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Doctor Who - Four To Doomsday [1981] | ![Doctor Who - Four To Doomsday [1981]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eqiFxyDcL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: John Black
Actors: Peter Davison, Stratford Johns, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton, Matthew Waterhouse
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £8.30
You Save: £11.69 (58%)
New (16) Used (2) from £8.30
Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 4535
Format: Colour, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Region: 2
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5014503243128
ASIN: B001ARYYUE
Theatrical Release Date: 1981
Release Date: September 15, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Amazon.co.uk Review
An adventure starring Peter Davison in the title role, this latest classic Doctor Who release, Four To Doomsday, has plenty of interesting ideas up its sleeve, even if they aren't all fully realised by the time the credits run on the last episode. But there's still plenty to enjoy, nonetheless. The basis of Four To Doomsday is that the Doctor is trying to return Tegan back home, but instead finds himself on a strange spaceship, that almost inevitably is heading to Earth with unpleasantness very much on its agenda. The Doctor, accompanied by Nyssa, Adric and the aforementioned Tegan, naturally has to come to the rescue, aided by some very economic special effects (even for the time). Four To Doomsday, however, is certainly a story with its moments, and the appearance of Stratford Johns is very much responsible for many of them. It's also breezy enough, and easily pulls you through its four episodes. The plot doesn't bear too much scrutiny, though, with a narrative that jumps around and loses cohesion. But it's all engaging enough, with Davison very much finding his feet in the role. Few people would launch a campaign to have it lauded as an all-time classic, but it's good fun, warts and all, nonetheless. --Jon Foster
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 Some nice elements but mixed in with a fair bit of filler September 27, 2008
L. Green (London, UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Barcode: 5014503243128
I have always liked Peter Davison's Doctor so to go back and see where it all began for him was certainly an interesting experience. Four To Doomsday is most definitely a mixed bag, but I found much to enjoy in this story, even if it did come in inconsistent bursts.
In terms of the look and feel of the episode, with a new Doctor and a new season, the BBC was obviously keen to impress and as a result we are treated to some very nicely designed sets. Four To Doomsday sees the show at its most Sci-Fi, ideas of technology and intelligence forming a crucial part of the story. But as nice as these elements are, certainly from the first part of this serial you get an overriding feeling that there's just something slightly lacking when compared to other stories of the era.
For starters - and this isn't necessarily a bad thing - but this is a very wordy serial. There is a lot of dialogue, some of it getting pretty deep and at times the story can feel more like a lesson in morality, philosophy and science than an episode of Doctor Who. There are moments when this is done well and it is here that this episode really succeeds, but equally there is a lot of filler too.
The whole thing flows along nicely but nothing much really happens in episode 1 and for much of episode 2. Then we get episode 3 which shows real potential, the tension and drama of the story suddenly being turned right up as all the plot elements slide into place. We get treated to some wonderful bits of dialogue here and for a while it looks like everything is building to an epic finale but then sadly things drop off again in episode 4. So, episode 3 is without a doubt the best of the four, if anything, worth it alone for when Tegan gets angry at Adric and knocks him out.
The companions are interesting in this story, growing into their roles - I've always loved Davison's classic `TARDIS team' as I think it gave a real element of youthful energy to the show. As is standard with the three companions, because of the complexities of giving them all parts to play in the story, all three get sidelined at various moments - Nyssa getting hypnotised, Adric being knocked out and Tegan trying to figure out how to fly the TARDIS. Equally though, all get their chance to shine too, oh, and who knew Tegan could draw so well?
In terms of the villains, the costumes of the Urbankans isn't the best, coming across like a mix between a cabbage and a frog, but Stratford Johns is fantastic with his charming yet egotistical Monarch and his self indulgent banter is a delight to listen to, and along with his creepy assistants Enlightenment and Persuasion, this trio inject much needed gravitas into this story.
Their bizarre fascination with the failings of `flesh' beings is quite unnerving and adds to an overall sinister feel to this story - a sense of sterile conditions populated by `androids' who have settled into a mindless monotony lasting thousands of years. It sent a chill down my spine as the Greek philosopher reveals his true form, holding up the computer chip and declaring `This is me' - great cliffhanger.
Without a doubt the worst element of this story is the ridiculous 'entertainment' room/variety show thing. It's used to pad out a fair bit of the story and ultimately just looks and sounds a bit of a mess and doesn't really mesh fully with the feel of the rest of the serial. In regards to the whole space-walk sequence, again, a nice idea but sadly the effects just don't cut it. Another disappointment was the way the ending comes around far too suddenly, before you know it Monarch is defeated in a flash and everything is resolved.
In terms of extras, as well as the standard commentary you also get some raw studio footage and an interview with Peter Davison but is quite lacking compared to what's on offer on other Doctor Who DVD releases. I'd really like to give this story five stars as there are some really nice elements to it, moments that just remind you why you love Doctor Who so much, but these are scattered in with a lot of filler and ultimately this story's inconsistency lets it down a lot it, and as a whole it just isn't strong enough to warrant a top rating. That said, it's still worth a watch, just maybe see some of Davison's other stories first.
dancing till doomsday September 25, 2008
Paul Tapner (poole dorset england)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
A four part doctor who story from 1982, featuring peter davison as the fifth doctor, and as his three companions: janet fielding as tegan, sarah sutton as nyssa, and matthew waterhouse as adric.
the story involves the tardis landing on a large spaceship heading towards earth, just four days away. it's run by a biepedial frog like humanoid alien called monarch, and crewed by some others of his race and lots of humans they've taken prisoner over the centuries. Earth will be in big trouble if he gets there again. can the doctor and friends stop him?
as you can see from the variety of reviews here, this is a story that divides opinion and doesnt have a great reputation. It's entirely studio bound. Having three companions does rather restrict the amount of material each gets, and the story is not terrible, but is rather average. the human prisoners put on regular dancing displays, and this can slow the plot down. acting wise peter davison, in his first recorded story in the part, has yet to fully find the character of the fifth doctor, and the script does rather waste a potentially very good villain in the form of monarch.
so it's not terrible, but it's no better than average and ultimately a bit forgettable.
this is a bit lacking extras wise, as well, and it's a surprise it's not one of the cheaper dvd's in the range. most of the decent material about peter davison's start in the role was used for the new beginnings box set, so there's not much left to put on here.
you get the usual:
photo gallery of the story and it's production.
english language subtitles.
production information subtitles, which will display information about the story and the production whilst you watch it.
digitally remastered picture and sound.
the listings for the episodes from the radio times as a PDF file [you use a computer to open them to view]
and also:
a theme music video. a long version, roughly four minutes in total, of the mix of the theme tune that was used around this time on the show, complete with a long version of the title sequence with no text
a fifteen minute long interview with peter davison on a bbc interview show from december 1980. this was recorded prior to him starting work on doctor who. it's a bit slow to start but ultimately quite a decent little chat, although the date of recording means that the majority of it is about his work on all creatures great and small rather than who. but he does have good stories about that
studio recording: twenty seven minutes worth of film of the recording of the story on the first day of production. offering no great insights into the acting process, but an interesting look at how tv production worked back then. although we have seen the like on other doctor who dvds before, and it's a bit long at twenty seven minutes.
there's also a commentary from peter davison and the three actors who played the companions, plus john black, the director of the story. the davison commentaries are always very good and lively and this is no exception, and john black is a good addition to the group. this may help you appreciate the story a little better, because, as they say, watching it with no sound does make you study the sets and design and costumes and some of them are really rather good indeed.
and some people may be pleased to learn that, according to the commentary, they've already recorded one for the highly regarded story kinda, so hopefully that will be along sooner rather than later.
there is also a coming soon trailer for the story the war machines. this actually came out last month, but the production order originally had it coming out after four to doomsday. be careful watching this trailer because it begins with some very fast cuts and then some flashing lights and it nearly gave me a fit as a result.
and that's the whole package for you. average story, and not much with it. but the commentary may help you like it a little better
Why this one? September 22, 2008
Mark Prior (Kent)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Of all the remaining Peter Davison era stories why release this one? Four to doomsday was one of the very last Dr Who stories to be released on video, and one of the worst.
Okay, it's not the very worst from this era but certainly one of the dullest. Stratford Johns, Philip Locke, Burt Kwouk, A waste of some great british acting talent.
Where are the greats? Kinda, the black gaurdian trilogy, Planet of fire?
"You take a large ripe frog and squeeze.." September 22, 2008
Bob Marlowe (UK)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I last saw this when it was 1st broadcast, but thanks to the intervention of a mate who bought a copy of the DVD I've given it another look. Sorry but it's still rather lightweight, despite Terence Dudley writing some actual Sci Fi for once. An alien who considers himself a God and wants to travel faster than light, an arkship and personalities/consciousness stored as data are all good concepts but despite his track record on shows like Doomwatch and Survivors, Dudley was perhaps creatively a bit burned out by the time he came to who.
There are lapses in logic e.g having thrown considerable bafflegab and gizmos at the Tardis in an attempt to get in in part 2, in part 4 Monarch walks past an open doored Tardis in part 4 without so much as a glance.
There is quite a lot of padding e.g. the Tardis crew variously have to sit through a sort of Royal Variety Performance with dancing, sword fighting & some Blue Peter assembled Chinese Dragons! Now that's what I call torture!
Peter Davison in his 1st recorded story is confident and makes the most of moments such as mocking the use of floating cameras "Manopticons" (these are quite well realised for the time), but there are still growing pains for the 5th Doctor (he's really snappy with Tegan in a Tardis scene and makes corny jokes-"shows how academic everything is").
Tegan is her usual strident self, oddly deciding to fly the Tardis (did she learn nothing in Castrovalva?)and clearly having a "bad hair" story.
Nyssa is underused and Adric's annoying-so no change there!
Stratford Johns gives a large fun performance as alien menace Monarch. Even though the Urbankan look is some way from the frogs described in some dialogue, the facial mask and makeup move with his own face-not so for Annie Lambert who in her Urbankan mode has difficulty speaking. Monarch's costume is dated looking and unimaginative- Johns' discomfort is visible in his body language.
However when Persuasion and Enlightenment appear transformed into something out of Tegan's sketches, it's a justly celebrated episode climax!
The other cast make little impression, Burt Kwouk in particular wasted in a nothing role. Only Philip Locke is memorable.
There is great modelwork opening the story and the sets (if memory serves some are hand me downs from the film "Alien")are good. We all fastened at the time on the scene where the Doctor makes a cricket ball propelled space flight because it looked rubbish done with CSO. The Police Box Show has never been afraid to use dodgy science and if you did a similar scene now with CGI it would be a water cooler moment, but at the time they should have realised it was a bad idea.
The special features are only a notch or 2 above a budget release. the theme music video with a full version played to title sequence compilations is mildly interesting, the 27 minute studio footage of Peter Davison's 1st day's shooting needed some optional commentary to bring it to life.
Peter Davison's interview on vintage show "Saturday Night at the Mill" is more of a treat. Focussing on "All Creatures Great and Small", it does have a brief moment about Dr Who where his delight over having bagged the role is wonderful to see. He mentions a 60's story with aliens coming to life from being frozen in a cave and my vote is it's "The Keys of Marinus", feel free to cast yours in comments.
The commentary is great with the classic line up; Jan, Pete, Matthew and Sarah, possibly as with The Visitation the presence of the director restrained them a bit. John Black offers an insight into the technical challenges whil Pete n' Jan offer their usual schtick. janet Fielding compares her haistyle to Elvis Presley, whil Peter D jokes about lead in your pencil and reveals he almost sacrificed his sitcom "Sink or Swim" to be Dr Who. He also reveals that the commentary for Kinda is already in the can.
Middling story, middling extras big 5th Doctor fans only.
Slightly unhinged, but witty and fun September 21, 2008
The Goose Loose (London, UK)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
The negative reviews here are being very unfair on this story (I have a suspicion that some stories are classed as disasters, and it's then difficult to see past that and appreciate what's actually on offer). Plus points: a very imaginative idea, an enthusiastic cast, some proper drama between the regulars (Adric's betrayal and Tegan's panic), some great gags, and some of the best set design the classic series ever had. Minus points: it's clearly true that the regular cast are still finding their feet, and the writing feels slightly unhinged - it doesn't seem to develop in the way you'd expect it to, but instead heads off in its own, slightly mad directions. There's nothing wrong with that though - it's fresh and good fun (and, for sheer entertainment, it actually beats a lot of Davison's second series into the proverbial cocked hat).
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