doctor Who was never meant to be that type of show.
Watching 85-year old Peter Purves and his poor two team-mates doing a DISASTROUS Escape Room, and they just triggered a *surprise* Karaoke *bonus-round* …. Oh…… The *HUMANITY* - the *only* Musical *known* to Mankind that can actually cause *Barrowman* to *CRINGE* ….!!! [..he still remembers ALL The Words - ]
2023: “Doctor Who isn’t a musical! This show has gone off the rails!”
Doctor Who in 1966:
I went to the Gallifrey One convention this year and Peter Purves (the guy that played Steven Taylor) was there. At one point a fan asked Peter to sing this song he said "I'm sorry but I can't remember the lines." The fan said "Don't worry I got the lyrics." Then Peter was handed the lyrics and sang the song. It was funniest moment I had at the convention.
Bet he was thinking "Oh, no...." soon as the fan gave him the lyrics
@@SuperWolsey Pretty much.
Love that lol
“Needless to Say,
*I* had *The Last Laugh.* “
- *Alan.*
The thing I found funniest in this episode was that Dodo's fake accent was more convincing than all the other "real" ones
Me and some friends of mine played a drinking game to this. Every time you hear the song you take a shot...
R.I.P My friends.
"Let's hope the piano knows it."
If that's not a not to the fact that that was a player piano, I don't know what is.
Except, y'know, player pianos weren't around in 1881... Only early prototypes. (Of course, even if there were a player piano in 1881 Tombstone, there wouldn't have been any rolls full of ragtime breaks and figures like this rendition! not to mention the varying dynamics which weren't possible yet.) But hey, there are enough other historical inaccuracies at work here!
1:51 always gets me that Stephen begs that he’s already sang the song four times. Cracks me up thinking about how he’s been singing nonstop for over 15 minutes just waiting for the Doctor to show up!
Dodo's one hell of a piano player. For spur of the moment that's seriously good.
It's not impossible, though; I know a few pianists who can sight-read and embellish (and rag the heck out of) a tune they've never seen before like this. They've played and read music their whole lives, practically, though.
My favourite bit is at 1:55 when she stops playing but the music keeps going.
+HowlingSnail
Does she actually stop playing, though? She looks behind her, but she could still be playing without looking at the piano. It's hard to tell with the guy in the way. :P
Peter Perves is such a great guy. He's a good actor, and you can tell he loves every second of his time on the show - this fantastic scene is proof of that. In interviews he always talks about the fact that he was on Doctor Who with such pride, and that he didn't want to leave the series - the producers forced him to.
Yeah, he's one of my favorite companions from the First Doctor era.
He's my favorite companion and I miss him. :'((
+TARDIS Tales Yeah, he was basically carrying the series throughout most of season 3; Hartnell was getting sicker and after Maureen O'Brien left, they couldn't manage to find a good replacement for her (Katarina and Sara were killed off, and Dodo just wasn't a strong enough character).
+Etana Edelman it really is a shame so many of his episodes are missing, especially the Massacre - which is focused on him
Why would the producers want him to leave?
I've read that Peter Purves really didn't want to sing, but he's really quite good! It's so great to see him having fun in the part.
I love that he's singing through gritted teeth at times, very funny
You dont even know. My grandpa apparently saw this episode when it was first aired, and he still whistles it from time to time. I didnt even know what it was until I saw this episode a few months ago and asked him.
I remember when I first saw _The Gunfighters_ on VHS, the song was in my head for the next week or so.
I've got that song stuck in my head now.
I love this episode so much. The unforgettable song and when the doc is to the dentist...LOL
It makes me laugh every time.
Amazing how Steven all of a sudden can play piano whilst facing away from it!
i love the doctor waddling sadly back from the dentist
And I just realized that Doc Holliday probably sent the artist who misdesigned the tooth logo into the hereafter.
Funny trivia: Lynda Baron also played Val in the 2011 episode "Closing Time".
She also played Captain Wrack in Enlightenment. I loved her performance in that one, too.
I love this song! Steven does a phenominale job as a singer
Hahha, I love this episode, it's so FUN! The song just randomly comes on and makes you smile :)
And the episode raises questions for Trekkies: How did _Specter of the Gun_ go in the Whoniverse, since this episode takes away a vital plot point?
This is the exactly the scene I wanted to watch so thank you
The Gunfighters takes place in 1881. A Town Called Mercy takes place in 1870. So I doubt it.
What a brilliant scene in such an enjoyable story. This really showcases what a class act Peter Purves is. Marvellous.
The episode also means that the _Star Trek_ episode "Specter of the Gun" went somewhat differently than the version we know.
That bit with Steven always makes me giggle with joy
This story is deffinatly in my top 3, 1 being planet of the daleks 2 being frontier in space and 3 being this story.
this is so funny i enjoy jackie lanes dodo and peter purves steven
Peter Purves does a really good job with this song.
this must make a appearance in tonight's episode
Well, Seth Harper was a little more convincing too, as well as Charlie. They were played by Shane Rimmer and David Graham, two professional voice actors from Canada and Britain, who had just done Thunderbirds a year prior to this serial.
Steven is a pilot from the future funny how he can sight read music lol and play the piano
Damn, now I want to re-watch this story.
***** No need, I've got the DVD. And yes, I love it too.
I quite like The Gunfighters, but they really were pushing it with the way the song was used in the serial.
It's not even that it's a bad song or anything, but using such a repetitive melody with the same few lines again and again to link every event in the story was not a good idea.
Sometimes you have to do things sparingly or they lose their impact. I'd happily watch a version of The Gunfighters where Peter Purves does his performance and this is the only time the song appears. They should have just used the studio recorded version with the female vocalist in the end credits of the final episode. Using it to bookend almost every scene was really tedious by the time you get to episode 3.
I wanted to stab my ears after listening to the song over and over
The weird thing is that this song is so incredibly annoying when Linda Baron sings it at the beginning of every scene, but so funny when Steven sings it here.
The bar front they use is open all hours shop counter
I don't get why this story is so hated, I mean it's a nice mix of a classic western movie and Doctor Who.
I like western movies sometimes, and I love Doctor who. I believe the ballad being sung throughout the episode can get a bit annoying ... Is that how they do it in western movies sometimes? You know, have a non-seen singer sing stuff like this?
But when Steven sings it here, it's funny, especially when he jumps out of fright.
SammEater I don't get it either. It's one of my favourites William Hartnell stories.
Basically, up until VHS came out, there was no way to watch old episodes of Doctor Who, unless they were reruns. This story didn't come out on VHS until 2002. Before that, all that most people knew about was that it was low-rated when it aired and the president of the official fan club said it was terrible. Honestly, I think there are just some people who want Doctor Who to be a typical sci-fi show like Star Trek. Which means more spaceships and less humor. But Doctor Who was never meant to be that type of show.
I miss full historical episodes, there's no more episodes about historical moments without having an alien behind it all.
Is it just me or does dodo sounds like tegan?
The Doctor's Daughter
As hated as this episode is, I actually like Dodo's piano skills.
Watching 85-year old Peter Purves
and his poor two team-mates doing
a DISASTROUS Escape Room, and they
just triggered a *surprise* Karaoke *bonus-round* ….
Oh…… The *HUMANITY* - the *only* Musical *known* to Mankind that can actually cause
*Barrowman* to *CRINGE* ….!!!
[..he still remembers ALL The Words - ]
So we lose The Dalek's Master Plan but get to keep this?!
A fine trade
For some inexplicable reason, Australia rejecting TDMP meant no other Commonwealth country could buy it.
Better than The Searchers and Blazing Saddles
the all time worst DW so bad its good
I honestly don't get it! Except for "the song playing too much", what is there to hate?
@@joniejoon2 A Cool Song.
This is the worst Doctor Who episode I've ever seen.
You haven't seen the web planet or love and monsters have you
The space pirates
Time and the rani
@@CubedSausagefromScarparius actually i have enjoyed alot of the 13th doctor episodes am gonna miss her
Hell bent plays tennis
This is a Shining Example of why the British can't do Westerns.
We can not this is one of many reasons