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Amazon.co.uk Review
Tom Baker's fourth season of Doctor Who marked a change from the exploration of Gothic horror. The unusually satirical "The Sun Makers" finds the Doctor, Leela (Louise Jameson) and robot dog K9 involved in a struggle against capitalism-gone-mad at the outer limits of the solar system. The Earth exhausted, mankind has colonised Pluto and lives in six vast "megropoli" lit by artificial suns. These colonies are run by The Company, with drugged human "work units" slaving simply to pay their funeral expenses. With video monitors, brain-washing and ruthless repression there is an obvious a debt to 1984, the white corridors echoing George Lucas' THX 1138 (1970) and the action a low-rent Star Wars. Michael Keating, who played a rebel in Dalek creator Terry Nation's Blake's 7 (1978-1981), is similarly cast as a reluctant freedom fighter. There are plentiful pot-shots at over-zealous taxation and bureaucracy--Robert Holmes wrote the story as revenge on the Inland Revenue after a frustrating VAT audit--and splendidly theatrical performances from Richard Leech and Henry Woolf as the ultra-capitalist villains. With no monsters and little conventional horror, Baker is on fine form in a briskly directed four-part comedy-thriller distinguished by its political edge. --Gary S Dalkin
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I must have missed this one on the original run on TV and also in the Video release. Quite unusual then to watch a Tom Baker era story for the first time. The other reviews pretty much sum it up. Dated sets, low budget, etc. I enjoyed the performances though and in particular Louise Jameson's Leela - I'd not seen one of her stories for a while.
The extras are a little under par by Doctor Who standards. The Dudley Simpson featurette is good. The 'making of' documentary is passable. The Day of the Dalkes trailer is very good! The out-takes are ridiculously short but it makes you realise that the team behind the DVDs try and get everything they can into them - we are normally spoiled by the extras!
The extras are a little under par by Doctor Who standards. The Dudley Simpson featurette is good. The 'making of' documentary is passable. The Day of the Dalkes trailer is very good! The out-takes are ridiculously short but it makes you realise that the team behind the DVDs try and get everything they can into them - we are normally spoiled by the extras!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Yes, the acting is hammy & not taken seriously in the slightest, but what do you expect from a Tom Baker Story!
I know.. Not all of Tom's are like that. But this one certainly is! In fact, It's like watching something more like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or Monty Python!
If like me, you are interested in Politics, you'll love this story for it's satirical humour & blatant disregard for Bureaucracy! All aimed at mocking the system! Bob Holmes never ceases to amaze me with lines like "These Taxes.. They are like Sacrifices?" Asks Leela. "Sort of, only paying Taxes is more painful!"
There are lots of little things in there that make this a very entertaining story. Of course, the children wouldn't have ever cottoned on, but this isn't meant just for children. (You hear me me Moffat?!)
Contrast is met with confined studio shots, & capacious film & location material. As well as a balance of tongue in cheek humour, pugnacious violence & horror. Who ever thought of being "Steamed" to prolong the pain of death to satisfy the villain's nefarious thirst for torture of his victims, has a sick mind. But an innovative one! (Ever heard of that word Moffat!)
The word for today's story is "Avarice", & everyone is obsessed with monies! This worryingly bares resemblance to today's predicament, what with the constant fear of recession & the collapse of the euro.
This story isn't one of the more memorable ones sure, but that's not to say that it can't entertain you from start to finish. There are many good moments in here like the hilarious initial meeting of the Doctor & the Gather; all that talk of raspberry leaves & earth's departure or what ever. The point is they play off each other just perfectly! It's K9's first proper outing. Leela shows her propensity for violence & has some great lines like "Touch me again, & I'll fillet you" & "Before I die, I'll see this rat hole ankle-deep in blood... That is a promised thing". Leela really saves the day in this one, & is such a joy to watch. (Unlike companions now)
A Good Doctor Who story doesn't need to be epic, action packed, sexed up, frenetic, romantic, historic, & what ever else you can throw in there to attract as many viewers as possible. And this little number proves it. It's a charming, cosy, well written, even paced, entertaining little trouble maker of a story! One that I have frequented on many occasions. And due to its re-watch value, it's a story I shall be visiting again. (Thank goodness its lastability isn't cut short due to the entire story relying on a twist at the end or something! Especially one that doesn't make sense.. Ever..)
"Perhaps everyone runs from the Taxman!" - Leela
I know.. Not all of Tom's are like that. But this one certainly is! In fact, It's like watching something more like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or Monty Python!
If like me, you are interested in Politics, you'll love this story for it's satirical humour & blatant disregard for Bureaucracy! All aimed at mocking the system! Bob Holmes never ceases to amaze me with lines like "These Taxes.. They are like Sacrifices?" Asks Leela. "Sort of, only paying Taxes is more painful!"
There are lots of little things in there that make this a very entertaining story. Of course, the children wouldn't have ever cottoned on, but this isn't meant just for children. (You hear me me Moffat?!)
Contrast is met with confined studio shots, & capacious film & location material. As well as a balance of tongue in cheek humour, pugnacious violence & horror. Who ever thought of being "Steamed" to prolong the pain of death to satisfy the villain's nefarious thirst for torture of his victims, has a sick mind. But an innovative one! (Ever heard of that word Moffat!)
The word for today's story is "Avarice", & everyone is obsessed with monies! This worryingly bares resemblance to today's predicament, what with the constant fear of recession & the collapse of the euro.
This story isn't one of the more memorable ones sure, but that's not to say that it can't entertain you from start to finish. There are many good moments in here like the hilarious initial meeting of the Doctor & the Gather; all that talk of raspberry leaves & earth's departure or what ever. The point is they play off each other just perfectly! It's K9's first proper outing. Leela shows her propensity for violence & has some great lines like "Touch me again, & I'll fillet you" & "Before I die, I'll see this rat hole ankle-deep in blood... That is a promised thing". Leela really saves the day in this one, & is such a joy to watch. (Unlike companions now)
A Good Doctor Who story doesn't need to be epic, action packed, sexed up, frenetic, romantic, historic, & what ever else you can throw in there to attract as many viewers as possible. And this little number proves it. It's a charming, cosy, well written, even paced, entertaining little trouble maker of a story! One that I have frequented on many occasions. And due to its re-watch value, it's a story I shall be visiting again. (Thank goodness its lastability isn't cut short due to the entire story relying on a twist at the end or something! Especially one that doesn't make sense.. Ever..)
"Perhaps everyone runs from the Taxman!" - Leela
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Much analysis has been made here of the deeper meaning behind Robert Holmes' script for this four part adventure in the middle of Tom Baker's fourth season as The Doctor. But it's unnecessary really, all you need to know is that this is a pretty good run around with a few nail biting cliffhangers and some moments of humour. It's a bit more evenly paced than some serials, and is a thoroughly good watch as a result.
The Doctor and Leela find themselves on Pluto, but a Pluto which has a breathable atmosphere and six suns. The human colony are trapped in an endless servitude in order to pay off their taxes, and things are ripe for rebellion. Just the sort of situation the Doctor revels in.
It's a pretty well done piece with lots of entertainment. It's an obvious move away from the darkly gothic stories of the previous seasons, and the lighter tone is pulled off byu Baker and co with aplomb. Leela in particular is very well written in this series, and gets lots to do and all of it in keeping with her character. As usaual with Robert Holmes there are plenty of interesting side characters, especially Richard Leech's Gatherer Hade, a pompous man with a grandiloquent turn of phrase. It would have been so easy for it to slip into a parody, but writer and actor manage to imbue the character with enough personality to prevent it. William Simons (better known today as Heartbeat's Ventriss) makes a wonderful revolutionary leader.
The usual standards here from 2Entertain. The picture quality is top notch, and as good as it can be. There are some interesting extras, including the usual fascinating info text notes. The short featurette on Dudley Simpson is interesting if a bit rushed, and the Tommentary is quite a delight. My only gripe is all the idents at the start of the disc, these seems to be getting longer with each release and it seems like an age of sitting through interminable BBC, 2Entertain and Dr Who idents along with all the usual warning notices before one actually gets to the menu.
All in all a 4 star effort. It's not one of the true classics, but it's a decent and entertaining story which 2Entertain have done a good job in cleaning up and getting extras sorted.
The Doctor and Leela find themselves on Pluto, but a Pluto which has a breathable atmosphere and six suns. The human colony are trapped in an endless servitude in order to pay off their taxes, and things are ripe for rebellion. Just the sort of situation the Doctor revels in.
It's a pretty well done piece with lots of entertainment. It's an obvious move away from the darkly gothic stories of the previous seasons, and the lighter tone is pulled off byu Baker and co with aplomb. Leela in particular is very well written in this series, and gets lots to do and all of it in keeping with her character. As usaual with Robert Holmes there are plenty of interesting side characters, especially Richard Leech's Gatherer Hade, a pompous man with a grandiloquent turn of phrase. It would have been so easy for it to slip into a parody, but writer and actor manage to imbue the character with enough personality to prevent it. William Simons (better known today as Heartbeat's Ventriss) makes a wonderful revolutionary leader.
The usual standards here from 2Entertain. The picture quality is top notch, and as good as it can be. There are some interesting extras, including the usual fascinating info text notes. The short featurette on Dudley Simpson is interesting if a bit rushed, and the Tommentary is quite a delight. My only gripe is all the idents at the start of the disc, these seems to be getting longer with each release and it seems like an age of sitting through interminable BBC, 2Entertain and Dr Who idents along with all the usual warning notices before one actually gets to the menu.
All in all a 4 star effort. It's not one of the true classics, but it's a decent and entertaining story which 2Entertain have done a good job in cleaning up and getting extras sorted.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
"This is the moment when I get a real feeling of job satisfaction!"
Viewers of 'The Sun Makers' who had a year previously been treated to 'The Robots of Death' and 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang' must have wondered what had happened to 'Doctor Who' in... Read more
Published 3 months ago by I. R. Cragg
All-singing, all-dancing, all-taxing
Ah, this is remembered as being one of Dr Who's greatest moments of satire.
In truth it is little more than a generic example of "the Doctor arrives on a planet ruled... Read more
In truth it is little more than a generic example of "the Doctor arrives on a planet ruled... Read more
Published 7 months ago by StormSworder
political satire
From Tom Baker's fourth season as the time lord, The Sunmakers is in my opinion an excellent and subtle satire about the tax system and how an alien race uses economic power to... Read more
Published 7 months ago by genre mania
The Sun Makers
This is my review as written for my blog: The Patient Centurion
The Sun Makers is brilliant. Read more
The Sun Makers is brilliant. Read more
Published 8 months ago by T. P. Cross
Only my claims...
One of the most hilarious myths in Who fan culture is that 'Sun Makers' is a right-wing allegory about the horrors of the big state and punitive taxation. Read more
Published 8 months ago by James F. Graham
Peril on Pluto
The fourth story from Tom Baker's fourth year as Doctor Who comes to DVD. Originally broadcast in 1977, all four parts are complete on a single disc. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Paul Tapner
"Perhaps everyone runs from the taxman..."
The Sun Makers marked the midway point of Tom Baker's tenure as the Doctor and is usually seen as the point where the stories moved from being violent and scary to witty and rather... Read more
Published 9 months ago by M. Evans
Trashy, but hey...it's Doctor Who
Nice Doctor Who Serial. Loved the making of feature. If you love Doctor Who, you probably don't need a review, you buy the DVD anyway. Read more
Published 9 months ago by MS
taxing one's patience
Another pedestrian entry from the era of graham williams. Once past the slightly amusing links with the Uk's tax system there is not much to hold your interest.
Published 10 months ago by sean cutter
Up the revolution....
This sees The Doctor and Leela land on Pluto, only to find that it has been run my a meglomaniac taxman, and a company which must be priased at all times, of course chuck in a... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Badwolf
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