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Product Description
Another adventure for the third incarnation of the famous timelord. The action this time takes place on Earth, with the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) coming up against all kinds of opposition within the British space program when he attempts to investigate some mysterious messages travelling to and from the returning spaceship Mars Probe 7. When the ship's astronauts arrive back home, suspicious circumstances prevent the Doctor from speaking to them, which only makes him more determined to get to the bottom of the matter.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By pertweefan
"The Ambassadors of Death" has a somewhat chequered history in more ways than one.
The credited writer, David Whitaker, had written for Doctor Who regularly during the Hartnell and Troughton eras, most recently in the latter's Cyberman tale "The Wheel in Space". However, despite his experience he was unable to present the production team with a script that satisfied them this time round and after a number of unsuccessful rewrites, they decided to cut their losses, pay him off and hand the task over to other writers.
The result was a number of writers becoming involved - Malcolm Hulke, Terrance Dicks and deputy script editor Trevor Ray. Two of these receive their overdue recognition on the sleeve of these discs.
The story shows the hand of Malcolm Hulke in some of its themes - such as zenophobia and characters who are not truly evil, but believe what they are doing is good. It also taps the current interest in space travel, driven by real-life current events.
Characterisation is good. Pertwee's Doctor is not wholly likeable - witness the way he chews Cornish's head off in episode one. This abrasive streak was very noticeable in most of his stories, particularly early on. Liz is just fine as an assistant - brave and resourceful and not "over the heads" of the viewers as feared by producer Barry Letts. Sad Caroline John only got a year in the role, but if Letts hadn't chosen to terminate her contract she would have had to do so anyway due to her pregnancy (which he was unaware of). She was of course replaced by Katy Manning, who was also excellent in different ways. Nick Courtney's Brigadier is in fine form, sharing the action scenes with the "other ranks" - no desk-bound issuer of orders !... Read more ›
The credited writer, David Whitaker, had written for Doctor Who regularly during the Hartnell and Troughton eras, most recently in the latter's Cyberman tale "The Wheel in Space". However, despite his experience he was unable to present the production team with a script that satisfied them this time round and after a number of unsuccessful rewrites, they decided to cut their losses, pay him off and hand the task over to other writers.
The result was a number of writers becoming involved - Malcolm Hulke, Terrance Dicks and deputy script editor Trevor Ray. Two of these receive their overdue recognition on the sleeve of these discs.
The story shows the hand of Malcolm Hulke in some of its themes - such as zenophobia and characters who are not truly evil, but believe what they are doing is good. It also taps the current interest in space travel, driven by real-life current events.
Characterisation is good. Pertwee's Doctor is not wholly likeable - witness the way he chews Cornish's head off in episode one. This abrasive streak was very noticeable in most of his stories, particularly early on. Liz is just fine as an assistant - brave and resourceful and not "over the heads" of the viewers as feared by producer Barry Letts. Sad Caroline John only got a year in the role, but if Letts hadn't chosen to terminate her contract she would have had to do so anyway due to her pregnancy (which he was unaware of). She was of course replaced by Katy Manning, who was also excellent in different ways. Nick Courtney's Brigadier is in fine form, sharing the action scenes with the "other ranks" - no desk-bound issuer of orders !... Read more ›
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Adie Barrett
Amazon Verified Purchase
I have some faint memories of Patrick Troughton's Doctor, including one recurring nightmare that originated from one long-lost serials that was explained many years later ("Power Of The Daleks" actually). However Jon Pertwee's cracking start to his tenure with shop display dummies breaking through windows in "Spearhed Ferom Space" left a deep impression and his fixing them meant I adopted him immediately to become "my" Doctor. I've long since believed that after going over to colour. the idea of three seven-parters after "Spearhead" in the 1970 series was meant to reduce the total number of sets required - a 25-week series could stretch to six different stories after all.
A bit of filler here and there is inevitable - as others note particular script difficulties with "Ambassadors" may have contributed to that - but to this fan of DW it isn't overly apparent. It's only much later I found out its turbulent history. David Whitaker first developed this story well into the future for the Second Doctor, plus of course his then-companions Jamie and Zoe, but when they all departed Whitaker re-wrote it for the new-start colour series. And again, then some more until, fed-up and unable to do it justice he was paid-off in full and effectively 'written-out' of DW in every sense of the term. Terrance Dicks, Malcolm Hulke and Trevor Ray contributed to the finished article, but whitaker's name was left as sole credit, considering his being mucked about as he was. It might have worked better with an episode or two less but as ever time was not on their side back then. Despite that, the result is a testament to his original idea and the persistence of the subsequent writers to realise it into a full adventure.... Read more ›
A bit of filler here and there is inevitable - as others note particular script difficulties with "Ambassadors" may have contributed to that - but to this fan of DW it isn't overly apparent. It's only much later I found out its turbulent history. David Whitaker first developed this story well into the future for the Second Doctor, plus of course his then-companions Jamie and Zoe, but when they all departed Whitaker re-wrote it for the new-start colour series. And again, then some more until, fed-up and unable to do it justice he was paid-off in full and effectively 'written-out' of DW in every sense of the term. Terrance Dicks, Malcolm Hulke and Trevor Ray contributed to the finished article, but whitaker's name was left as sole credit, considering his being mucked about as he was. It might have worked better with an episode or two less but as ever time was not on their side back then. Despite that, the result is a testament to his original idea and the persistence of the subsequent writers to realise it into a full adventure.... Read more ›
58 of 69 people found the following review helpful
1970's often overlooked 7 parter "The Ambassadors of Death" is a classic Jon Pertwee UNIT serial with some great sets and convincing aliens thrown in to boot! When I first watched this story some time back, I was very impressed with how well it stands up today, the sets and the costumes are very "real" and one can actually imagine that the Martians were threatening to destroy the Earth in the early 1970's. Jon Pertwee, on only his third outing as the 3rd Doctor is sublime, his penchant for leadership and intelligence shines through wonderfully here, especially the scenes aboard the Martian craft. As with all other stories of the 7th series, UNIT is largely involved with events. Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart is on hand to assist the newly regenerated Time Lord. I always adored the love / hate relationship that the Brig and the Doctor had, they always played off one another brilliantly. Jon Pertwee and Nic Courtney had by now figured out how they were going to play both respective characters and I am certainly glad that they figured it out so well.
Series 7 companion Liz Shaw as played by the ever-lovely Caroline John is another factor to the success of this mammoth story, she certainly is as much a part of this escapade as Jon and her acting is electric throughout. I always felt it a shame when series 8 opened and Liz was nowhere to be seen, having departed the Doctor's company and run off back to Cambridge, still, the softener to this upsetting knowledge was the effervescent Katy Manning's new companion Jo Grant.... Read more ›
Series 7 companion Liz Shaw as played by the ever-lovely Caroline John is another factor to the success of this mammoth story, she certainly is as much a part of this escapade as Jon and her acting is electric throughout. I always felt it a shame when series 8 opened and Liz was nowhere to be seen, having departed the Doctor's company and run off back to Cambridge, still, the softener to this upsetting knowledge was the effervescent Katy Manning's new companion Jo Grant.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good yarn
This is one I don't recall having ever watched but I really enjoyed it. I thought at first that it might have been inspired by 'The Quatermass Experiment'.
Published 4 days ago by M COWIE
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Tremendous Bit of Telly
The Ambassadors of Death is one of those great examples of what Doctor Who can do well - action packed, relevant and morally strong science fiction. Read more
Published 17 days ago by R. Foster
5.0 out of 5 stars
Doctor Who - The Ambassadors of Death DVD
Contact has been lost with Mars Probe 7 since it set off on its return journey to Earth.
Part 1:All contact has been lost with the Mars Probe 7 space mission. Read more
Part 1:All contact has been lost with the Mars Probe 7 space mission. Read more
Published 2 months ago by kk
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Ambassadors of a Boring Death.
The Ambassadors of a Boring Death
So it's been re-colourised whoopedo!!! At seven episodes it's still too long and too boring for anyone under 25. Read more
So it's been re-colourised whoopedo!!! At seven episodes it's still too long and too boring for anyone under 25. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cliff Hanger
4.0 out of 5 stars
Doctor Who-The Ambassadors of Death
One of the better Jon Pertwee stories from what is definitely his best season, seasmlessly recolourised after the BBC rather shortsightedly destroyed the original colour version... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Tony
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent. A Must Have.
Having read before that this story was excellent, I purchased this DVD with high hopes. Those hopes were met. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sam Davern
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic
I thought this story was going to drag at 7 episode's but enjoyed it nonetheless , see if you can count how many times characters say "Its my moral duty!" in a cliffhanger.
Published 5 months ago by Peter Clarke
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great DVD, well worth the wait
It's brilliant that this story is finally available to watch in colour in it's entirety after over 40 years, and it's a great story that fits in with other usual Earth-bound,... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Koopatroopa
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dr Who - The Ambassadors of Death
"Ambassadors of Death" is definitely the weakest link in season seven. However, the poor reputation it had for so many years was undeserved. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Guy Blythman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not great!
I first saw this in the early 90s on UK Gold in what was then very poor black and white, with sound that was barely audible in places. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Andy
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