How did William Hartnell carry Dr Who ?

[Mikey]

Was just watching An Unearthly Child last night and it hit me ... William Hartnell is not a very likeable Doctor ... Today watching as an adult he's an interesting Doctor but I can't imagine I would like him as a kid --- As a matter of fact I can safely say I would probably not like him at all as a kid.

Back in the day I thought the first Doctor was Jon Perwee because he's the earliest Doctor they used to play on TV... That was fine with me because I always like Pert.

But getting back to Hartnell, WHY did kids like him ?

[bobws]

His character grew once Susan then Ian and Barbara left. he became kinder looking after Vicki. Ian was the real hero for 2 years.

[ODBJBG]

Brits like a old chap who knows what's going on.

[Mego Magyar]

Lets also remember, it was a different time in the world. A lot of tv shows that we remember fondly from the 60's would never last if they were made today.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Dunno if the kids actually LIKED him; he's they typical strict teacher template.... who occasionally uses you as monster bait so's he can escape on his own. I think kids liked the "good" teachers more.

Don C.

[Mok]

Hmmmm....

Dunno if the kids actually LIKED him; he's they typical strict teacher template.... who occasionally uses you as monster bait so's he can escape on his own. I think kids liked the "good" teachers more.

Don C.

That sounds a lot like Dr Smith to

The original Dr Smith .

[The4thDoctor]

Doctor Who

Was originally meant to teach British schoolkids history..kinda worked i guess...the rest is history...Long live the Doctor!! Pertwee my first doctor too...4th (Tom Baker) the best...Wayne

[Gorn Captain]

I never got why people liked Hartnell.
He was arrogant, stubborn, often make the wrong choices. Usually got himself and the others in a jam, and needing a lot of help to get out of it.
He usually walked into a world of hurt, and then did the "I'm a frail old man routine."

Thankfully, Troughton came along and became my favorite Doctor of classic Who...

[palitoy]

This is all of course in retrospect, he was the first, he created the role and it was largely quite a different show.

I think Hartnell's Doctor was really boosted by the great concept that captured kid's imagination and of course, the Daleks.

[Mikey]

As a kid I would have thought Peter Cushing's Doctor was a thousand times better than Hartnell's ...

[Gorn Captain]

I think the cool concept made it a winner, and not the actor in the part. You had the Tardis, alien worlds, great aliens, and indeed, the Daleks in particular.

[Meule]

I never got why people liked Hartnell.
He was arrogant, stubborn, often make the wrong choices. Usually got himself and the others in a jam, and needing a lot of help to get out of it.
He usually walked into a world of hurt, and then did the "I'm a frail old man routine."

Thankfully, Troughton came along and became my favorite Doctor of classic Who...

Couldn't agree more.

[jwyblejr]

To me,Hartnell didn't do much of anything. Just gave the others a vague warning and then sat back and watch everyone else get into trouble.

[johnmiic]

I think Hartnell's interpetation of The Doctor changed after The Edge of Destruction. I read in some DW book/mag that story was hastily written to air as a filler story. They readied new scripts to fit the Sci-fi concept rather than the History Lesson concept the show was originally to follow.

[palitoy]

I honestly think Sydney Newman created the Doctor as something of a convyeance, rather than the centerpiece of the story. I think the original focus was to follow the young people around.

If you ever want to read something interesting, check out Newman's suggestions about how to get Doctor Who back on track during the JNT era. He suggests creating a pair of boy and girl twins who travel with the Doctor.