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SECOND DOCTOR | THE MIND ROBBER

 
"...frustrations over the scale of the set (justifiably),

the fact that DOCTOR WHO never really went into

that sort of fantasy area again..."

STORY PLOTLINE

After an accident with the TARDIS, the Doctor, Zoe and Jamie are transported into a dimension where fiction rules. Here they encounter a range of fictional characters and some ominous White Robots.

DVD EXTRAS

  • Studio Commentary Wendy Padbury, Frazer Hines, Hamish Wilson, and THE MIND ROBBER Director David Maloney
  • THE FACT OF FICTION (dur. 34' 55") Actors and production team recall working on the story in this specially shot featurette
  • HIGHLANDER (dur. 22' 28") Actor, Frazer Hines looks back on his career in DOCTOR WHO and beyond
  • Easter Egg, Photo Gallery and on-screen Production Notes

COMMENT  Spoliers ahead

Something that never ceases to amaze me about the extras on DOCTOR WHO DVDs is that people remember so much for so long after the event. You’d honestly imagine that after 34 years people’s recollections would fade, and indeed in the commentaries on The Mind Robber that actually happens. Patrick Troughton was a good actor, apparently. Fraser Hines learned a lot from him. It’s a clear picture. Wendy Padbury still gets letters about that shot of her bum in the clingy costume. Part one goes by quickly, they agree, but somehow it slows down with the commentary track on.

The made-to-measure extras are rather better. HIGHLANDER is a strong evocation of Fraser Hines’ time on the show; he reveals that it was his agent, not he, that wanted out, and indeed Troughton was reluctant to leave too. He discusses the relationship with the different companions (although wouldn’t it have been nice to see Anneke Wills discussing the initial impact of this new young arrival when they thought two young companions was enough – did they feel they were being edged out?) but frustratingly discusses only the characters rather than the actors, particularly when it comes to Wendy Padbury. It’s worth watching, although I’d have preferred a few more probing questions.

Even better is THE FACT OF FICTION. In this, Peter Ling, Christopher Robbie, both companions and others show remarkable powers of recall, as does Hamish Wilson, about the making of this genuinely unusual story. They express frustrations over the scale of the set (justifiably), the fact that Doctor Who never really went into that sort of fantasy area again (an interesting thought) and all praise is meted out to the cast, even if Troughton was agitating for more money because of the absence of a support cast in part one. This is the high spot of the DVD.

The low spot – you might think – is rather fun if a) you’re the right age, and b) you understand the rationale for including it. Patrick Troughton faced the Yeti. A Yeti costume was used in a Basil Brush sketch in the seventies – and let’s hope you’re keeping up, because there’s no explanation on the DVD.

Overall this is probably the best DVD to date.

One of the best stories, an assembly of people who really remember more detail than could reasonably have been expected and yes, my brief is to write about the extras but one has to mention the utterly crisp picture and sound – which this time almost act to the story’s detriment as it starts to look like any other cheap kid’s show (which of course it was – I was reminded of Iceworld).

If they’ve got more like this up their sleeve, we’re in for some treats.

READ MORE Read the review of the BBC AUDIO release of THE MIND ROBBER

EOH CONTRIBUTOR
GUY CLAPPERTON
EOH RATING



INFORMATION
DOCTOR WHO - PATRICK TROUGHTON is the Doctor
DOCTOR WHO - THE MIND ROBBER

 

DVD Released 03.2005

DOCTOR WHO - THE MIND ROBBER DVD EXTRA navigation graphic

Troughton's THE MIND ROBBER DVD EXTRA navigation graphic

DOCTOR WHO - THE MIND ROBBER DVD EXTRA Peter Ling (Writer) interviewed

Troughton's THE MIND ROBBER DVD EXTRA Peter Ling (Writer) interviewed

DOCTOR WHO - THE MIND ROBBER DVD EXTRA HIGHLANDER - the DOCTOR WHO work of Frazer Hines

Troughton's THE MIND ROBBER DVD EXTRA HIGHLANDER - the DOCTOR WHO work of Frazer Hines

DOCTOR WHO - THE MIND ROBBER DVD EXTRA The Yeti appears on THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW

Troughton's THE MIND ROBBER DVD EXTRA Basil Brish Show and a robotic Yeti guest stars


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