STORY PLOTLINE

The TARDIS arrives on a planet where a savage tribe called the Sevateem worship a god called Xoanon. The Doctor discovers that Xoanon is in fact a spaceship computer that he tried to repair at some point in his past and inadvertently drove mad by giving it a multiple personality.

DVD EXTRAS

• Studio Commentary
• Into the Wild Cast and crew talk about the making of The Face of Evil.
• From the Cutting Room Floor Film trims provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the film shoot.
• Tomorrow’s Times – The Fourth Doctor A look at press coverage of Doctor Who during the Tom Baker era.
• Doctor Who Stories: Louise Jameson talks about her role on the programme in this interview shot for 2003's The Story of Doctor Who.
• Swap Shop An extract from Louise Jameson’s appearance on The Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, interviewed by Noel Edmonds.
• Denys Fisher Toys Advert +1976 Typhoo Tea Doctor Who Promotion
• Radio Times listings + Programme subtitles + Production information subtitles
  + Photo gallery + Coming soon trailer + Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.

COMMENT

Even after nearly decade’s worth of DOCTOR WHO - CLASSIC SERIES DVD releases once a while one is released that could you comfortably re-watch several times without becoming bored or restless, and Chris Boucher’s penned, DOCTOR WHO – THE FACE OF EVIL is one of them. It’s like sitting your Aunt’s knee as she reads you a bedtime story – reassuringly secure.

Admittedly, it is frequently overshadowed by those stories around it – THE DEADLY ASSASSIN, THE ROBOTS OF DEATH, THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG - but, by no means, it’s a production to be ashamed of or irritated by. Solid, interesting, elegant at times, understated performances that a founded in truth and reality (even though it’s science fiction drama) and, of course, eyeofhorus.org.uk’s favourite, Louise Jameson introduced as Leela.

With a cleaned and restored print (probably better than you originally viewed on your rental television back in 1977…), THE FACE OF EVIL’s release is supplemented with an informative (with sleight repetitive recollections from the actors and crews alike is the only downside across the documentaries & commentary), entertaining and polished array of EXTRAS.

INTO THE WILD confidently documents the ‘making of…’ process with insightful contributions from the Series Producer, Philip Hinchcliffe:

Philip Hinchcliffe: I came up with the idea of a computer going mad. Being ‘God’.

Whilst the recently deceased (2010) director of THE FACE OF EVIL, Pennant Roberts (interviewed in 2005) and Louise Jameson discuss the genesis of the character of Leela, and how Jameson distilled the personality of her dog, Boisie, and her neighbour’s three-year old daughter into the creation of the alien ‘savage’.

Talking of the story’s director, Jameson: …very long and affectionate friendship with Pennant and his wife over the years.

Visual Effects Designer, Mat Irvine, made his ‘solo’ debut with this production and discusses the challenges of working to tight schedules and limited, shoestring budgets.

In a rare appearance, one-time DOCTOR WHO set designer, Austin Ruddy, confirms that he a “free hand to do what we wanted to do”. As fans would confirm, his designs were stunningly creative especially the planet’s stylist ‘jungle’ and the perennial problem of ‘how to do another DOCTOR WHO corridor’. Indeed, the Series Producer states that he was “…a top designer. I’d put it up high in some of my DOCTOR WHOs”.

Unsurprisingly, INTO THE WILD’s contribution from Jameson is central to this documentary feature, and addresses the (Janis) thorny issue of her working relationship with the lead actor.

On Tom Baker, Louise Jameson: He was a totally brilliant Doctor…strained at times…and we’re extremely good friends now.

Overall, INTO THE WILD is a more a tribute to Pennant Roberts and less of a “Making of…”, and quite rightly so.

FROM THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR is as gripping as Hitchcock thriller, and all it is are ‘out-takes’ and ‘unused’ material from the production. With a couple of expletives ‘bleeped-out’, it’s beguiling that the filming was so good natured, calm and professional in the face of adversity (re: BBC Union Electricians poised like vipers to terminate the studio lighting at 22:00 prompt). The deleted scenes, all from the Ealing Studio filmed sequences, are presented slotted into the broadcast material and demonstrate how single-camera filming, compared with multi-camera shooting on videotape, is far more polished.

The weakest of the documentaries is DOCTOR WHO STORIES: LOUISE JAMESON as, sadly, the recollections from the seminal actress are duplication from both INTO THE WILD and the STUDIO COMMENTARY. Nonetheless, Jameson is singularly known for her affection (and gratitude) for being cast in DOCTOR WHO, and her memories are, like a complicated Sherry Trifle, layered and wholly satisfying with numerous Glace cherries topping it off. You’ll just have to watch this feature to find out why she asks the BBC DVD interview, “Am I allowed to say crap?”. Delightful.

Even in 1977, I couldn’t afford the (expensive due to high tax rates) DOCTOR WHO action figures so seeing the DENYS FISHER TOYS ADVERT for the first time is like owning your very own time machine. The £5.99 of 1977 (circa) TARDIS would be worth about £35.00 in today’s money, and with weekly pocket money of 50 pence it was far out of my reach (and I preferred buying the pocket-money friendly TARGET novels).

In the 1970s, a staple of the weekends was ‘The Multi-Coloured Swap Shop’ magazine programme, presented by the engaging Noel Edmonds, and to have a DOCTOR WHO guest it was essential viewing. Louise Jameson effortlessly effervesces as she charms the unflappable Edmonds as she discusses how she secured the role of Leela and the filming of the series.

Wendy Padbury presents press coverage of Tom Baker’s time as the ignominious Time Lord in TOMORROW’S TIMES – THE FOURTH DOCTOR. The selected print clippings are witty, definitive and informative, and recall a press campaign, S.O.L. (‘Save Our Leela’), to try to revert Jameson’s decision to leave the series.

The COMING SOON TRAILER is the Pertwee classic, DOCTOR WHO – THE DÆMONS.

The STUDIO COMMENTARY is a true pick-n-mix of cast and crew, ably moderated, cajoled and coerced by actor, Toby Hadoke.

Recorded in 2010, contributions are from Louise Jameson (Leela), Leslie Schofield (Calib), David Garfield (Neeva), Harry H Fielder (“Tribe member”), Mike Ellis (Gentek), John McGlashan (Film Cameraman) and Philip Hinchcliffe (Series Producer).

Fact: The original (writing) title was THE PRIME DIRECTIVE, later the working title of THE DAY THAT GOD WENT MAD was adopted.

On her costume unveiling, Louise Jameson: …caused a bit of a stir.

On a ‘wardrobe malfunction’, Harry H Fielder: Terry Walsh (Stuntman) told me how to fall on that shot (killed by a cross bow arrow) but when I fell the ‘wedding tackle’ fell out my loincloth.
Louise Jameson (laughter).
Harry H Fielder: …but ‘they’ (production team) said, “It was only a small thing.

Fact: Leela was named after a 1970’s Palestinian Terrorist, Leila Khaled.

On her relationship with a DOCTOR WHO legacy, Louise Jameson: The loyalist fans in the world, DOCTOR WHO fans they are.

On working with Pennant Roberts, Louise Jameson: Pen(nant) was open to ideas and creativity in the show, and handled (Tom Baker) him with tact and care.
Leslie Schofield: He was patient, a good listener and a good director.
David Garfield: If he liked something (i.e. an idea), he’d run with it.
Louise Jameson: His energy and strength was in casting. He’d always take a ‘punt’ on someone he’d not worked with before.

On working with costume design, John Bloomfield, Louise Jameson: He added a flap at the back as I was self-conscious of my bum at the time. Inside those boots there is a three-inch heel so I look taller. That was John’s idea.

On seeing Leela for the first time on set, John McGlashan: All male eyes were riveted to Louise ‘s skimpy costume.
Phillip Hinchcliffe: I still got a shock. More Rachel Welsh (ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. movie) than… it had impact so we went with it.

On THE FACE OF EVIL, Phillip Hinchcliffe: So well put together. Design, costume, make-up, the quality of the acting… superb.

On Tom Baker’s relationship with Leela, Louise Jameson: |He didn’t like Leela from the get go. But he loved the programme.
Phillip Hinchcliffe: Tom was the star (of the show) but Bob (Holmes – Script Editor) and I were the bosses.

BBC DVD’s release of DOCTOR WHO – THE FACE OF EVIL is balanced, informative and entertaining, and will ensure that even for most jaded of long-term fans will be cosseted by a ‘warm and fuzzy feeling’ - like being hugged the Muppet’s Fozzy Bear – taking them back to a time when Fish Fingers and Baked Beans were perched on the lap in front of Saturday evening television. And for NEW SERIES fans, THE FACE OF EVIL DVD release is a one of the accessible stories that they could discover for the first time.

It will not disappoint.

Even the DVD's 'Press enter for audio navigation' voice-over lady was caught up in the magic of the story as she menancingly announces:

"DOCTOR WHO - THE FACE OF E...V...IL"

Wonderful.