Distributor: Roadshow
Entertainment Certificate: G | 202
minutes Release Date: 5 August 2004 Available to Buy Extras: Yes
Doctor:
'Stevens, listen to me. You've seen where this efficiency of yours
leads. Wholesale pollution of the countryside. Devilish creatures
spawned by the filthy by-products of your technology. Men... men walking
around like brainless vegetables. Death. Disease. Destruction.'
ANYONE
IN IT WE KNOW?
Jon
Pertwee, Katy Manning, Talfryn Thomas, Nicholas Courtney, Jerome Willis
WHAT’S
IT ABOUT THEN?
The
Doctor, Jo and the team from
UNIT find themselves
investigating strange deaths in
a Welsh mining town – all of
the victims having more than a
green tinge to their bodies. The
finger points towards the Global
Chemicals factory and the doctor
suspects that the mysterious
“Boss” may be more than he
seems, the real fun starts when
Jo becomes trapped down an
abandoned mine with deadly giant
maggots on her trail.
SO
IS IT ANY GOOD?
Arguably
the best Jon Pertwee story and one of the most fondly remembered Dr Who
serials ever The Green Death heads off into ecology territory with its
theme of pollution and the burgeoning eco-warrior scene, oft mentioned
as ‘the one with the maggots” these giant condoms with teeth have in
fact been created by the chemical waste generated by Global Chemicals. The
Green Death also marks the end of an era as Jo Grant ends up marrying
welsh ecologist Clifford Jones (Stewart Bevan) and leaving the good
Doctor (this serial was the end of a season’s worth of episodes),
there are some great supporting characters popping up throughout the
serial too especially worthy of mention are the legendary Talfryn Thomas
(the man is fantastic!), Mostyn Evans and Roy Evans (all playing locals)
as well as Jerome Willis as dodgy businessman Jocelyn Stevens.
As
is always the case with 1970’s Doctor Who there are some great
specials effects (the maggots are actually a triumph) and some not so
great special effects (the CSO green screen technique that producer
Barry Letts was so fond of seldom looked realistic).All in all the story (a 6 parter on a single disc) rattles along
at a fair old pace and is a very enjoyable slice of 1970’s TV.
ANY
SPECIAL FEATURES?
As
always with Who there is a great package of extras, best of them all is
the 10 minute fake documentary from Mark “The League of Gentlemen”
Gatiss, called Global Conspiracy Gatiss plays former Man Alive
correspondent Terry Scanlan who follows up on his original 1970’s
investigation into the Green Death matter, this is great fun, its played
seriously and includes some of the original cast members reprising their
roles (Stewart Bevan as Clifford Jones talking about the breakdown of
his marriage to Jo), it’s a definite must see. Featurettes include
Green Death writer Roger Sloman talking about his inspiration for the
serial; visual effects designer Colin Mapson taking us through the
creation of a giant maggot; an interview with Stewart Bevan, there is
also a commentary from Katy Manning, Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks as
well as production info subtitles and a photo gallery.
EASTER
EGGS
The
Easter Egg contains the usual 4 minutes worth of BBC1 continuity
announcements from the serials original showing as well as later repeat
ones.
