"The Stones of Blood"
 

The Stones of Blood
 (Special Edition)
 (DVD)
 

Starring Tom Baker
4 Episodes
1978
95 minutes (color)
Single 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
David Fischer

Directed by
Darrol Blake
Produced by
Graham Williams

Original Airdate
Oct 28, 1978 - Nov 18, 1978

US Video Release Date
March 2009

Warner Home Video
#3000017539

U.K. Key To Time Box Set


 

 



Cover Blurb
The search for the third segment of the Key to Time leads the Doctor, Romana and K-9 to Boscombe Moor on Earth in the late 20th century.  Here they encounter Professor Amelia Rumford and Vivien Fay, who are surveying an ancient stone circle called the Nine Travellers.  What is the link between an ancient Celtic goddess, an alien criminal and a transporter ship concealed in hyperspace?  And can the Doctor escape the Druidic sacrifice of blood to uncover the mystery of the moving stones?

 

 




 

DVD Features
  • Getting Blood from Stones:
 This 26 minute featurette details the making of "The Stones of Blood".  Included are interviews with writer David Fisher as well as Mary Tamm (Romana), Susan Engel (Vivian Fey), John Leeson (voice of K-9), Darrol Blake (director), Anthony Read (script editor), and Mat Irvine (visual effects).
 

 
  • Hammer Horror:
 A look at the influence of the Hammer Horror film genre on Doctor Who during the 1970's.  Interviews include Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Terrance Dicks (writer and script editor), and Anthony Read (script editor).
 

 
  • Stones Free:
 Actress Mary Tamm (Romana) visits the stone circle site used for "The Stones of Blood" and discusses the history of ancient stone circles in England.
 

 
  • Deleted Scenes:
 Two minutes worth of footage excised from episode 2.
 

 
  • Model World:
 Mat Irvine highlights some of the model work done for this story during a 1979 segment of "The Model World of Robert Symes".
 

 
  • Blue Peter:
 During the show's 15th anniversary, Blue Peter ran a six minute segment celebrating the event.
 

 
  • Nationwide:
 The BBC1 newsmagazine show interviewed Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Mary Tamm (Romana), and Carole Ann Ford (Susan) to mark the show's 15th anniversary.
 

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

 
  • 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.
 

 
  • 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) and Darrol Blake (director).

The second option is for an all new commentary by Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Mary Tamm (Romana), Susan Engel (Vivian Fey), and David Fisher (writer).
 

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



 

 

Additional Notes
  • The third adventure in the Key to Time story arc, "The Stones of Blood" breaks with tradition just as "The Pirate Planet" had... by having a female villain.  Scandalous!  :)
  • Pay close attention for the scenes involving the Doctor defending himself against the judicially anal Megara.  Quite humorous.
  • Also, watch for some major bloopers.  One in particular to watch for is a stampeding Ogri creature rushing towards the camera (episode 3, I believe).  Behind it is a backstage hand.  Also look a few minutes earlier and you can see two other backstage crew setting up the Ogri.
     
  • Serious consideration was given to adding Professor Emilia Rumford (played to great effect by the talented actress Beatrix Lehmann) as a companion for the Doctor.  However, the idea was eventually rejected due to the uncertainty of the audience's acceptance of an older companion.  A great shame.
  • 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.