Product Description

As the Doctor and Sarah attempt to return to UNIT HQ, the TARDIS is thrown off course and materializes in 1911 at an old priory owned by Egyptologist Marcus Scarman. While excavating a tomb, the archaeologist became possessed by the spirit of Sutekh, the last survivor of the godlike Osirans. The Doctor and Sarah witness strange and deadly events as Sutekh, who has lain imprisoned in a pyramid for thousands of years, employs Scarman and a legion of robotic mummies in an elaborate scheme that may bring about the destruction of the world.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Documentary
Featurette
Photo gallery
Production Notes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9057 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 97 minutes

Amazon.com
The popularity of this Tom Baker-era Doctor Who serial among fans led directly to its release on DVD (it ranked first in a Doctor Who magazine poll about stories to be released on disc), and once again, the WB/BBC DVD doesn't disappoint with a sparkling presentation and a wealth of supplemental features. The third serial in the thirteenth season (1975-1976) finds the Doctor and Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen) on Earth in 1911, where an Egyptologist has come under the power of Sutekh, a powerful alien bent on unleashing worldwide destruction. The much-discussed "Gothic" sensibilities that producer Phillip Hinchcliffe and writer Robert Holmes brought to the series during this season are largely in effect here--mummies and sinister henchmen mix freely with robots and alien invaders--as are the quality of writing and acting that helped Doctor Who spike some of its highest ratings to date during this season. One of the series' strongest and most entertaining stories, Pyramids of Mars is undoubtedly a must-have for Baker and Who fans. --Paul Gaita

DVD features
Considering the popularity of Pyramids of Mars among fans, it's no wonder that the DVD is packed with extras. First and foremost is a serial-long commentary by actress Elisabeth Sladen, guest star Michael Sheard, and producer Phillip Hinchcliffe; director Paddy Russell also weighs in, though her contributions were recorded separately from the others. Two featurettes are also included--one on the story itself, with interviews with members of the cast and crew, and the other focusing on Hinchcliffe's three-year tenure as producer. A short "then and now" doc focuses on the serial's exteriors (Mick Jagger's former estate Stargrove), and a brief comic "interview" with Sutekh should bemuse fans. The extras are rounded out with a smattering of deleted scenes, a gallery of production photos, and the always-welcome information track (which provides a running text commentary of production information) American fans will also be pleased to see the intros and outros recorded by actor Howard Da Silva for Stateside broadcasts in the '70s among the supplements. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

Abase yourself you groveling ant!
I wouldn't describe myself as a diehard Whovian, but I do enjoy the show. Pyramids of Mars has to be my favorite. In fact, I think it's just about every Doctor Who fan's favorite. Enjoy!

Outstanding "Whodom"!
The title of this entry is somewhat deceiving because ninety percent of the action transpires on a picturesque English estate and, inside the appurtenant Manor House. Just a little footage is shot in a replicated Egyptian tomb and the remainder in a very coolly fabricated Martian cave, the latter being near the end (was I being redundant there???). In any event, there IS plenty of action (a frequent failing of Doctor Who episodes).

Basically, the story is that Sutekh (Satan to us) has been entombed by the Egyptian God Horace for thousands of years but the intervention of an English archaeologist led to The Evil One's chance to escape captivity. So, Sutekh takes over the archaeologist's body and travels back to his huge estate to set up camp where he needs to transport his "being" to Mars to destroy the Eye of Horace which holds him in captivity.

Just as Sutekh gets rolling on this endeavor, Doctor Who and his sidekick, Sarah, swoop in with the TARDIS and the two proceed to complicate matters for old Sutekh, who is neither amused nor the first bit pleased with the Time Lord's interference with his plans. And don't let the hefty "mummies" fool you when you first see them -- they're actually evil, but groovy, robots, the sinister minions of Sutekh the Terrible.

This entry is well-done with plenty of great cinematography and is supported by a solid and coherent story. Elisabeth Sladen stars as Sarah and the great Tom Baker as Doctor Who. This BBC production is 97 minutes in length, with an aspect ratio of 4:3, and is listed as "Story No. 82," airing originally from 10/25/75 through 11/15/75. It was written by Stephen Harris and directed by Paddy Russell.

I've watched a ton of Doctor Who and this is certainly one of the better ones that I've ever seen. A good selection for either Doctor Who fans or casual sci-fi enthusiasts.

Great DVD - No Sound!
I have purchased this DVD twice in the past few years. Neither DVD plays any sound. It would be nice if BBC checked the quality of the things it sells. I don't recommend buying this DVD. Amazon needs to remove this product from its catalog.