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Amazon.co.uk Review
The 1979 Doctor Who adventure "The Creature from the Pit" finds Tom Baker's fourth Doctor in decidedly tongue-in-cheek mode on the planet Cloris, a world where metal is in such short supply its possession means power, and where a very large green alien is annoyed at being kept prisoner in a pit. As so often the Doctor gets caught between two feuding parties, here the power-crazed Lady Adrasta (Myra Frances) and her court, and a bunch of Pythonesque bandits led by John Bryans. This motley crew reveal the influence of script editor Douglas Adams, while more fun is to had from Baker's interaction with the astrologer Organon, played by Geoffrey "Catweazle" Bayldon in a role which recalls Adams' Slartibartfast from The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
At four episodes a thin story is over-stretched, the finale seems tacked on, and the shoddy creature effects are more remarkably phallic than anything in the same year's cinema release, Alien. On the plus side, Lalla Ward in her third story grows nicely into her role as Romana, David Brierley takes over from John Leeson as the voice of robot dog K-9 and the set design and costumes are well up to the show's late-70s high standards. Not a patch on the immediately preceding "City of Death", but an entertaining Whovian pantomime nonetheless. --Gary S Dalkin
DVD Description
Making a forced materialisation on Chloris, the Doctor, Romana and K9 become embroiled in the political machinations of its ruler, the Lady Adrasta. The lush vegetation of the planet's surface hides a ragtag group of bandits, a giant eggshell, man-eating Wolfweeds and, within the depths of an old mining pit, something very large has a terrible secret which threatens the destruction of Chloris itself...
Special Features • Commentary by Lalla Ward (Romana), Myra Frances (Lady Adrasta), Director Christopher Barry and Visual Effects Designer Mat Irvine • Christopher Barry: Director Veteran Doctor Who director Christopher Barry, on location in the Wiltshire village of Aldbourne, talks about his career • Team Erato The BBC Visual Effects crew talk about the problems they faced building and operating Erato, with Mat Irvine, Steve Bowman, Steve Lucas and Morag McLean • Animal Magic The Fourth Doctor tells viewers about the creatures he has met on his travels • Radio Times Billings (PDF DVD-ROM – PC/Mac) • Production Information Subtitles • Photo Gallery • Extended Scene • Coming Soon Trailer • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality
This story was originally broadcast on BBC1 between 27th October – 17th November 1979 Produced by Graham Williams Directed by Christopher Barry
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am often astonished how quick Doctor Who fans are to put down this story, while praising its immediate predecessor, City of Death, to the skies. To me they are two sides of the same coin: zany plots, outsize characters, witty scripting (and script-editing) by the incomparable Douglas Adams, and a stellar performance from Tom Baker. And the effects? Well, if one were to believe everything said about the awfulness of the production, one would probably be pleasantly surprised to find that it isn't as ghastly as all that (rather like Weng-Chiang's much-maligned rat). Yes, there are some sub-par shots, but as a whole there is quite a bit of clever artfulness at work - no different from elsewhere in 70s Doctor Who.
On the whole though, I find that the charm and inventiveness of the story wins out over all objections. Lady Adastra is a deliciously arch villainess, and the character of Organon, the canny fraud of an astrologer, is a sheer delight. And what to my 10-year-old self was an excellent primer in economics, remains a superb cautionary tale about corrupt dictatorships that willingly impoverish their people by manipulating scarcity and holding onto lucrative monopolies. Doctor Who at its very best.
On the whole though, I find that the charm and inventiveness of the story wins out over all objections. Lady Adastra is a deliciously arch villainess, and the character of Organon, the canny fraud of an astrologer, is a sheer delight. And what to my 10-year-old self was an excellent primer in economics, remains a superb cautionary tale about corrupt dictatorships that willingly impoverish their people by manipulating scarcity and holding onto lucrative monopolies. Doctor Who at its very best.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"What is that thing in the pit?"
"We call it the creature."
"Ah, that's original."
With dialogue like that it's clear that The Creature from the Pit is not one of the more serious Doctor Who adventures. Constantly undercutting the formulaic aspects with knowing dialogue, it's not for all tastes but surprisingly considering its poor reputation, it's actually rather good fun if you take it as a tongue-in-cheek romp. While this almost became de rigueur for some later entries, here it's still fresh enough to be enjoyable rather than wearing even though it has the series' silliest creature since The Web Planet back in William Hartnell's day. Set on an uncultivated planet where metal is scarce and a ruthless ruler jealously guards her monopoly inbetween feeding disgraced courtiers to an unseen creature in a pit (in case you were wondering about that title), there's a bit of a pantomime feeling to it, be it the vicious `wolf weed' that needs to be whipped away like untamed lions, the Doctor reading Teach Yourself Tibetan while musing over an escape or a Fagin-like bandit chief who you keep on expecting to break out into a verse or two of You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two. But nothing can prepare you for the moment when you finally see the Creature - which unfortunately looks like a giant Day-Glo green willy with rather large testicles. Even worse, the Doctor's first attempt to communicate with it looks like he's having oral sex with it!
If you can get over that - and it takes quite an effort of will to do so - the story is actually pretty decent, the characters lively and the pacing nifty, showing that while producer Graham Williams' tenure was drawing to a close and good ideas were getting harder to come by the team could still put together an entertaining show in spite of everything.
Once again there's a solid collection of extras on the DVD: audio commentary by Lalla Ward, Myra Frances, Christopher Barry and Mat Irvine, an extended scene, featurettes on director Christopher Barry and the making of the unfortunate Creature, an extract from Animal Magic with Tom Baker talking in character about some of the creatures he has encountered and the obligatory stills gallery and trivia track. It'd be hard to make a case for this being an essential purchase for any but Classic Who fans, but it is fun. And remember, if you can help anybody - like preventing them from being eaten by a monster - then do so, they might be grateful.
"We call it the creature."
"Ah, that's original."
With dialogue like that it's clear that The Creature from the Pit is not one of the more serious Doctor Who adventures. Constantly undercutting the formulaic aspects with knowing dialogue, it's not for all tastes but surprisingly considering its poor reputation, it's actually rather good fun if you take it as a tongue-in-cheek romp. While this almost became de rigueur for some later entries, here it's still fresh enough to be enjoyable rather than wearing even though it has the series' silliest creature since The Web Planet back in William Hartnell's day. Set on an uncultivated planet where metal is scarce and a ruthless ruler jealously guards her monopoly inbetween feeding disgraced courtiers to an unseen creature in a pit (in case you were wondering about that title), there's a bit of a pantomime feeling to it, be it the vicious `wolf weed' that needs to be whipped away like untamed lions, the Doctor reading Teach Yourself Tibetan while musing over an escape or a Fagin-like bandit chief who you keep on expecting to break out into a verse or two of You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two. But nothing can prepare you for the moment when you finally see the Creature - which unfortunately looks like a giant Day-Glo green willy with rather large testicles. Even worse, the Doctor's first attempt to communicate with it looks like he's having oral sex with it!
If you can get over that - and it takes quite an effort of will to do so - the story is actually pretty decent, the characters lively and the pacing nifty, showing that while producer Graham Williams' tenure was drawing to a close and good ideas were getting harder to come by the team could still put together an entertaining show in spite of everything.
Once again there's a solid collection of extras on the DVD: audio commentary by Lalla Ward, Myra Frances, Christopher Barry and Mat Irvine, an extended scene, featurettes on director Christopher Barry and the making of the unfortunate Creature, an extract from Animal Magic with Tom Baker talking in character about some of the creatures he has encountered and the obligatory stills gallery and trivia track. It'd be hard to make a case for this being an essential purchase for any but Classic Who fans, but it is fun. And remember, if you can help anybody - like preventing them from being eaten by a monster - then do so, they might be grateful.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I was given TCFTP by a colleague after we got talking about the old Dr Whos. And did it live up to my memories all those years ago??
Yes and no.
What sweeps the Who adventures along is the story adn for the first two episodes this is fabulous. I love the idea of human sacrifice to a monster at the bottom of a hole. And the whole ceremony and living in fear of being thrown to this monster is wonderfully exotic and alien. But as the story progresses it loses menace, and by the end we are back in space with another complicated climax. It starts wonderfully, but loses it in the last episode.
Best things: Lady Adrasta
The Wolfweeds
The murderous Karela
Creeping around the pit scared of the monster
Tom Baker and Lalla Ward
Worstbits: The special effects of the monster (at one point itlooks like the Dr is savaged by a large green blanket)
The bandits (who were terrible jewish miser stereotypes)
Overall: I enjoyed it, and despite rubbish special effects it has brought back my love for the genre. I've started collecting again..
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Leave the blob alone.
Don't normally post reviews but I'm going to stand up for Creature From The Pit - it's a shedload of fun. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jmrichardson
Hilarious, Brilliant and an all round great story
A great Doctor Who story full of laughs, shocks and great acting espically by Myra Frances who is wonderful as the evil Lady Adrasta!
Published 13 months ago by D Maskell
Tom Baker pits his wits against big bag of green goo
I have read with interest the reviews posted for this serial, from Mr Iredale's loathing of it to the most recent reviewer's gushing praise. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Scaroth, Last of the Jagaroth
Better than I thought
Just don't laugh at the monster... Geoffrey Bayldon is a delight to watch, Tom Baker just get's all loud and sweaty.
Published 17 months ago by Champs
Good solid story, but an unbelievable monster!
This story has taken a lot of heat over the years. Every show has both its stronger and its weaker moments. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Daron G. Woodward
VERY GOOD BUT NOT EXCELLENT !
The Creature from the Pit is often an overlooked story because of the monster (or the creature from the pit) Erato which was made full-size on a very small budget made out of... Read more
Published 21 months ago by JJG
green blobby thing licks baker
I do remember this story when first transmitted, and being a child, this was the only doctor who story to have made me hide behind the sofa...believe it or not!!! Read more
Published 22 months ago by dazza
Highs Amongst the Lows
Starring Tom Baker and Lalla Ward as our time travelling duo. This adventure sees the Time Lords lands on the planet of Chloris after being drawn there by an emergency beacon. Read more
Published on 28 May 2010 by JA Fairhurst
"Pit and Miss"
Sorry about the pun. This is another one of those stories that would be better thought of if it did not have such an attrocious monster. Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by Bob Marlowe
A matter of metals
A four part Doctor Who story from 1979, featuring Tom Baker as the Doctor and Lalla Ward as his travelling companion Romana. Read more
Published on 18 May 2010 by Paul Tapner
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