Planet of Fire

 

Starring Peter Davison
4 Episodes
1984
??? minutes (color)
Double Disc
REGION 1 RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2010


 




 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Peter Davison

Turlough
Mark Strickson

Peri Brown
Nicola Bryant

The Master
Anthony Ainley

Written by
Peter Grimwade
Directed by
Fiona Cumming

Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Feb 23, 1984 - Mar 2, 1984

R1 DVD Release Date
September 2010

Warner Home Video
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Kamelion Tales U.K. Boxset Cover


U.K. Individual Cover


 



Cover Blurb
Not Yet Available...



 

 

 

DVD Features
 

Disc One
 All 4 episodes as they were originally transmitted in 1984 plus these bonus features.

 
  • The Flames of Sarn:
 A documentary on the making of "Planet of Fire" using interviews with both cast and crew. 

NOTE: Due to clearance issues stemming from music used in this documentary - this featurette has been removed from the North American version.  It is present on the Region 2 version.
 

 
  • Return to the Planet of Fire:
 Director Fionna Cumming and designer Malcolm Thorton return to the location used in filming "Planet of Fire", the island of Lanzarote.
 

 
  • Designs on Sarn:
 Designer Malcolm Thorton is interviewed about his work on this story, and the influences that the island of Lanzarote had on his design decisions.
 

 
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes:
 A collection of film trims and deleted scenes from the filming of this story.
 

 
  • Continuity Announcements:
 Continuity announcements from the original broadcast in 1984.
 

 
  • 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.
 

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

 
  • Audio Options:
 The first option is to listen to an audio commentary.  The participants on this commentary are Peter Davison (5th Doctor), Mark Stickson (Turlough), Nicoal Bryant (Peri) and Fiona Cummings (director).

The second audio option is the isolated soundtrack.  With this feature you will hear the outstanding score composed by Peter Howell presented sequentially as it appears in the episode.  This does mean that there are long gaps of silence in between music cues.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 Unknown at this time.    For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
 
 

 

 

Disc Two
A special widescreen, shortened "omnibus" edition of "Planet of Fire" with updated special effects, newly shot scenes, a 5.1 surround sound mix, and these bonus features.
 
  • Calling the Shots:
 An interesting glimpse into the production of "Planet of Fire" using studio footage from the recording of this story.
 

 
  • Remembering Anthony Ainley:
 An all too brief glimpse at the private life of the man to resurrected the character of The Master in the 1980's.  Includes interviews with fellow cast and crew as well as archival convention footage of Ainley.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 A special 5.1 surround sound mix is available for the "Special Edition" version of this story.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 Unknown at this time.    For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
 
     



 

 

 

 

Easter Eggs

#1. COUNTDOWN CLOCK FOR ALL 4 EPISODES



Go to the 'Special Features' menu on disc one.
Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the left of the 'The Flames of Sarn'.

NOTE: With the removal of "Flames of Sarn" for the R1 release, this egg location may change...

 

 

 

#2. PLANET OF FIRE FACTOIDS
 

 

Go to the 'Audio Options' menu on disc one.
Click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the right of the 'Isolated Score'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes
  • "Planet of Fire" features the return of The Master (now becoming an annual event).
     
  • This story also sees one companion leave and another one join.  Turlough departs at the end of the story as Peri (played by Nicola Bryant) continues to travel with the Doctor.
     
  • Turlough's first and final story were both penned by Who writer and director Peter Grimwade.
     
  • The original intent was to write The Master out of the series for good, as Anthony Ainley's contract had concluded.  As it turned out, he was signed up for additional stories into the future, and would return again just one year later for "The Mark of the Rani".
     
  • For a time, the production crew had toyed with the notion of revealing that The Master and The Doctor were, in fact, brothers - an idea that had been considered ten years earlier when Roger Delgado played the part.
     
  • Kamelion, last seen in his introductory story "The King's Demons" is written out of the series.  He never appeared between his introductory and departure stories because of constant technical problems with the robot prop.