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From Amazon.co.uk
Doctor Who isn't really known for its villains having a high level of creepiness for anyone over the age of 10 but if you have any sort of clown phobia, this adventure is sure to confirm your worst fears about them. The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his companion Ace land on a barren planet that is hosting the Psychic Circus, which has fallen on hard times. Now, any soul unfortunate enough to stumble into the big top is forced to entertain in the centre ring with typically fatal results. The Doctor tries to find out who or what is behind it all and the resulting story comes off like an allegory for the series itself. After a creative slump in the mid-1980s, Doctor Who was finding its footing again, although the story is burdened by throwing as many disparate elements as possible (including an animated corpse, a wolf girl and even the Gods of Ragnarok) into the mix. The Gods, not unlike the audience, demand to be kept entertained, but for the most part the best the Doctor can do is some cheap conjuring tricks while waiting for the inevitable climax. The most effective element throughout is the menace provided by Ian Reddingon (a regular on EastEnders) as the Chief Clown, sending victims to their doom with wave of his hand and a perpetual smile painted on his face. --Ryan K. Johnson
Product Description
Another adventure for the seventh incarnation of the philanthropic Time Lord. The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace arrive on the planet Segonax, home of the Psychic Circus. Ruled over by the evil Chief Clown and his gang of robots, the Circus is designed to entertain a masked audience of three - and failure meets with instant death. Joined by the boastful Captain Cook and his companion, Mags, the Doctor and Ace enter the Circus talent contest - and find themselves having to compete with killer bus conductors and werewolves along the way!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
Greatest Show In The Galaxy is a cherishably surreal voyage into previously unknown territory. Taking as its starting point the oft-repeated maxim that clowns are scary (they are, you know), the story plays with some deliciously bizarre imagery, such as clowns driving a silent hearse, or brightly coloured kites being used to track down fleeing prisoners. As a subversion of childhood images of stability and reassurance, it really hits the mark - but it can also be enjoyed as that straightforward SF standby (much used in Dr Who) of an ancient evil about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world.
The story meanders slightly in parts 3 and 4, but these are minor quibbles in a production that boasts so much - among them chilling incidental music, terrific visual effects (especially the monsters, whom I am not giving away), and Ian Reddington's terrifying performance as the Chief Clown.
This is a McCoy story that you should buy and cherish.
The story meanders slightly in parts 3 and 4, but these are minor quibbles in a production that boasts so much - among them chilling incidental music, terrific visual effects (especially the monsters, whom I am not giving away), and Ian Reddington's terrifying performance as the Chief Clown.
This is a McCoy story that you should buy and cherish.
11 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
The once glorious Psychic Circus has set up on the desolate world of Segonax, and when the Doc + Ace arrive they are forced by the sinister Chief Clown to take part in a deadly talent show along with other ''visitors'', in which the performers are judged by an old-fashioned family of three and, if judged as unsatisfactory, are vapourised. With the aid of werewolf Mags and the Bellboy, the Doc sets out to discover the true identity of the unsettling family and winds up having a few brawls with robotic clowns.....
After the disasters of the late Baker/early McCoy eras Doctor Who finally gives us a great season, to which this story is a perfect end and the second best (after the truly awesome Rememberance). There's never a dull moment, with sinister robot clowns, murderous bus condutors, werewolves and zombies being just a few of the attractions. McCoy's at his best so far, while Ace really is starting to shine. Easily the scariest Who in years.
James
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By "cliveya"
Format:VHS Tape
If Doctor Who could frighten anyone over the age of ten, this is one story that could do it. There has always been something peculiarly sinister about clowns and it is amazing that the series really hadn't used them before. The visual effects are quite good and Ian Reddington is outstanding as the chief clown. T.P. McKenna is somewhat laid back in this adventure but I disagree with a previous reviewer that he was poor: remember, one can be sinister without doing very much. The way the Doctor and Ace are trapped in a very large and complex tent is excellent and the weird family in the audience are just spooky. This was an excellent Doctor Who of all time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
classic who
classic who .. one of my fave dr who episodes .. which really show s the artistic skill s of the classic who team the tape is perfect .. .yay lovely veiwing
Published 23 months ago by jodiatomic5
5.0 out of 5 stars
classy sophistication yet adhering intimately to the timeless Dr Who...
I lost interest as a child in Dr Who, with the "scary" daleks and horrible yet unconvincing monsters. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by julie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clown House
While there are undoubtedly some weaknesses and plot holes in this Seventh Doctor story, it remains one of the best 80s stories thanks to some menacing characters, McCoy's... Read more
Published on 5 May 2009 by Captain Pugwash
1.0 out of 5 stars
Ugh!
So, then. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. A tale with a decent reputation, a tale that has been well received by everyone else who's reviewed it so far. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2007 by ol
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping
The 7th Doctor passed me by the first time around as I was still in There Is No Doctor Worth Worth His Salt After Tom Baker mode.... Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2004 by John Heaton
5.0 out of 5 stars
A chilhood nightmare........................
When i first saw this story i was 4, and the only part of it that stood in my mind were the clowns! Read more
Published on 27 April 2003 by "bluebobbyb"
3.0 out of 5 stars
Claustrophobic horror but the ending is weak
Sylvester McCoy, despite his short tenure, ranks alongside Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker as one of the great Doctors. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2003 by Martin Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome, one and all to the Psychic Circus!
This story is one of the most creepy and chilling of the 7th doctors era(along with the curse of fenric). The story is well plotted with fantastic performances from all the cast. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2001 by "evilmarmalade"
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't believe what you read
I love Dr Who and (almost) everything about it. But this story is just barrel-scraping tosh. Sorry, but the camp clowns are just not frightening. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2001 by G. Bradley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wow
Wow this is quite a macbre story. I found the head clown rather creepy and the family sitting in the circus was wierd. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2000
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