The Mark of the Rani
(DVD)

 


Starring Colin Baker
2 Episodes (45 minutes each)
1985
89 minutes (color)
Single Disc


 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Colin Baker

Peri Brown
Nicola Bryant

The Master
Anthony Ainley

Written by
Pip and Jane Baker
Directed by
Sarah Hellings

Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Feb 2, 1985 - Feb 9, 1985

Region 1 DVD Release Date
November 2006

Warner Home Video
#E2732

U.K. Cover




 

 

 
Cover Blurb
Drawn off course, the TARDIS materializes near the Killingworth coal pits in 19th century England, and the Doctor and Peri witness the Luddite rebellion in full swing.  Soon they realize that they aren't the only time travelers in the area.

 

 


 


DVD Features 
  • Lords and Luddites:
 An excellent 43 minute documentary on the making of this story using interviews with actors Colin Baker (Doctor Who), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Kate O'Mara (the Rani), and Gary Cady (Luke Ward).  Behind the scenes interviews include Pip and Jane Baker (co-writers), Jonathan Gibbs (composer), and Eric Saward (script editor).
 

 
  • Now and Then:
 A recurring featurette that highlights some of the location work done, in this case the Blists Hill Victorian Museum.
 

 
  • Deleted Scenes:
 As the name implies - included is a TARDIS scene between the Doctor and Peri that had to be cut due to a boom mic that was in the shot.
 

 
  • Playing With Time:
 A nice 9 minute featurette centering on composer Jonathan Gibbs and his work for this 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.
 

 
  • Doctor Who Annual:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of  the 1985 Doctor Who Annual (a mixture of Doctor Who fiction as well as science based reading for young Doctor Who fans).
 

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

 
  • Saturday Superstore:
 A children's program recorded in 1985 that features actors Colin Baker (Doctor Who) and Nicola Bryant (Peri) who receive a phone call from an unexpected adversary.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Color and black and white photos showing many publicity shots from the production of this story.  Many of the pictures are rare or even never before seen.
 

 
  • Blue Peter:
 An 11-minute feature on the history of Ironbridge Gorge.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 Four choices here...

The first choice is to listen to the story in it's original mono version

A second choice is a commentary track including Nicola Bryant (Peri), Colin Baker (Doctor Who), and Kate O'Mara (The Rani). 

The next audio option is the isolated soundtrack.  With this feature you will hear the music Jonathan Gibb composed for this story sequentially as it appears in the episode (rather than edited together as in the case of "The Five Doctors Special Edition" DVD).  This does mean that there are long gaps of silence in between music cues.

The last option is to view episode one with the alternate (and technically original) score composed by John Lewis.
 

 
  • 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. CONTINUITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Original Broadcast)

 

From the main menu screen,
click on the hidden Doctor Who logo to the left of 'Special Features.'
   

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • "Mark of the Rani" was the third story in Colin Baker's first season - although it was filmed fourth in order.
     

  • Season 22 had a slightly different episodic format than the rest of the series.   Episodes were 45 minutes long (effectively making two shorter episodes into one longer episode).  It was felt that longer episodes could foster better story writing.   However, the format was abandoned after this season and the series went back to the traditional 23 minutes/episode format.
     

  • "Mark of the Rani" sees the return of the Doctor's arch nemesis, The Master (last seen in "Planet of Fire").  Anthony Ainley's (who played the Master) contract had expired at the end of "Planet of Fire" and it was assumed that that story would mark his final appearance in the series.  Producer John Nathan-Turner had a change of heart, and signed Ainley on again for another 3 year contract (consisting of one story appearance per year).
     
  • No explanation was given for the survival of the Master from his apparent death in "Planet of Fire."
     
  • As the name of the story implies, it also introduces a new adversary for the Doctor, The Rani, another exiled Time Lord.  Her character is the quintessential uncaring, unemotional, amoral scientist.  The hope from the production team was that the Rani would become a recurring villain in the series.
     
  • The Rani would return in 2 years in the Sylvester McCoy inaugural story "Time and the Rani."
     
  • Originally, composer John Lewis was commissioned to write the music for this story.  He was able to complete and record the score for episode 1, but his increasing illness meant that he was unable to complete the score for episode two.  Radiophonic Workshop composer Jonathan Gibbs was called in to record his own music for the story.  Sadly, John Lewis died a short time later.  His score has been re-instated for episode one as an audio option on this DVD release as well as an isolated score for both of Gibbs' episodes.
     
  • More detailed information on this release is available at the Doctor Who Restoration Team's website.  You can find the article HERE.