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Product Description
Gallifrey. Planet of the Time Lords. The Doctor has finally come home, but not by choice.
Summoned by a vision from The Matrix, he is drawn into web of political intrigue and assassination. Nothing is quite what it seems, and in the shadows lurks his oldest and deadliest enemy...
Special Features: • Commentary by Tom Baker [The Doctor], Bernard Horsfall [Goth] and Philip Hinchcliffe [Producer] • The Matrix Revisited Cast, crew and critics look back at the making of this story, featuring director David Maloney, designer Roger Murray-Leach and the founder of the National Viewers and Listeners Association, Mary Whitehouse • The Gallifreyan Candidate A look at Richard Condon’s novel The Manchurian Candidate, a major influence on the plot of The Deadly Assassin • The Frighten Factor What exactly is Doctor Who’s ‘Frighten Factor’? A diverse panel of experts try to answer the question • Radio Times Billings Listings for this story presented in a PDF file [DVD-ROM – PC/Mac] • Photo Gallery • Coming Soon Trailer • Production Information Subtitles • Easter Egg • Digitally remastered picture and sound quality
This story was originally broadcast on BBC1 between 30th October – 20th November 1976
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By John
Format:DVD
It's good to see The Deadly Assassin out on dvd as my VHS tape had deteriorated to near-unwatchability. Viewing it again I was struck by how well-paced, gripping and witty it is, dragging only a little in the final episode, which has rather a lot of backstory shoe-horned into it. I was also struck by something I haven't seen anyone else comment on: there are no women in it whatsoever, not even as extras - & this single-sex exclusivity contributes to the Oxbridge College/House of Lords feel of the story.
The extras are a mixed bag; a mildly interesting piece on the feud between Mary Whitehouse and the BBC over the horror content of the show being followed by a somehow rather slight piece about how children perceive fictional representations of frightening situations and things. The 'making of' is okay - and reminds the viewer of how unusual the story - a political paranoia thriller - was in terms of Doctor Who; and there's a decently-done documentary on parallels between The Deadly Assassin and The Manchurian Candidate.
Rather more interesting to me was an interview with a long-time fan, who reminded us that, at the time it was broadcast, the story was most controversial for up-ending the previously-presented image of the Time Lords as elevated, aloof, almost god-like beings. In showing them as duplicitous, corrupt and self-serving, and possessed of technology that the wider universe would see as dated and anything but elevated, it was scandalously revisionist. As a youngster I remember being offended at the time by the elements I now find witty, sophisticated and wholly enjoyable.... Read more ›
The extras are a mixed bag; a mildly interesting piece on the feud between Mary Whitehouse and the BBC over the horror content of the show being followed by a somehow rather slight piece about how children perceive fictional representations of frightening situations and things. The 'making of' is okay - and reminds the viewer of how unusual the story - a political paranoia thriller - was in terms of Doctor Who; and there's a decently-done documentary on parallels between The Deadly Assassin and The Manchurian Candidate.
Rather more interesting to me was an interview with a long-time fan, who reminded us that, at the time it was broadcast, the story was most controversial for up-ending the previously-presented image of the Time Lords as elevated, aloof, almost god-like beings. In showing them as duplicitous, corrupt and self-serving, and possessed of technology that the wider universe would see as dated and anything but elevated, it was scandalously revisionist. As a youngster I remember being offended at the time by the elements I now find witty, sophisticated and wholly enjoyable.... Read more ›
37 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Two little words: Bob Holmes! So get it! Not convinced? Well Read on.
If you're not a fan, trampling over people to grab their own copy first then delve in with an open mind!
This is not your average Dr Who & had Mary Whitehouse raging at the BBC. This is a time where everyone just agreed to disregard every rule of children's Science Fiction & created a one off vision of Dr Who at it's most horrifying.
It's virtually impossible for me to write this review without saying the words: Dark, Gothic or Horror. Because it represents all those words perfectly!
Dark: Because of the lack of over lit sets, the Masters clobber & the fact that the theme of story is "The death of many, to save one life"
Gothic: Because of the casts robe costumes, Catheaderal like sets, Church Organ Music & a certain characters name!
And..
Horror: Because the Doctor gets Tortured, shot, drowned, framed, almost poisoned, he falls off a cliff, smacked over the head with a Gun handle.. it goes on! Also, the Master looks like he has had all the skin on his face ripped off & gave every kid who's parents complained; Nightmares!
This is one of my favourites because of it's uniqueness. We see Galifrey at it's best, the companion is dropped & Dr Who has to use cunning, violence & guile in order to defeat his arch enemy.
There is so much more about this story I could say but I'll leave that to the countless number of fans who praise this story!
So if you haven't seen it, then do so before you die because everything about this story apart from the fake spider in the bush is simply commendable & gives a very apt representation of how Dr Who could have been a perfect show if it was aimed at adults & not children.... Read more ›
If you're not a fan, trampling over people to grab their own copy first then delve in with an open mind!
This is not your average Dr Who & had Mary Whitehouse raging at the BBC. This is a time where everyone just agreed to disregard every rule of children's Science Fiction & created a one off vision of Dr Who at it's most horrifying.
It's virtually impossible for me to write this review without saying the words: Dark, Gothic or Horror. Because it represents all those words perfectly!
Dark: Because of the lack of over lit sets, the Masters clobber & the fact that the theme of story is "The death of many, to save one life"
Gothic: Because of the casts robe costumes, Catheaderal like sets, Church Organ Music & a certain characters name!
And..
Horror: Because the Doctor gets Tortured, shot, drowned, framed, almost poisoned, he falls off a cliff, smacked over the head with a Gun handle.. it goes on! Also, the Master looks like he has had all the skin on his face ripped off & gave every kid who's parents complained; Nightmares!
This is one of my favourites because of it's uniqueness. We see Galifrey at it's best, the companion is dropped & Dr Who has to use cunning, violence & guile in order to defeat his arch enemy.
There is so much more about this story I could say but I'll leave that to the countless number of fans who praise this story!
So if you haven't seen it, then do so before you die because everything about this story apart from the fake spider in the bush is simply commendable & gives a very apt representation of how Dr Who could have been a perfect show if it was aimed at adults & not children.... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
a four part doctor who story from tom baker's third year in the role comes to dvd. at the time when he was so into the part and on top of his game that he could ask the producers if the doctor could travel without a companion. That wasn't a suggestion they were going to go with long term, but they do try this one companionless adventure in the meantime.
summoned back to his homeworld gallifrey at the time of a change in leadership, the doctor arrives just in time to try and stop someone killing the outgoing president. only there's more going on here than meets the eye. framed for murder the doctor has to race against time to save his homeworld from an old enemy.
studio bound in the first second and fourth episodes but this doesnt seem to matter. all thanks to some good set design and some excellent costumes. the supporting cast all play it dead straight and turn in good work as a result. particularly appealing are george pravda as castellan spandrell - old and jaded but no fool - and erik chitty as his somewhat befuddled assistant engin.
the third episode is set almost entirely in a virtual reality setting with the doctor battling a villain there. it conjures up some pretty nightmarish imagery. and even though it was made in 1977 it's so well done that no cgi would enhance the effect at all.
the first cliffhanger resolution is perhaps a little bit of a cheat, adopting the old republic serials technique of getting out of things via judicious re-editing, and the third is rather violent and graphic and got the show into a lot of hot water. but those are minor complaints. this is classic who and it's great to have it on dvd at last.... Read more ›
summoned back to his homeworld gallifrey at the time of a change in leadership, the doctor arrives just in time to try and stop someone killing the outgoing president. only there's more going on here than meets the eye. framed for murder the doctor has to race against time to save his homeworld from an old enemy.
studio bound in the first second and fourth episodes but this doesnt seem to matter. all thanks to some good set design and some excellent costumes. the supporting cast all play it dead straight and turn in good work as a result. particularly appealing are george pravda as castellan spandrell - old and jaded but no fool - and erik chitty as his somewhat befuddled assistant engin.
the third episode is set almost entirely in a virtual reality setting with the doctor battling a villain there. it conjures up some pretty nightmarish imagery. and even though it was made in 1977 it's so well done that no cgi would enhance the effect at all.
the first cliffhanger resolution is perhaps a little bit of a cheat, adopting the old republic serials technique of getting out of things via judicious re-editing, and the third is rather violent and graphic and got the show into a lot of hot water. but those are minor complaints. this is classic who and it's great to have it on dvd at last.... Read more ›
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tom Baker in the matrix!!!
This story really must be seen if you are a fan of Doctor Who!I love everything about it from the beginning with narration from Tom Baker which sets the scene to the confrontation... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Karl
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dull
I don't like this story, I found it boring, anything with The Matrix in is I have found. Plus there's no companion, a dynamic I don't like.
Published 4 months ago by R. Adams
4.0 out of 5 stars
big doctor who fan still stands
this is a very good tom baker dvd this includes the time lords and the master orso this is the big doctor who fan for you people in the world of interweb this is a clissic doctor... Read more
Published 8 months ago by sam
4.0 out of 5 stars
Its ok.
Personaly not one of my favorites. It was only made to prove that Dr.Who did not need companions and i dont think it manages it. Still good release and a some good extra features.
Published 9 months ago by TARDIS Traveller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thriller!
This is one of the darkest & grimmest Doctor Who films ever. Even without all the sci-fi stuff, it stands out as a political thriller, with murder, conspiracy and betrayal galore. Read more
Published 10 months ago by RIJU GANGULY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dr Who - The Deadly Assassin (1976) - When Dr Who went `Solo'.
What a great adventure, I really enjoyed this. After getting the call from his home planet Gallefrey in previous adventure `The Hand of Fear', the Doctor (Tom Baker) faces his... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr G Turner
2.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly dull
This has always been talked of as a classic story, so I was looking forward to finally seeing it.
A disappointment. Read more
A disappointment. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Colin D. Robertson
4.0 out of 5 stars
DR WHO IN MATRIX, LONG BEFORE WACHOWSKY !
I don't know how simply describe The Deadly Assassin. At the time I bought it, I was attracted by the look of The Master who certainly fortunately appears a lot and repelled by... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Ruben G. Margarit
5.0 out of 5 stars
Darkly brilliant
Yes, we've all heard the joke: What's the point of an assassin if he's not deadly..? but the poor title aside, this is a moody and claustrophobic story from the show's 1976 prime;... Read more
Published on 1 May 2011 by Scaroth, Last of the Jagaroth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Master-ful
Breathing new life into the Time lords and adding a new dynamic to Tom Baker's Doctor this is another Classic story from the BBC archives.
Published on 31 Jan 2011 by Matthew
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