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Doomwatch (1972) – Nostalgia Central

The BBC TV series Doomwatch premiered in February 1970 and was one of the first television dramas to question the moral and ethical implications of technology, as well as the sometimes less than noble motives of those who wielded its power.

Unfortunately, the series eventually began a slow decline – with new characters introduced only to vanish just as quickly as they had arrived – and the hoped-for fourth series never materialised.

Instead, Tigon Films produced this 1972 big-screen version, starring Ian Bannen as a newly-created member of the ‘Doomwatch’ team, Dr Del Shaw.

A year after a giant oil tanker had been holed off the West coast of England, ecological scientist Dr Shaw goes to the (fictional) island of Balfe to investigate the effects of the spill on local wildlife.

On the small island, he meets in turn Mrs Straker (Shelagh Fraser), who runs the village store, the local vicar (Joseph O’Conor) and the village policeman, Constable Hartwell (Percy Herbert) – who are all suspicious of his presence there – and attractive schoolteacher Victoria Brown (Judy Geeson).

He is struck by the aggressive nature of the men on the island and their almost Neanderthal features, which they put down to inbreeding.

Walking through some woods, he uncovers the foot of a half-buried body, but when he returns with Hartwell, the body is gone.

At Doomwatch headquarters, Dr Quist (John Paul), Dr Ridge (Simon Oates), and Dr Fay Chantry (Jean Trend) have discovered that the samples of seashore life sent back by Del are abnormally large and request samples of the local fish.

Meanwhile, Del follows three of the islanders one night to an old barn where, after they have left, he is attacked by a horrific figure and knocked unconscious. When he comes to, Victoria tells him he had been found at the foot of a cliff and assumed he had fallen over the edge.

She agrees to help him discover what is happening on Balfe, and with her help, Del finds the true cause of the disease, known as ‘Acromegaly’, which disfigures the face and body.

Canisters containing radioactive waste have been dumped offshore by the Royal Navy.

Further investigations have proven that a hormone additive prepared experimentally for livestock has also been illegally dumped in the same location, contaminating all fish and marine life in the area.

He calls the islanders together to try to explain the situation, but they insist the disease is an act of God and accuse him of trying to destroy their island.

Dr Del Shaw
Ian Bannen
Victoria Brown
Judy Geeson
Dr Quist
John Paul
Dr John Ridge
Simon Oates
Dr Fay Chantry
Jean Trend
Bradley
Joby Blanshard
Sir Geoffrey
George Sanders
Constable Hartwell
Percy Herbert
Mrs Betty Straker
Shelagh Fraser
Sir Henry Leyton
Geoffrey Keen
Vicar
Joseph O’Conor
Brewer
Norman Bird
Miss Johnson
Constance Chapman
Tom Straker
Michael Brennan
Bob Gillette
James Cosmo
George
Cyril Cross
Don
Geoff L’Cise
Ferry Skipper
George Woodbridge
Lt. Com. Tavener
Jerome Willis
David Broome
Jeremy Child
Brian Murray
Brian Anthony
Mrs Murray
Rita Davies
Mr Murray
Walter Turner
Grandfather Murray
Paddy Ryan
Sam
Reg Lever
1st Man
James Mellor
2nd Man
Eamonn Boyce
3rd Man
Paul Humpoletz
Young Woman
Pam St. Clement
Middle-Aged Woman
Katherine Parr

Director
Peter Sasdy

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