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JON PERTWEE 1970-74
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THIRD DOCTOR | CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS

 
"...the squeal of delight is as genuine as if she was viewing

the episode for the first time: 'That's so cool!'

she gleefully remarks, and you believe her..."

STORY PLOTLINE

It is 1926, and the Doctor and Jo arrive on board the SS Bernice, a small cargo ship peacefully crossing the Indian Ocean.

Millions of miles away from earth, on the Planet Inter Minor, a travelling showman named Vorg and his assistant, Shirna, arrive to entertain the populous. With them is an amazing machine - an intergalactic peepshow called the Scope.

As Vorg’s show begins, alien worlds and strange creatures are conjured up from the Scope for the watching officials of Inter Minor…


DVD EXTRAS

  • Studio commentary by Katy Manning and Produce, Barry Letts.
  • MODEL SEQUENCES. Original 16MM footage showing the Drashig puppets and model spacecraft.
  • EXTENDED AND DELETED SCENES.
  • BEHIND THE SCENES - 'LOOKING IN'. Broadcast in 1972, as part of the BBC's 50th. anniversary, this programme contains a section looking at this story.
  • USING CSO. Barry Letts demonstrates Colour Separation Overlay.
  • ALTERNATIVE THEME MUSIC. A new version of the theme was produced but not used.
  • TRAILER FOR THE FIVE FACES OF DOCTOR WHO. The full BBC Trailer for the 1981 repeats season.
  • ALTERNATIVE ENDING FOR EPISODE FOUR. An error in make-up created an alternative ending.
  • PHOTO GALLERY + PRODUCTION SUBTITLES + TARDIS CAM + EASTER EGG.

COMMENT  Spoliers ahead

Note: the DVD was viewed with the commentary and Information Text features running.


What could beat a stiflingly sultry summer’s afternoon, refreshed by chilled Chardonnay?

A stiflingly sultry summer’s afternoon, refreshed by chilled Chardonnay with the curtains drawn & doors closed and the DVD of CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS.

Worth it? Pertwee, Manning, a Holmes script and Letts’ direction; of course it is.

Though first broadcast in 1973, it is a timeless classic, displaying a seemingly modern sociological message with subtle wit and style.

Unlike the first DOCTOR WHO DVD releases, CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS (originally titled THE LABYRINTH or PEEPSHOW) is packed with a lavish array of bonus features. Key to these is the stunningly informative and entertaining commentary combination of Katy Manning and Barry Letts.

Manning’s bronchially challenged chesty-laugh is an exhilarating funny punctuation to Letts by-the-book explanations. Reviewing an episodes 1 scene, following their materialisation in the ship’s hold, she reveals that she loved to ‘cluck’ like a chicken and readily obliges. Fast reverse and relish the moment.

Another Manning classic occurs as she watches transfixed as the Doctor and Jo retreat back into the Scope after escaping the Drashig’s world. The squeal of delight is as genuine as if she was viewing the episode for the first time: "That’s so cool!" she gleefully remarks, and you believe her.

The Information Text Service reveals small gems that even the D J Howe’s Television Companion tome fails to provide: The name of the Drashig’s planet could have been revealed if only the episode had not ‘overrun’ (Grundle). Some of the Scope’s stage setting was borrowed from the neighbouring TOP OF THE POPS studio. After filming onboard the RFA Robert Dundas a number of provided life jackets went ‘missing’.

Both the ‘behind the scenes’ mini-documentary and the ‘using CSO’ featurette exceed their expectations unlike the why-oh-why TARDIS-Cam. The Model Sequences reveal the level of expertise and creativity of the Visual Effects Department, even though occasionally the ‘its-a-puppet’ Drashig resembles Basil Brush.

This release could the first DOCTOR WHO DVD to 'crossover' to a mainstream buying public and could, just could, instil within the upper echelons of the BBC that the series could, just could, be a more valuable brand than they first believed.

EOH CONTRIBUTOR
MATTHEW WALTER
EOH RATING



INFORMATION
DOCTOR WHO - JON PERTWEE
DOCTOR WHO - CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS - DVD

DVD Released 15.07.2002

CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS DVD EXTRAS:  Navigation graphics

CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS DVD EXTRAS: Navigation graphics

CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS DVD EXTRA: Testing the Drashig 'hand-puppet'

CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS DVD EXTRA: Testing the Drashig 'hand-puppet'

CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS DVD EXTRA: Filming the full-length Drashig against CSO

CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS DVD EXTRA: Filming the full-length Drashig against CSO

CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS DVD EXTRA: Peter Halliday's skull-cap caused the Director to record an alternative ending for Episode 4.

CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS DVD EXTRA: Peter Halliday's skull-cap caused the Director to record an alternative ending for Episode 4.

 

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