"The Armageddon Factor"

The Armageddon Factor
(Special Edition)
(DVD)
 

Starring Tom Baker
6 Episodes
1978
150 minutes (color)
Double Disc

 
"The Key to Time" Special Edition Box Set



 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Tom Baker

Romana
Mary Tamm

Voice of K9
John Leeson

Written by
Bob Baker and Dave Martin

Directed by
Michael Hayes
Produced by
Graham Williams

Original Airdate
Jan 20, 1979 -Feb 24, 1979

US DVD Release Date
March 2009

Warner Home Video
#3000017542

U.K. Key To Time Box Set


 

 



Cover Blurb
The Key to Time is almost complete.  With only one piece still to find, the Doctor, Romana and K-9 arrive on Atrios, a planet in the middle of a terrible war with its twin world Zeos.  To restore the balance of the universe for the White Guardian, the Doctor must find the sixth segment before the planets destroy each other - but Zeos is deserted, so who is behind the war?




 

 

DVD Features
 

Disc One
All 6 episodes as they were originally transmitted in 1979.

 
  • Audio Options:
 The first option is to listen to the commentary included with the original 2002 release.  The participants on this commentary are Mary Tamm (Romana), John Woodvine (the Marshal), and Michael Hayes (director).

The second option is for an all new commentary by Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Mary Tamm (Romana), and John Leeson (voice of K-9).
 

 
  • 1979 Doctor Who Annual:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of the 1979 Doctor Who Annual.
 

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

 

Disc Two
The remaining DVD bonus features.
 
  • Defining Shadows:
 A 15 minute look into the making of "The Armageddon Factor".  Interviews include Mary Tamm (Romana #1), Lalla Ward (Princess Astra/Romana #2), David Harries (Shapp), and Barry Jackson (Drax).  Also included are writers Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Michael Hays (director), Richard McManan-Smith (designer), and Anthony Read (script editor).
 

 
  • Alternative & Extended Scene:
 A very brief 2 minute clip taken from time-coded black and white production recordings.
 

 
  • Directing Who:
 An interview with prolific Doctor Who director Michael Hayes.
 

 
  • Rogue Time Lords:
 A brief history of other rogue Time Lords seen throughout the long history of the series.
 

 
  • Pebble Mill at One:
 An original 1978 interview done with Tom Baker.
 

 
  • Radiophonic Feature:
 A brief interview with Dick Mills and Brian Hodgson of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop discussing the role the RW played in Doctor Who sounds effects and music.
 

 
  • The New Sound of Music:
 An even briefer snippet, once again with Dick Mills, discussing Doctor Who music and sound effects at the BBC RW.
 

 
  • Merry Christmas, Doctor Who:
 A one minute specially recorded clip filmed in 1978, with Tom Baker (4th Doctor) and companion Mary Tamm (Romana) wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.  Recorded as part of an annual (and internal) BBC Christmas tape that year.
 

 
  • Continuities:
 Original continuity announcements from the 1978 transmission of the story.
 

 
  • Late Night Story:
 Tom Baker reading several short stories written by notable science fiction authors for the 1978 series.  Included are...

        The Photograph by Nigel Kneale
        The Emissary by Ray Bradbury
        Nursery Tea by Mary Danby
        The End of the Party by Graham Greene
        Sredni Vashtar by Saki
 

 
  • 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.
 

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

 
  • Radio Times:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of some of the original Radio Times press clippings.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There is one egg on this disc.  Scroll down further for more details.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
 

 



 

 

 

Easter Egg
#1. TEMPORARY FAULT - 1978

 

Go to the second 'Special Features' menu on Disc Two.
Find the hidden Doctor Who logo by clicking to the right of 'Continuities'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • The final story in the Key to Time arc, "The Armageddon Factor" also is Mary Tamm's last appearance as Romana. 
  • Shortly after filming she decided that her character had descended into the screaming companion role and decided not to return.  Her replacement was handled in the first story of the next season, "Destiny of the Daleks."  To make matters a little more confusing, Tamm's replacement was Lala Ward (who played Princess Astra in "Armageddon Factor").
  • John Leeson (the voice of K-9) would also depart after the filming of this story.  David Brierly would replace Leeson for the 17th season.  Leeson would be absent for one year before his return for season 18, where his character was finally written out for good in "Warriors' Gate."
  • The Doctor's "name" was revealed in this story by a classmate of the Doctor's from Gallifrey as Theta Sigma.  No other reference was made of this name until 9 years later in the Sylvester McCoy story "The Happiness Patrol" where the Doctor clarified that Theta Sigma was his nickname at school.  
  • Veteran actor Valentine Dyall would appear as the Black Guardian near the end of this story.   Some years later he would reprise his role in a 3 story arc during the 20th anniversary season of Doctor Who ("Mawdryn Undead," "Terminus," and "Enlightenment").
  • In a break with tradition, this story (along with all of the stories from the Key To Time umbrella season) was released on DVD here in North America BEFORE the U.K.  Apparently, the North American market was much more focused on Tom Baker's era of Doctor Who.  This initial release (back in 2002) had minimal restoration and bare bones extras.
     
  • When the Key To Time box set was released in the U.K. six years later, many additional features were created for it, along with new restoration.  This new Region 1 "Special Edition" boxset reflects these changes.