FOURTH
DOCTOR | THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG |
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"...a
few seconds into the episode. |
Baker nonchalantly announces that he 'can't remember
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a
single thing' about the story..." |
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STORY
PLOTLINE
The
Doctor and Leela arrive in Victorian London, and find themselves plunged into
a series of macabre events...
DVD
EXTRAS
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Studio
commentary by Louise Jameson, Philip Hinchcliffe (Producer), David Maloney (Director),
John Bennett (Li H'sen Chang) and Christopher Benjamin (Henry Gordon Jago)
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WHOSE
DOCTOR WHO. A 1977 BBC2 documentary presented by Melvyn Bragg, with
behind-the-scenes footage of THE TALONS OF WENG CHIANG
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BLUE
PETER THEATRE. Make your own DOCTOR WHO action puppet
theatre
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BEHIND
THE SCENES FOOTAGE. A set of poor quality footage from the story
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PHILIP
HINCHCLIFFE INTERVIEW. The Series Producer discusses the programme on
a 1977 edition on PEBBLE MILL
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TRAILERS
AND CONTINUITY + PHOTO
GALLERY + PRODUCTION
SUBTITLES.
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TARDIS
CAM 6. + EASTER
EGG
COMMENT 1 (relates to the ORIGINAL DVD release) Spoliers
ahead
More eagerly awaited than a Labour Party victory, or a
Tetra pak container that would open without uncontrollably spraying its contents,
or waiting for the gas man to keep his appointment, THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG is
one of a select handful of DOCTOR WHO stories that have made
considerable impact on the psych of the fans worldwide.
Once in a lifetime a television event endures far beyond the end credits or the
commercial break. Recall the world's collective viewing of the Moon landing or
a death of a iconic Princess.
However, similarly, for DOCTOR WHO fans it is a story that is
so unique, so flawless and so captivating that retribution for those who do not
concur is readily dealt. TALONS is in the league with THE
DAEMONS, THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI, AN UNEARTHLY
CHILD and THE WEB OF FEAR as irrefutably being an example
of outstanding British television of its era.
However, with the release of the DVD episodic format I must challenge myself
in that last statement. Simply to say that the production displays the quality
of today's television, rivaling the banality of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, BUFFY
THE VAMPIRE SLAYER or ANGEL (USA Imports that are deemed
by many to be the 'formula' that any future DOCTOR WHO series
should be molded from. Trust me, it shouldn't be). DOCTOR WHO has
come along way since the 1989 final episode, and it hasn't done a thing. Automatically
respected, cherished and enduring.
TALONS rivals the DVD release of THE AZTECS with
its sumptuous morsels of 'Extras', including the seemingly Alzheimer commentary
of the aging contributors (the ramblings and quips are Award-winning!). John
Bennett (even today an outstanding British television actor - superb in BBC1's WAKING
THE DEAD) and Christopher Benjamin jab and parry as perfect foils for
each other. The lengthy discussions about the 'rat' are noteworthy and entertaining.
The documentary, WHOSE DOCTOR WHO, should have been the highlight
of the second disc but it was eclipsed by the BLUE PETER team
creating a DOCTOR WHO Theatre from a grocery box, polystyrene
apple trays and copious lashings of PVA glue. Happy innocent times and of course,
as an eager eleven year old at the time, I lovingly created my own version (complete
with small 1volt light bulbs). Brags' documentary seemed to safe and limited
in its investigation, though the smattering of 'behind the scenes' (BTS) balanced
the (very dated) 'so, kiddie, why do you like the Doctor?' interviews.
Separately, the BTS footage of the studio recording session (the Doctor and companions'
escape from Greel's HQ, theough the aid of a gas filled sack) was truly fascinating.
Having witnessed the studio recording of a Davison story, I appreciate the theee
way balancing act of studio time, studio costs and acting expectations. Though
pressed for time, the care with which the TALONS crew endeavoured
to retain credulity and accuracy is commendable, and a key reason why the story
is one of the best.
COMMENT 2 (relates to the REVISITATIONS DVD release) Spoliers ahead
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EOH
CONTRIBUTOR |
MATTHEW WALTER |
EOH
RATING |
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INFORMATION |
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Original DVD Released
04.2003
THE
TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG DVD EXTRA Rehearsal
footage
THE
TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG DVD EXTRA: The set
under construction
Remastered DVD Released 04.10.2010
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