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Product Description
Video Description
The Doctor and Jo are investigating a revolutionary new way of treating psychotic criminals at Stangmoor Prison – a machine invented by one Professor Keller that literally sucks the evil out of a man’s brain. But when the process is complete, what is left behind – a saint or a simpleton? But it transpires that Professor Keller is the Doctor’s arch-enemy, The Master. The machine actually houses a deadly mind parasite that the Master has taken to Earth for his own evil ends. He intends to use it to sabotage the Global peace conference UNIT is policing, thus bringing the Earth to the brink of war. And when he takes over the prison and hijacks a nuclear missile, it seems the cards are stacked firmly in his favour. Meanwhile, the evil mind parasite is growing stronger all the time, killing anyone in its path by making them experience that which they fear the most. Can the Doctor defeat both the Master and the parasite whilst preventing the world’s major powers from embarking on all-out nuclear war?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
A very good and effective story line - Frankenstein meets Dr Who. The concept of mind control in 1971 was not new, even for Dr Who (the Mind Robber). However, this story line allowed Pertwee to excercise his natural superiority to its full. His flipant dealings with the so called experts at the start, his natural assuming of control at the prison plus his typical condesention of the Master come thru very pertly in this story, as they do in most Pertwee story lines. I think the best part of the story (as I recall even from 30 years ago) was firstly, the creepy idea of a machine (or intelligence) causing one to face up to ones most horrid fears (and lose) and then secondly, to find that the good Doctor himself was subject to the same! I couldn't sleep for days after that!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first thing that struck me about this episode is the level of violence; rioting, punch-ups and shoot-outs and a rather high body count. All of which make it rather exciting, but not really suitable for children. The threat in this episode is also rather abstract and more likely to scare adults than kids. If you believe that Doctor Who is just a children's show then I'm sure this story will change your mind.
The main enemy is the Keller Machine, a intelligent mind-controlling machine, created by the Master, which develops a life of its own. The action takes place in a prison, where the machine is being used to remove criminal impulses from the inmates, but ends up resulting in a violent uprising. Some viewers don't like the Keller machine because it is too passive an enemy, but for me that is the very quality that makes it, and the whole concept of mind control, so unnerving. You can't fight it, nor can you hide from it. The subject of brainwashing was acute back in the days of the Cold War but is still relevant today, in the context of fundamentalism for example. The wider story revolves around a peace conference and negotiations with the Chinese, (which the Master hopes to disrupt). These are all strangely contemporary themes, so the story doesn't feel like it's based on old concepts.
The story is a good example of Doctor Who working at it's best, i.e within its limits. A great script from Don Houghton. No dodgy sets or monster costumes. The use of real props and locations.
The performances are great, though I will give special mention to Jon Pertwee, I can't help it. His distress during the Keller Machine attack and after as he come to terms with a very near death experience is a great piece of acting. Jo is manhandled in the most unchivalrous manner during the prison riot, spending much of the time with a gun pointed three inches from her face, but eventually gets her own back by shooting one of her assailants in the backside.
The machine scares its victims to death by confronting them with their greatest fear. The best moment for me is when the machine attacks the Master and we find out what he fears most in the universe, its quite a revelation.
The main enemy is the Keller Machine, a intelligent mind-controlling machine, created by the Master, which develops a life of its own. The action takes place in a prison, where the machine is being used to remove criminal impulses from the inmates, but ends up resulting in a violent uprising. Some viewers don't like the Keller machine because it is too passive an enemy, but for me that is the very quality that makes it, and the whole concept of mind control, so unnerving. You can't fight it, nor can you hide from it. The subject of brainwashing was acute back in the days of the Cold War but is still relevant today, in the context of fundamentalism for example. The wider story revolves around a peace conference and negotiations with the Chinese, (which the Master hopes to disrupt). These are all strangely contemporary themes, so the story doesn't feel like it's based on old concepts.
The story is a good example of Doctor Who working at it's best, i.e within its limits. A great script from Don Houghton. No dodgy sets or monster costumes. The use of real props and locations.
The performances are great, though I will give special mention to Jon Pertwee, I can't help it. His distress during the Keller Machine attack and after as he come to terms with a very near death experience is a great piece of acting. Jo is manhandled in the most unchivalrous manner during the prison riot, spending much of the time with a gun pointed three inches from her face, but eventually gets her own back by shooting one of her assailants in the backside.
The machine scares its victims to death by confronting them with their greatest fear. The best moment for me is when the machine attacks the Master and we find out what he fears most in the universe, its quite a revelation.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
While a machine that sucks out all of the criminal intentions from the human brain may sound beneficial; it presents a unique problem for The Doctor, his companion Jo Grant, and the world in general, in this memorable six-part serial from the early 70s period of the long-running show.
The insidious Master has, using an alter-ego, created a machine that supposedly cures violent criminals and makes them fit for re-integration into society. The Brigadier despatches The Doctor and Jo Grant to witness the first demonstration of the machine in action, and what they see is hard-core thug Barnham (Neil McCarthy) seemingly transformed into a sweet and gentle man, thanks to the revolutionary machine.
Of course, The Doctor is rightly suspicious, and when people who have been near the machine begin dying unnaturally, he unearths The Master's diabolical plan...
I have heard bad things about this serial and until recently I only knew the story through the 1985 Target novelisation. Finally getting to see it on the small screen, I was pleasantly surprised; despite the era's relatively weak special effects and film quality, the serial went some way to matching the novelisation for charm, imagination and yet another showdown between The Doctor and his arch-enemy The Master. Whilst the action is spread somewhat thinly over the now unimaginable six half-hour episodes, there is plenty going-on and it actually gives space for the burgeoning relationship between The Doctor and his assistant to flourish. All six parts are in black and white; although the few colour scenes that remain are included on this VHS, after the serial has been shown in its entirety.
I believe that 2Entertain have a DVD version, complete with colour restoration, in the pipeline; in the meantime this is a watchable version and highly recommended as a fine example of early 1970s Doctor Who.
The insidious Master has, using an alter-ego, created a machine that supposedly cures violent criminals and makes them fit for re-integration into society. The Brigadier despatches The Doctor and Jo Grant to witness the first demonstration of the machine in action, and what they see is hard-core thug Barnham (Neil McCarthy) seemingly transformed into a sweet and gentle man, thanks to the revolutionary machine.
Of course, The Doctor is rightly suspicious, and when people who have been near the machine begin dying unnaturally, he unearths The Master's diabolical plan...
I have heard bad things about this serial and until recently I only knew the story through the 1985 Target novelisation. Finally getting to see it on the small screen, I was pleasantly surprised; despite the era's relatively weak special effects and film quality, the serial went some way to matching the novelisation for charm, imagination and yet another showdown between The Doctor and his arch-enemy The Master. Whilst the action is spread somewhat thinly over the now unimaginable six half-hour episodes, there is plenty going-on and it actually gives space for the burgeoning relationship between The Doctor and his assistant to flourish. All six parts are in black and white; although the few colour scenes that remain are included on this VHS, after the serial has been shown in its entirety.
I believe that 2Entertain have a DVD version, complete with colour restoration, in the pipeline; in the meantime this is a watchable version and highly recommended as a fine example of early 1970s Doctor Who.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliantly Realized Piece of Who
1971's The Mind of Evil is not as cared for, or even as acknowledged as much as serials like Terror of the Autons and The Daemons in fandom these days. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M.B.E. Of Tooting
Sub-standard, I'm afraid
Hmmm. This one was a bit of a disappointment, I'm afraid. I was expecting this to be just as good as Pertwee's other opening episodes, but it failed to do so. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2003 by Andrew Kyle
Non Stop Action
The Master returns for his second outing, which contains plenty of enjoyable moments.The eerie and effective noise that The Keller Machine emitts, is the most brilliant thing about... Read more
Published on 2 July 2001
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