The Brain of Morbius
(DVD)

 

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




 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Tom Baker

Sarah Jane Smith
Elisabeth Sladen

Written by
Robin Bland

Directed by
Christopher Barry
Produced by
Philip Hinchcliffe

Original Airdate
Jan 3, 1976 - Jan 24, 1976

Region 1 DVD Release Date
October 2008

Warner Home Video
#3000017161

U.K. Cover


 



Cover Blurb

The Time Lords have taken control of the TARDIS, sending the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith into dangerous territory.

On the graveyard planet of Karn, the eternal Sisterhood fights to keep the sacred flame alive.  High in the castle, the brilliant surgeon Mehendri Solon conducts gruesome experiments on living flesh.  And as a storm approaches, an evil from the depths of Time Lord history plots its return to the land of the living.

But is even the Doctor's mind a match for the Brain of Morbius?



 

 

 

DVD Features

  • Getting a Head:

 Narrated by Paul McGann (8th Doctor), this 32 minute documentary highlights the making of "The Brain of Morbius".  Included are interviews with Philip Madoc (Solon), Cynthia Grenville (Maren), Colin Fay (Condo), and Gillian Brown (Ohica).  Other participants include Terrance Dicks (writer), Christopher Barry (director), Philip Hinchcliffe (producer), Dudley Simpson (composer), and Barry Newbery (designer). 
 

 
  • Designs on Karn:
 A short, six minute featurette highlighting designer Barry Newbery's work in designing the alien world of Karn.
 

 
  • Set Tour:
 This specially made CGI version of the studio sets gives a glimpse of how tightly (and cleverly) the production staff of Doctor Who worked.
 

 
  • The Sketch Gallery:
 A combination of original design sketches plus new concept artwork.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Lots of rare and never before seen photos taken during the production of this story.
 

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

 
  • Audio Options:
 Commentary is provided by  Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane), Philip Madoc (Solon), Christopher Barry (director), and Philip Hinchcliffe (producer).
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 There is 1 egg included in this release.  Scroll down further for more details.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Egg
#1. DEAR MR. BLAND

 

Go to the 'Special Features' menu.
Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the left of 'Set Tour.'
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • The opening titles credit Robin Bland for "The Brain of Morbius," however, it was really written by Terrance Dicks.  Dissatisfied with how his script was edited, he opted for the descriptive pseudonym.
     

  • Watch for the over the top death scene of Condo.  Pure camp.   :)
     

  • "The Brain of Morbius" was finally re-released in the U.S. in 1997 after years of only being available as an edited omnibus version.  In fact, the total running time for the omnibus version was over 30 minutes shorter than the original, unedited version.  That's why the tape box says "Collector's Edition" on it.  This DVD release will also be unedited and intact.
     

  • The montage that occurs during the climactic mind battle between Morbius and the Doctor consists of many behind the scenes members of the production who dressed in period costumes and were photographed.  These individuals include producer Philip Hinchcliffe, script editor Robert Holmes, directors Douglas Camfield and Christopher Barry, writer Robert Banks Stewart, production manager George Gallacio, and production assistants Graeme Harper and Chris Baker.
     

  • Philip Madoc (Solon) made his first of several appearances on Doctor Who in the Patrick Troughton story "The Krotons."  He returned later that season playing the chillingly meek and quiet War Lord in Patrick Troughton's final story "The War Games."  After "The Brain of Morbius" he would return 3 years later as Fenner in "The Power of Kroll."
     

  • A segment of missing music near the end of episode one has been reinstated for the DVD release.  The loss of this section of incidental music seems to have occurred shortly after the original transmission of episode 1 back in 1976.