Planet of Evil
(DVD)

 

Starring Tom Baker
4 Episodes
1975
94 minutes (color)
Single Disc




 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Tom Baker

Sarah Jane Smith
Elisabeth Sladen

Written by
Louis Marks

Directed by
David Maloney
Produced by
Philip Hinchcliffe

Original Airdate
Sept 27, 1975 - Oct 18, 1975

Region 1 DVD Release Date
March 2008

Warner Home Video
#3000014942

U.K. Cover


 



Cover Blurb

 

 

 

The Doctor and Sarah Jane answer an intergalactic distress call that takes them to a far-flung planet, Zeta Minor, at the edge of the known universe.  Arriving at the same time as a rescue team, they search for survivors of an earlier expedition.  But will anyone be allowed to leave the planet alive?

 

 

 



 

 

 

DVD Features

  • A Darker Side:

 This featurette focuses on the making of "Planet of Evil" from those who were directly involved.  Interviews with Philip Hinchcliffe (producer), Louis Marks (writer), David Maloney (director), and Roger Murray-Leach (designer).  Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah) and Prentis Hancock (Salamar) also contribute.
 

 
  • Planetary Performance:
 A thirteen minute long documentary centering on the actors from this story.  Contributors include Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah), Prentis Hancock (Salamar), Graham Weston (De Haan) and Tony McEwan (Baldwin).
 

 
  • Studio Scene:
 Less than a minute long, this is the only surviving footage from the studio recording sessions.
 

 
  • Trails & Continuity:
 Original continuity announcements as well as the trailer for a later repeat showing.
 

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

 
  • 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), Prentis Hancock (Salamar) and Phillip Hinchcliffe (producer).
 

 
  • Coming Soon:
 A specially made trailer for the upcoming release of the Tom Baker classic "Destiny of the Daleks."
 

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

 


 

 

 

 

 

Easter Egg

#1. HIDDEN HINCHCLIFFE
(Unused excerpt from interview with producer Philip Hinchcliffe for "A Darker Side")

 

Go to the 'Special Features' menu.
Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the left of the 'A Darker Side'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • Here is an example of a story being written entirely because of a really cool monster costume that someone created at the BBC.  At least, that's the official story on how "Planet of Evil" came about.  Even so, it is a fairly decent story.
     

  • Also, watch for a particularly good cliffhanger for episode 2.  In it, the Doctor is trying to communicate with the Zeta Minor creature and falls into a dark bottomless pit.  Really cool effect.  :)
     

  • "Planet of Evil" also includes scenes shot inside the TARDIS (having been absent for all of season 12).
     

  • Another actor returning for a guest role is Frederick Jaeger as Dr. Sorenson.  Professor Marius.  Jaeger's first role for Doctor Who was Jano in the Hartnell story "The Savages."  Two years after his involvement in "Planet of Evil" he would return one last time as Professor Marius (the creator of K-9) in "The Invisible Enemy."
     

  • The actor playing the small supporting role of Morelli is none other than Michael Wisher.  He appeared frequently in Doctor Who over the years.  His first (minor) appearance was as reporter John Wakefield in "The Ambassadors of Death."  He returned the following year to play Rex Ferrel in "Terror of the Autons."  He went on to play Kalik in "Carnival of Monsters" and did the voice of the Daleks in both "Planet of the Daleks" and "Death to the Daleks."  Next up was probably his most memorable role as Davros in "Genesis of the Daleks."  He returned in the very next story, "Revenge of the Cybermen" as Magrik.  This story marks his final appearance in Doctor Who.
     

  • The part of Salamar is played by Prentis Hancock.  Prentis' ability to play gits served him well in Doctor Who.  His first outing was in the Pertwee story "Spearhead from Space" while his final appearance was Tom Baker's "The Ribos Operation."