The Curse of Peladon
(DVD)

 

Starring Jon Pertwee
4 Episodes
1972
97 minutes (color)
Single Disc




 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Jon Pertwee

Jo Grant
Katy Manning

Written by
Brian Hayles

Directed by
Lennie Mayne
Produced by
Barry Letts

Original Airdate
Jan 29, 1972 - Feb 19, 1972

R1 DVD Release Date
May 2010

Warner Home Video
#3000028334

U.K. "Peladon Tales" Boxset


U.K. Cover


 



Cover Blurb
Taking a test flight in the TARDIS, the Doctor and Jo make an inelegant landing on the planet Peladon.  When they are mistaken for representatives from Earth, the Doctor soon finds himself chairing the committee of alien delegates assessing Peladon's petition to join the Galactic Federation.  When one of the King's advisors is killed, the High Priest fears the ancient Curse of Aggedor is at work, but the Doctor suspects his old enemies the Ice Warriors are to blame.  Can the Doctor and Jo uncover the identity of the saboteurs before a major diplomatic incident plunges them into war?



 

 

 

DVD Features
  • The Peladon Saga - Part One:
 This 23 minute featurette recounts the history and influences on both "The Curse of Peladon" and "The Monster of Peladon".  Interviewees include Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Nina Thomas (Queen Thalira), Donald Gee (Eckersley), and Ralph Watson (Ettis).  Also included are Terrance Dicks (script editor), Barry Letts (producer), Peter Day (visual effects designer), Brian Hodgson (sound designer), Chris D'Oyly-John (production assistant), Sylvia James (costume designer), and Elizabeth Moss (make-up supervisor).
 

 
  • Warriors of Mars:
 A featurette detailing the history of the Ice Warriors throughout Doctor Who.
 

 
  • Jon and Katy:
 An affectionate look at one of the most popular Doctor/companion teams in the show's history (Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning).
 

 
  • Storyboard Comparison:
 A comparison of the story boards originally developed for the opening scene versus the finalized product.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Once again we are treated to many rare production stills and quite a few behind the scenes ones as well.
 

 
  • PDF Materials:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of some of the original Radio Times press clippings as well as BBC Enterprises sales material.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by members of the Doctor Who Restoration Team.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Commentary is provided by  Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Terrance Dicks (script editor), Barry Letts (producer), and Chris D'Oyly-John (production assistant).  Moderated by Toby Hadoke.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 None for this disc.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • David Troughton (Patrick Troughton's son) makes a guest appearance as King Peladon.  He was also seen earlier in his father's last Doctor Who story "The War Games."
  • The Ice Warriors return, but not quite as you'd expect.  This time they are the good guys, making for a nice and unusual twist.
  • Two other characters that would prove popular and return at a later date are Aggedor and Alpha Centauri.
  • Look for automatically swinging stone doors that happen to have thin visible wires attached to them.  Hmm...
  • A sequel to this story would be made two seasons later.  "The Monster of Peladon" takes place 50 years after the events in this story.  Alpha Centauri returns in that story as does Aggedor.
     
  • In the U.K., this story was packaged together with "The Monster of Peladon" in a "Peladon Tales" Boxset.  However, for the R1 release, the stories were split up and released separately.
     
  • As with all of the DVD releases to date, the Doctor Who Restoration Team did extensive work on this story.