My Name is Tallulah

Guest-starring in this Saturday’s episode of “Doctor Who”, “Daleks in Manhattan”, starting at the earlier time of 6:35pm, is “Spooks” actress Miranda Raison as showgirl Tallulah. At school, I was always taught to read around a subject. Don’t just read the set book, for example, but try a couple of others by the same author to see if he/she always wrote in the same style using similar themes, that kind of thing! Find out who influenced the writer in question and what other interests occupied their daily lives, together with the historical context in which the work was written.

So, being ever-informative (!), I thought I’d post this clip of a young Jodie Foster from the 1976 film “Bugsy Malone”, the first of five musicals directed by Alan Parker. Tallulah’s name, and character, in the upcoming Dalek two-parter were inspired by Jodie’s performance as her namesake in Parker’s film, in which all the parts are played by children. They play gangsters but instead of carrying weapons firing real bullets they use “splurge guns” that cover the victim in cream! The story details the rise of “Bugsy Malone”, played by Scott Baio, and the battle for power between “Fat Sam”, John Cassisi, and “Dandy Dan”, Martin Lev.

How much of the actual plot, of “Bugsy Malone”, carries over into the “Doctor Who” story remains to be seen but if “Daleks in Manhattan” is as much fun to watch as the thirty-year-old movie then we’re all in for a real treat. And, forget Daleks like you’ve never seen them before, prepare yourselves for the shock of hearing MI5 agent Jo Portman with a Brooklyn accent! It gives a whole new meaning to speakeasy!!