Cheap Doctor Who - The Talons of Weng-Chiang (DVD) (Christopher Barry (III), Julia Smith, John Gorrie, Ron Jones (II), Derrick Goodwin, David Maloney, Richard Martin (IV), Peter Moffatt, Derek Martinus, Fiona Cumming) Price

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Customer Reviews of Doctor Who - The Talons of Weng-Chiang

Doctor Who at its best in "The Talons of Weng-Chiang"
Attributing "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" as a mere "episode" is an understatement; its running time is 140 minutes (more that most feature-length films) and it certainly plays like a movie (it's not divided into 30-minute segments like most other Who episodes, although it may have been broadcast that way). And it is brilliantly written and has first-rate acting by all members of its cast. Starring the fourth doctor played by Tom Baker (curly hair, staring gaze, toothy grin, scarf, jelly babies), with his companion Leela, who compelled by the weather, is donned in uncharacteristically prim attire. "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" is set amidst smog-shrouded Victorian London (around the time of Jack the Ripper and the same time period in which fictional detective Sherlock Holmes was based). In fact the Doctor, in his regalia, looks very Holmesian in this episode. And incidentally the episode is written by Robert "Holmes". Adding to the mystery motif, the plot line is as follows: Girls have gone missing (could "Jack" be on the loose again?), the Doctor and Leela arrive and before they know it witness a chinese cult skampering off with the body of a cabbie. They are nearly assulated but then the police whistle is heard, whereupon the Doctor and Leela are taken to the police station with a Chinese who was left behind, where the police call on the creepy illusionist Li H'sien Chang to translate - even though the Doctor can speak all dialects of the language. Before they can start the interrogation the cult member suddenly keels over and dies; he has been poisoned by highly-concentrated scorpion venom, furtively given to him by Li H'sien Chang. He had a black scorpion tattoo on his hand indicating he was in the Chinese cult. The pathologist, Professor Litefoot, whom Who befriends invites the Doctor and Leela home for dinner. At his house they notice an enigmatic Chinese puzzle box, that can only be opened by the correct key. There is also something strage going on in the sewer system; a long hair from what is presumably a rat was found on a body that turned up floating in the Thames. It turns out the Chinese "god", Weng-Chiang, is residing in the basement of the Palace Theatre, Chang's performing venue (along with Mr. Sin, Li H'sien Chang's "ventriloquist doll") and has been searching for the puzzle box which Litefoot possesses. The Doctor, Leela, Litefoot and the overzealous proprietor of the Palace Theatre, Henry Jago (thinking Who is a chief detective with Scotland Yard) set out on a major investigation, filled with the fourth Doctor's trademark sardonic humor. In my opinion this episode is a timeless classic, very macabre.

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THE TALONS OF DR SHERLOCK HOLMES
Regarded by fans as one of the best Doctor Who stories ever made, The Talons of Weng Chiang transports the Doctor and Leela to 19th Century Victorian London. A planned trip to the theater is interrupted when the duo come across a gang of Chinese Triads committing a murder on the foggy streets. As the body count increases, the Doctor teams up with Professor Litefoot, a police pathologist, in a desperate attempt to solve the mystery of the disappearing women. Eventually his investigations center around a particular theater house run by Henry Jago where he discovers that the star act, Li H'sen Chang, is supplying the ancient Chinese god Weng Chiang with fresh young bodies in order to complete his master's regeneration...

Top notch sets, an excellent script, sterling performances from the actors and a dark, sinister atmosphere reminiscent of the old Hammer Horror movies keeps the viewer glued to the screen through all 6 breathtaking episodes. Even after 16 years the story is as captivating as ever. Tom Baker is wonderful as The Doctor and this story was highly influential in casting him as Sherlock Holmes in a BBC TV series several years later.

Technical notes: The existing BBC recordings have been cleaned up for the DVD by the Dr Who Restoration Team who rebalanced the colour, removed scratches plus much more in order to give the fans the best possible viewing pleasure. A commentary track was recorded with original actors Louise Jameson, John Bennett and Chrisopher Benjamin, Director David Maloney and Producer Phillip Hinchcliffe. Also included is a BBC documentary, some clips from the childrens show "Blue Peter" including how to make a Dr Who puppet theater, an interview with Phillip Hinchcliffe, pop-up production notes and a photo gallery.

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Should be six stars!
If you went through the 26 years of Doctor Who, the longest running sci-fi show in history and you needed to pick the top 5 or maybe even the top 3 adventures, I feel comfortable saying that 99% of the fans would easily place The Talons of Weng-Chiang" in that group. The show comes from the pen of Robert Holmes and was the final show under the helm of producer Phillip Hinchcliffe, who had produced the greatest group of adventures ever for the Doctor. This, combined with the most popular Doctor of them all, Tom Baker and a wildly popular companion, Leela, makes for a grand adventure.
Taking place in Victorian London, this is one of the richest adventures in the history of the show and one of the most well written with some fantastic characterization. Magnus Greel and the Homonculous creature as well as Li Sen Chang are magnificent villains in this thriller. Yes, the giant rat is cheesy but it's all part of the fun of '70's Doctor Who. I can't recommend the adventure highly enough and there are a lot of great extras as well. I think it's also a great homage to Robert Holmes that, of the Who adventures that are out on DVD or are about to come out, there are quite a few Holmes stories amongst the few out so far, including "Carnival of Monsters", "Spearhead from Space", "The Power of Kroll", "The Ribos Operation", "The Ark in Space", "The Two Doctors", "The Talons of Weng Chiang" and "The Caves of Andozani". So, in essence, of the 158 adventures in 26 years, so far, 23 have come out on DVD. Of those 23, 8 have been written by Robert Holmes! And I believe Pyramids of Mars is coming out next, also from Holmes. Can there be any doubt that this man has done some of if not THE best "Who"?