The Masque of Mandragora
(DVD)

 

Starring Tom Baker
4 Episodes
1976
98 minutes (color)
Single Disc



 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Tom Baker
Sarah Jane Smith
Elisabeth Sladen

Written by
Louis Marks
Directed by
Rodney Bennett

Produced by
Philip Hinchcliffe

Original Airdate
Sept 4, 1976 - Sept 25, 1976

R1 DVD Release Date
May 2010

Warner Home Video
#3000028336


U.K. Cover


 



Cover Blurb
After an encounter with the deadly Mandragora Helix, the Doctor and Sarah Jane land in 15th Century San Martino.  In the midst of danger, secrecy and intrigue, they witness the flowering of the Italian Renaissance.

As the masque to celebrate the accession of the new Duke of San Martino approaches, the Doctor realizes that a third visitor has arrived with him in the TARDIS.  It is a force with the power to wipe out human civilization forever.  The Doctor has brought it to Earth - and only the Doctor can stop it.



 

 

 

DVD Features

  • The Secret of the Labyrinth:

 Cast and crew reminisce in this twenty six minute documentary on the making of "The Masque of Mandragora".  Interviewees include Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Gareth Armstrong (Guiliano), Jon Laurimore (Count Federico), Tim Pigott-Smith (Marco), Anthony Carrick (Captain Rossini), Philip Hinchcliffe (producer), Barry Newbery (designer), Rodney Bennett (director) and Chris D'Oyly-John (production unit manager).
 

 
  • Bigger on the Inside:
 A (nearly) twenty minute featurette on the Doctor's space and time machine, the TARDIS.  Includes interviews with Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Christopher H. Bidmead (script editor/writer), and Barry Newbery (designer).
 

 
  • Beneath the Masque:
 A spoof of "The Masque of Mandragora" and Doctor Who in general.
 

 
  • Now and Then:
 A featurette that highlights some of the locations used in the filming of this story and what they look like today.
 

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

 
  • 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.
 

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

 
  • Audio Options:
 The audio commentary for this release include Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Gareth Armstrong (Guiliano), and producer Phillip Hinchcliffe. 
 

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



 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • The TARDIS control room gets an overhaul this season.  The producer, getting tired with the old set, gets enough money together to construct a more gothic looking control room.  Explained away as the TARDIS's original control room, it would be used throughout the season.  Unfortunately, after being stored over the summer months before the next season, most of the wood set had warped and rotted to the point where it was unusable after this season.
     

  • "The Masque of Mandragora" marks the beginning of what is considered by many fans to be one of the series' best seasons. 
     

  • An early working title for this story included "Catacombs of Death", "Doom of Destiny", "Secret of the Labyrinth", and "The Curse of Mandragora".
     

  • This story marks the first time an adventure is set any earlier in history than the twentieth century since "The Time Warrior" some 3 years prior.
     

  • Hieronymous is played by actor Norman Jones.  Jones began his work on Doctor Who as the Tibetan monk Khrisong in the Patrick Troughton classic "The Abominable Snowmen."  He returned two years later to play Spencer in the Pertwee story "Doctor Who and the Silurians." 

  • As with all of the DVD releases to date, the Doctor Who Restoration Team did extensive work on this story.  More information on the restoration of this story can be read at their website HERE.