The Green Death
(DVD)

 

Starring Jon Pertwee
6 Episodes
1973
153 minutes (color)
Single Disc



 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Jon Pertwee

Jo Grant
Katy Manning

Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Nicholas Courtney

Written by
Robert Sloman

Directed by
Michael Briant
Produced by
Barry Letts

Original Airdate
May 19, 1973 - June 23, 1973

US DVD Release Date
March 2005

Warner Home Video
#E2156

U.K Cover

 

 



 

Cover Blurb
While the Third Doctor indulges his wanderlust with a brief but entertaining trip to Metebilis 3, the Brigadier and Jo Grant drive to South Wales to investigate the death of a miner. Join them as they examine the body in an abandoned pit owned by the mysterious Global Chemicals. The most astonishing symptom of the miner's fatal disease is that it leaves the skin bright green. 

The Doctor arrives on the scene and soon suspects that the Global Chemicals factory management may have something to hide.  When he and Jo discover a vast green lake teeming with deadly giant maggots hidden in the abandoned mine, he fears the threat may have already reached global proportions.

 



 

 

 

DVD Features

  • Interview With Robert Sloman:

 Seven minute interview with writer Robert Sloman.
 

 

  • Interview With Stewart Bevan:

 An interview with the actor to play Professor Clifford Jones.
 

 

  • Global Conspiracy?:

 'Man Alive's' original 70's environmental reporter, Terry Scanlon (played by U.K. comedian Mark Gatiss), revisits Llanfairfach thirty years on, where troubles seem to be resurfacing...  10 minutes of tongues firmly planted in cheeks.  Many original cast members make return visits in character.
 

 
  • Visual Effects:
 Twelve minute interview with visual effects designer Colin Mapson where Colin demonstrates how to make your own giant, mutant maggot.  Charming.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Another improvement to the DVD range was the addition of this feature.  Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by Richard Molesworth of the Doctor Who Restoration Team
 

 
  • Who's Who:
 A feature unique to the North American DVD releases.  It lists short biographical information on many of the actors involved in the story.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 A collection showing many publicity stills from the production of this story.  Many of the pictures are rare or even never before seen.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 An excellent commentary from Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Terrance Dicks (Script Editor) & Barry Letts (Producer).
 
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There is one easter egg included.  Highlight the area below for more details.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 

#1. CONTINUITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
(ORIGINAL BROADCAST AND BB2 REPEATS)

From the main menu screen, press the left arrow button
to highlight the Doctor Who logo in the top left corner.  Now click on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • "The Green Death" sees the departure of one of Doctor Who's most popular assistants, Jo Grant.  She suffers the fate of so many companions that came both before and after her... she falls in love and marries by the end of the adventure.
     

  • The actor selected to play Katy Manning's love interest, Professor Clifford Jones, was Stewart Bevan.  In a twist of life imitating art, Manning and Bevan were in a relationship together.
     

  • Although environmentalism is a hallmark of the Pertwee era, it probably comes through the strongest in this story.
     

  • The voice of B.O.S.S. is provided by actor John Dearth.  Dearth would return the following year for Pertwee's final story "Planet of the Spiders" playing the part of the greedy Lupton.
     

  • Watch for a classic moment when the Doctor goes through a series of disguises including an old decrepit milkman and a rather haughty cleaning lady.  :)
     

  • The Doctor does manage to briefly visit the planet Metabelis 3.  The events of this segment end up having a large impact on the story of "Planet of the Spiders."
     

  • This story really marks the beginning of the end of the Pertwee era.  With the untimely death of Roger Delgado (the Master) some months earlier and the departure of long time companion Jo Grant (played by Katy Manning), this is the last time all of the major characters appear together in an adventure.
     

  • In a departure from other 6 episode DVD releases, this one is presented all on one disc.  In all previous 6 part releases, the story went on one disc while the bulk of the extras went on a second one.  Consequently, the list of extras for this title is not as large as on some other titles.