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Doctor Who - Black Orchid [1982]

RRP: £12.99
Our Price: £8.43 (subject to change)

Doctor Who + Agatha Christie - the original you might say
Review date: 2008-06-17 Rating: 8 out of 10

I really like this story. As other reviewers have stated it's an Agatha Christie style mystery with the Doctor thrown in for good measure. I do feel that part 1 drags in places - how many shots of Adric stuffing his face or Tegan trying to dance do we really need. Luckerly things really do spped up in part 2. In fact they could have made it a 3 part story for better pacing.

As per usual Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Mathew Waterhouse and Janet Fielding provide a very entertaining commentry track. You can tell they do not like this story very much. It's nice to hear actors enjoying themselves rather than woodenly chatting about how great this scene or that actor was.

The extras are up to the high standard we have come to expect on the classic Doctor Who stories. So all in all a very enjoyable dvd in a year that has provided some slightly dissapointing releases.

Reviews

Pleasant
Review date: 2008-05-30 Rating: 8 out of 10

I had never seen this particular story and was not very excited about the DVD release. However, I had a voucher so I got it, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Peter Davison is not one of my favourite Doctors overall but he suited this mild gentlemanly story down to a 'tea'! He fits right in in his old cricketers costume as he is immediately called for a cricket match.

This DVD is a delightful way to pass 50 minutes; it was absorbing and the time flew by. The TARDIS aside this made a great period drama that has dated really well partly because of the lack of anything alien. This really cheered me up after that rubbish 'The Unicorn and the Wasp'.

Excellent value for money release of a weaker story
Review date: 2008-05-21 Rating: 6 out of 10

At one point in the commentary for 'Black Orchid', someone remarks that this story feels like Terrence Dudley just dusted off a Miss Marple-style story he had written and added the Doctor into it. This tale has no science fiction elements at all, relies on heavy levels of coincidence to power its narrative.

The change of pace both marks it out in the season and also contributes to many of its weaknesses. There is so little narrative that the production resorts to a five minute cricket sequence in the first part (more on that later!) and corridor-wandering galore.

Still, it is hard to deny that the story has a unique feel and it is nice to see the Doctor go back in time.

The commentary for this story features the entire TARDIS crew who are on fine form. As others have noted, this is much more negative than most Davison commentaries because of the four actors only Sutton has a soft spot for the story. Whilst some will feel that they are too negative about a well-loved story, the commentary is frequently very funny indeed. One highlight for me is Peter Davison's synopsis of the cricket scene where he refers to an off-scene character, "Smutty", whose friend he has been mistaken for.

I emerged from the commentary more aware of the story's faults but much more fond of the story despite them. I may no longer be able to take it seriously but in many ways that is not such a bad thing as it has increased my enjoyment of it no end.

Amongst the other extra features there are also deleted scenes, a now and then featurette looking at the locations and a featurette on the Fifth Doctor's era in the comics. This last item is the sort of thing that will either appeal to you hugely or not at all. Suffice it to say that if you enjoy Doctor Who comics it is an interesting overview of the era from Doctor Who Monthly editors and artists - if not you will likely be skipping over it.

'Black Orchid' is certainly not one of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time but the BBC has put together a good package of extras at an excellent price.

Delightful Gem
Review date: 2008-04-28 Rating: 8 out of 10

There are no strange aliens or even stranger worlds in this story, just a historically set story in which the Doctor and his companions are allowed to show their incomprehension of the era in which they have fallen. The almost perpetual confusion of Nyssa and Adric over the local idioms was neat and the whole Nyssa/Ann twin thing was handled excellently.

As other reviews have stated, the basic story is rather Agatha Christie-ish but the BBC have always excelled at this sort of story. The relatively short storyline meant it didn't get bogged down in inconsequentials and the large amount of on site filming meant that we got a feel of the world around the story.

Tegan is the companion who really shone in this story as she introduced the Charleston to the British Aristocracy.

The extras aren't too hot - a Making Of/Then and Now comparison of the on site scenes and the problems of shooting outside in an English autumn proving the best of a relatively weak selection.

doctor whodunnit
Review date: 2008-04-22 Rating: 8 out of 10

a two part doctor who story from 1982, featuring peter davison as the fifth doctor, and his companions tegan played by janet fielding nyssa played by sarah sutton and adric played by matthew waterhouse.

This is a slightly unusual story compared to the norm because it contains no science fiction other than the tardis, and reintroduces a style of story not seen since the 1960's known as historical, in which the tardis lands on earth in the past and the crew get caught up in goings on of the time. often such stories involved actual historical events and figures but this, set in 1920's england, doesn't. It involves the tardis crew visiting a stately home and getting caught up in a murder mystery and the secret of the family who live there.

This could be an agatha christie story. It's nothing special, but it's a pleasant little diversion, well made and well acted. and the restoration team have done a good job on the film and the picture now looks superb.

The extras:

a commentary from peter davison and the actors who played the companions. this group are always very good at commentaries and they're fun to listen to. and you'll find they're not personally too keen on the story.

for an easter egg, go to the special features pages and move a pointer around them [if watching on a pc] and a doctor who logo will light up. click on this to see bbc continuity announcements of the time for the story

There are a few deleted and extended scenes, running for about ten minutes in total. nothing special but worth a look, and nicely framed in the style of a 20's movie

A now and then feature of ten minutes duration looks at the locations where the story was filmed as they were then and as they are now. they all look very nice so this is a decent watch

Stripped for action is a fifteen minute documentary about the comic strips that featured the fifth doctor. It's interesting stuff, showing how they were put together despite behind the scenes tribulations.

There's a nine minute clip from childrens show blue peter made at the time showing two of the presenters visiting a costumers that supplied the costumes for this story. and lots of other programmes. interesting and worth watching

A short clip from bbc points of view of the time - long running show where viewers opinions are aired - shows viewers of the time weren't happy about the time slot the show was given. and that points of view then as now patronises and doesnt address the issue. some things never change.

A fascinating feature, also framed in 20's style, looks at how the film was restored. technical and very interesting

The radio times listings for the story can be accessed on a pc as a pdf file

and there's the usual information text, english subtitles and photo gallery for the story

the coming soon trailer is for the soon to be released 6th doctor story the trial of a time lord. and it makes it look very good. possibly a little better than it actually is. This isn't actually the next release, and a date for it awaits to be confirmed.

decent little story. decent little package for it

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Michael Cochrane
Peter Davison
Matthew Waterhouse
Janet Fielding
Sarah Sutton

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503243227
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-04-14
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 49 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1982

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Doctor Who - Black Orchid [1982]

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