KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DOCTOR WHO - THE CLAWS OF AXOS' SPECIAL EDITION DVD - 2 DISCS

Golden Armageddon! The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo Grant (Kate Manning) face a new threat from The Master (Roger Delgado) and the Axons in the latest Classic DOCTOR WHO Special Edition release: The Claws of Axos. Images: BBC

DOCTOR WHO – THE CLAWS OF AXOS: SPECIAL EDITION DVD (2 DISCS)

Starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor and Katy Manning as Jo Grant

Written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin

Directed by Michael Ferguson

Available from BBC CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Beware Greeks bearing gifts. Or rather charismatic “we come in peace” golden skinned alien humanoids happy to provide us with a miracle new energy source! Earth falls for the ultimate intergalactic Trojan Horse as the alien infestation known as Axos quickly embeds itself into the crust of the planet, its chilling tentacles ready to drain the world of its life and power, and only the heroic Third Doctor, unwillingly joining forces with his sworn enemy, The Master, can defeat them in this splendidly colourful action packed romp from 1971, now available in a glorious and restored new 2 disc Special Edition DVD: THE CLAWS OF AXOS!

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w3lPEf2pko

Originally known as THE FRIENDLY INVASION followed by the jazzy B-movie sounding THE VAMPIRE FROM SPACE, Bristol boys Bob Baker and Dave Martin premiere script for WHO, is brimming with action, characters and big ideas, trimmed down to just the right compactful four-parter length from its original, way to big seven episodes form.

All that glitters...the friendly Axons...

Aptly referred to as “sensible silliness” by its innovative director, Michael Ferguson, returning to the series after his fine work on the previous seasons The Ambassadors of Death, the story is a certainly a visual treat alongside the big concept, splendidly using the emergent technology of CSO colour separation overlay (or the television version of Blue Screen) which dominates its realization most effectively, almost capturing us at times with an arresting psychedelic but dangerous-a triumph from designer Kenneth Sharp. On the practical built side of things, the Axon ship’s organic miasma interior and orifice exterior (the latter scenes filmed in the worst, and most varied, conditions in the shows behind the scenes history) is packed with swishing tendrils, other strange protrusions and a weirdly effective background sound effect, backed up with an alien electronic heartbeat, from WHO stalwart Brian Hodgson.

...and their real personas!

The adventures of the Doctor and his UNIT family, originally warmly ensconced on Saturday evening TV screens of yesteryear are back in full highly entertaining nostalgia mode with this release- contained nuclear explosions, time travel loops and conundrums, UNIT once again overwhelmed by a superior alien force and the Doctor and his sworn enemy, The Master, at first locking heads but then both ending up completely over their heads when the situation gets out of hand, are the kind of repetitively warm and wonderful ingredients that would make WHO’s eighth season such a notable success with audiences and critics, and be a comfortable and exciting presence on a BBC 1 in the prime of it’s new youthful early seventies vigour-all pioneering and bold in its storytelling techniques.

The Doctor and Jo outsider the Axon spaceship.

Pertwee is as adventuresome and welcomely on-screen dominant as ever, whilst companion Katy Manning’s charms, and mini-skirts, continue to delight. The late great Roger Delgado is once again on cracking form as the debonair diabolic Time Lord enemy, oozing charm and menace along with those fiery and all- consuming eyes of his, whilst his scenes opposing and conferring with Pertwee’s Doctor and the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) are always great fun and have now become classic.

The Master returns to cause trouble...

Along for the ride, and its alien invasion antics, are a bumbling political idiot (the kind that the shows producers liked to make fun of in their early seventies era-justifiably so, too!), Chin (played by Peter Bathurst), out to make a name for himself against UNIT and win acclaim from his superiors with the Axons and Bill Filer, a stereotyped Yankee action man spy (played by husky voiced Paul Grist) who, later in the story, has a fun fight scene with himself playing an alien doppelganger! Plus, scientists running about the local nuclear plant threatened by Axon interference- Don’t panic! Don’t panic! - include David Savile and a pre-IT AIN”T HALF HOT MUM’s Donald Hewlett.

Having looked at various stills of the episodes growing up as a kid, it was the Axons of the title, and the actions by UNIT against them (courtesy of those fine stuntmen talents of HAVOC), that intrigued me the most with this story, especially seeing the beasties in the flesh, so to speak, when a prop of one of the tentacled metamorphosing creature caught my real-life attention when it held court for a time in the far corner of the FORBIDDEN PLANET 2 book store back in the early eighties. Luckily, I was happily surprised how, on first viewing of THE CLAWS OF AXOS a few years later, the tale actually lived up to my expectations as both a monster tale and a UNIT showcase within the Pertwee era.

With repeat viewings to come years on, I continue to be very fond of it.

An Axon takes out two UNIT soldiers.

Its fuzzy transatlantic episodes 2 and 3 restored to better quality alongside the original UK PAL colour masters for 1 and 4, CLAWS is colourful and exciting, of which I’m sure younger viewers will particularly enjoy it, whilst older WHO fans in general can sit back and enjoy the warm feelings in their hearts remembering this classic era. They recently came back to fight the Doctor in a Big Finishaudio adventure, but I think the time is now right for the Axons to make an actual big screen return to the Modern WHO series.

The Axons bring out a test subject.

Out of the starting gate with the new Special Edition features is Axon Stations! A glistening documentary to compliment the tale, as co-writer Bob Baker, Ferguson, a very giggly Katy Manning, stuntman Derek Ware, and seventies script editor Terrance Dicks talk about the show and its sometimes difficult location filming. One of the best contributors here has to Baker, more known these days as the co-creator/writer of WALLACE AND GROMIT, who reminisces about his partnership with the late Dave Martin, the genesis of CLAWS and its original bonkers ideas pitch to script editor Dicks. There are also further notable contributions from supporting actors Paul Grist and Bernard Holley, the latter away from the golden face of his controlled monster performance.

Another major new documentary premiering on the disc concentrates itself on one of the key supporting stars of the Pertwee UNIT era, as the controversial and seemingly eccentric figure of John Levene, who played Saergent Benton in the show on and off for ten years, comes under the investigative microscope of WHO super fan Toby Hadoke, going all Louis Theroux on us, turning up in Bristol on a mission Living with Levene, determined to discover the true person behind the larger than life smile and personality. To be honest, I was fearful of watching this, worried about what might be dredged up and used as part of a potential character assassination piece against the actor, back on UK shores after years away in Los Angeles. But, I’m happy to say, this documentary, again from the reliable hands of Chris Chapman, though indeed quirky, is fun and a highlight of the BBC DVD extras range of Classic Who. In conversation with a quietly probing Hadoke, Levene comes across well: spirited and likable, and, whilst offering some intriguing anecdotes of his life and period spent on WHO, willingly, talks without any façade, wearing his heart on his sleeve with a what you see is what you get personality. Living with Levene is well worth a look.

Pertwee, Delgado and an Axon pose for a special publicity photo for the story.

Along with the standard info text and PDFs, the material from the previously deleted DVD release of CLAWS adds fine completism, including an audio commentary from a once again cheeky and endearing Katy Manning, Richard Franklin (who played UNIT man Mike Yates) and late producer Barry Letts, deleted and extended scenes (mostly from Episodes 1 and 2), this time in their entirety rather than edited highlights (which give us a wonderful rare look into the way the series was made), Now and Then looks at the various exterior filming locations (see an unchanged nuclear power station forty plus years on!), and Then and Now, where a younger Michael Ferguson talks about the process of making the story back in the seventies compared to the 2000’s. There’s also some great colour and black and white stills photography showing the detail and thought behind the design realisation of the golden Axons facades and their true alien spaghetti bolognaise monster forms. Finally, as a mouth watering taster of what will surely be some fine collectible goodies on the shows 50^th Anniversary next year, there’s a Coming Soon preview of next January’s DVD combo of the unfinished Tom Baker 1979 classic Shada, and the affectionate 1993 documentary Thirty Years of a Time Lord.

KOOL TV RATING: Another WHO classic gets the DVD treatment it deserves. Axos is calling Earth. Make sure you answer it! 4.5 out of 5

Get hold of the adventure here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Claws-Axos-Special/dp/B008KZVNKS/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1350481243&sr=1-1

KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DOCTOR WHO - THE DÆMONS' DVD

The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and the Master (Roger Delgado) lock horns with the alien Azal (Stephen Thorne) in the latest DOCTOR WHO classic DVD release. Images: BBC.

DOCTOR WHO – THE DÆMONS

Starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor and Katy Manning as Jo Grant.

Now available on DVD from 2ENTERTAIN/BBC WORLDWIDE

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Having previously experienced his first full colour intergalactic adventure with the Colony in Space, its back to Earth with a vengeance for our Time Lord hero, the Doctor (here in his Third Doctor persona, as played by Jon Pertwee), and his charming companion Jo Grant (the equally charming Katy Manning), as they fight sinister spectral and occult-based forces emerging from the no longer sleepy English village that soon lives up to its aptly titled moniker: Devil’s End. It’s a place where the Master, always the troublesome Jackanapes for our fine duo, plans to reawaken a dangerous alien force with designs on destroying their once scientific experiment called Earth. Suitably given a well deserved double-disc treatment, THE DÆMONS is finally unearthed and restored on DVD after nearly twenty years languishing on disintegrating VHS tape, and its an adventure widely regarded by the shows dedicated fan base as one of the greatest of all his escapist time travelling yarns.

DVD release trailer: Doctor Who - The Daemons DVD - Coming Soon Trailer (COPYRIGHT BBC AND 2 ENTERTAIN) - YouTube

Inspirationally born out of a brief audition piece originally developed for the casting sessions for Jo Grant, this is surely watered down Dennis Wheatley for kids and families to enjoy, full of the action, wit and charm that signified the early seventies WHO seasons, without offending any potential religious parties with its dark side trappings.

The Doctor and Jo (Katy Manning) pose for a publicity image.

Writer “Guy Leopald” (a pseudonym combination of Producer Barry Letts and long time writer/journalist friend Robert Sloman) knows how to make the most of the shows then strengths in story and production ability, crafting a tale that would capture the show at its best and win acclaim from audiences. It also presents some fine moments for the entire shows then Earthbound UNIT era ensemble to enjoy. Sergeant Benton and Captain Mike Yates, as played by John Levene and Richard Franklin, break into their civvie flairs and get the chance to spread their wings a bit in the story, running, thumping and shooting but with a few more choice moments of humour and military savvy, which is great to see-no wonder it’s the actors favourite story of their era. Stars Pertwee and Manning continue to be an audience friendly and formidable pairing as they dart to and from the action in their yellow roadster, Bessie (the vehicle even gets a few HERBIE-like moments, too!). It’s that moustached military wonder, the Brigadier (as personified by Nicholas Courtney), though, that easily has some of the story, and the series, best lines here, including the now legendary instructions to one of his UNIT soldiers when fighting a new foe: “Chap with wings, there. Five rounds rapid!”

Roger Delgado returns as the menacing Master.

There are some excellent supporting characters who make their mark, too, most notably Damaris Hayman as the quirky white witch/village protector Miss Hawthorne, whilst the much missed Roger Delgado’s Master is as irresistibly superb as always, looking more menacing than ever in his church vicars outfit and glasses, as well as later on as the head of a powerful sacrificial coven cult, resplendently nasty in his flowing red robes. At the time, many of the viewers were unhappy with an entire season comprising the Doctor’s Time Lord Moriarty as its main villain, but now, with the benefit of time and hindsight since his sad passing, Season Eight contains a veritable gold mine of great material for his character to be savored, especially in the actors always-terrific scenes opposite Pertwee.

The Doctor is held hostage by some mean country dancers!

After a deliberate few years break away from the series, Christopher Barry returns to the WHO directors chair for his first colour adventure and is clearly enjoying the material he’s working with: the first episodes atmosphere at the Devil’s End archaeological dig site and the build up to the cavern’s doomed opening is well generated (a special nod, too, to the character of the Dig’s Professor Horner, well realised by actor Robin Wentworth, who brings some fine biting edge to the character alongside his distaste for the news team from the fortuitously named BBC 3 channel!). Barry’s handling of the tales many action sequences are also generally good, against a fine backdrop of picturesque location filming in Aldbourne, Wiltshire (which take up at least two thirds of the story), that is first rate, and certainly giving the show a much glossier look than ever before.

Back in the studio, the director also makes the most of the new technology that has been developed in his absence, like the love it or hate it CSO (Colour Separation Overlay) techniques used so prominently in the Pertwee era. And, despite earlier criticism of the shows special effects by the press, some of the model work here would prove so realistic that, at the time of transmission, one viewer complained to the BBC over the corporation’s destruction of the village church at the end of the tale! Aw, bless!

The nasty little critter Bok the gargoyle (Stanley Mason) terrorises the Doctor and Jo.

So, you’ve got your story and characters, but a DOCTOR WHO story without its monsters just wouldn’t be the same, and THE DÆMONS presents us with several intriguing new creations to the shows legendary roster, including the menacing death delivering stone gargoyle come to life, Bok, played with menacing, death delivering impishness by dancer Stanley Mason, who makes his memorable mark in numerous effective moments throughout the tale, and also takes on the bazooka blasting boys of UNIT in the finale.

The Satan-like alien scientist, Azal (Stephen Thorne).

Sadly, the arrival of the much-anticipated DÆMON of the title, in the form of the mighty satanic-looking human with the bad chest hair problem-Azal- played with the immense I can take on Brian Blessed any day! vocal talent of Stephen Thorne (later to portray another equally mighty threat to the Doctor in the form of Omega, for the 10^th anniversary story THE THREE DOCTORS) is painfully underused in the tale: his major appearance in the fifth and final episode thwarted by poorly conceived writing when he quickly seems to go haywire on himself after Jo illogically, and as the best representative of humankind, places herself in harms way to protect the Doctor. The rushed ending dealt in the last five minutes made me wonder why the story wasn’t ultimately a six-parter-the extra episode could have made the story feel a whole lot rounder.

With regards to the overall picture quality of the story on DVD, the BBC, incredulously destroying so much of their WHO material in the seventies, sadly only kept the original part 4 in its original PAL master tape quality, so the rest of the episodes mix colour NTSC with black and white film. It’s an intriguing fusion from the BBC’s dedicated Restoration Team that is, expectedly, of varying quality, but this overall new regenerative attempt for the release is far superior to their original first efforts from 1992 for the VHS release-the opening two episodes of the DVD being particular standouts in comparison. My hat continues to be raised to the Restoration Team for their continued enthusiasm, dedication and fine work within limited time and resources.

Jon Pertwee and Damaris Hayman have fun on location.

Packed with super extras on a special second disc, Chris Chapman, who did a fine job with his prior documentary for THE FACE OF EVIL release, creates an interesting successor with The Devil Rides Out, his look at this 1971 tale, with vital contributions from script editor Terrance Dicks, Katy Manning, Richard Franklin, Damaris Hayman and the late Barry Letts, there’s also a short but sweet section of cinefootage from the time of the original filming, a look at the Restoration Team’s work in fusing the colour and black and white footage together from a 1992 TOMORROW’S WORLD programme (plus some other early test work), a photo gallery that feels a little incomplete (it doesn’t have much of the material that superfan Andrew Beech has in his private collection), a lively commentary from Terrance Dicks, Katy Manning, Richard Franklin and Damaris Hayman, PDFs and subtitled production notes. The discs icing on the cake has to be a lovely documentary tribute to the late Barry Letts, covering his behind the scenes work in and out of WHO, as an actor, writer, producer and director of note-with some lovely contributions from his sons Dominic and Crispin Letts and nice career footage. Remembering Barry Letts is a warm and deserving tribute to the much-liked man. Rounding the extras material off is a little bit of Mandrels monster mania, with a fun trailer for the next DVD release: Tom Baker’s lively NIGHTMARE OF EDEN.

DVD behind the scenes clip: Exclusive First Look - Aldbourne - Doctor Who: The Daemons - BBC - YouTube

With their having been a previous fan DVD –Return to Devil’s End-which saw many of the shows surviving cast travel back to the Aldbourne location and recall the shows making, I understand the BBC DVD team’s reasoning in not wanting to cover existing trod ground for their new release, but I feel that the use of a little bit of that archive material should have been included with regards to the late Jon Pertwee. The lack of Jon’s presence in any of the major behind the scenes related material (bar the cinefootage) is keenly felt-even if they hadn’t used any Return footage, its a shame that something from somewhere (an old talk/interview) couldn’t have been incorporated for the release, for what is such an important story of his five year TV reign as the Doctor.

There might some occasional tame moments here and there that date the production, within a genre type which could probably be explored again more effectively in the Modern WHO, but the vast majority of THE DÆMONS works very well after forty-one years. The general rushed nature of the show’s final episode, for me personally, robs it of its all-time classic status, and doesn’t get me country dancing around the veritable May pole, but, nonetheless, I can certainly see why it’s regarded so fondly. It triumphantly retains its position as one of the essential purchases of the DVD range: not only invocative of the Pertwee era but of Classic WHO, too!

KOOL TV RATINGS

STORY: A Beltane busting 4 out of 5

EXTRAS: 4.5 out of 5

Get THE DÆMONS on DVD here: Doctor Who: The Dæmons [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, Rodger Delgardo, Nicholas Courtney: Film & TV

It's also available in a special, limited edition slipcase (shown above) here: 

Doctor Who: The Daemons (Convention Exclusive Edition) @ Forbidden Planet