#14: The Talons Of Weng-Chiang
Release date - April 2003
Back cover info:
"Women of Victorian London fall prey to an unknown menace, while monstrous terrors lurk in the sewers under the city. Chinese gangs scurry in the dank fog, and a sinister stage magician seeks to serve his mysterious master. The Doctor and Leela arrive, only to find themselves plunged into a series of macabre horrors..." Special features
Disc 1
- Commentary with Louise Jameson (Leela), John Bennett (Li H'Sen Chang), Christopher Benjamin (Jago), David Maloney (Director) and Philip Hinchcliffe (Producer)
- Subtitle Information Text Photo
Disc 2
- 'Whose Doctor Who' (dur. 50.42) - Episode from the 'Lively Arts' documentary series, part of which which went behind the scenes on 'Talons'
- Behind The Scenes (dur. 24.01) - a glimpse into the studio recording sessions for the story
- 'Blue Peter' (dur 26.01) - Excerpt from a strike-hit Blue Peter, presenting the show from the studio set for Tom Baker's first story, 'Robot', plus a 25-minute item on how to make a Doctor Who puppet theatre, complete with scenery, monsters and even sound effects
- Philip Hinchcliffe Interview (dur. 11.31)
- Trails and Continuity (dur. 2.29) - for both 'The Talons Of Weng Chiang' and also 'Whose Doctor Who'.
- TARDIS Cam #6 (dur. 1.44)
- Photo Gallery
Easter Egg
1) When playing commentary, some episodes contain ausio continuity announcements
2) Disc 2 - Highlight 'Trails and Continuity' - Press 'Left' for logo - Enter for Extended Opening Sequence
A 3-disc Special Edition of this story was later released as part of the 'Revisitations 1' box set. This was the third (and final) re-issue from that set
Release date - October 2010
Back cover info:
"Death stalks the fogbound streets of Victorian London. Young women are going missing. Horribly mutilated bodies are found floating in the Thames. And criminal gangs terrorize the innocent.
At the heart of this tangled web sits the mysterious Li Hsen Chang, sorcerer and hypnotist, and his grotesque sidekick — the all-too-lifelike ventriloquists dummy, Mister Sin.
The Doctor dons deerstalker hat and cape to seek out the sinister force lurking in the shadows of the metropolis. For the talons of Weng-Chiang are reaching out to shred the human race." Special features:
Disc 1
- Commentary with Louise Jameson (Leela), John Bennett (Li H'Sen Chang), Christopher Benjamin (Jago), David Maloney (Director) and Philip Hinchcliffe (Producer)
- Subtitle Information Text
- Coming soon trailer: The Seeds Of Doom (dur. 0.52)
Disc 2
- The Last Hurrah (dur. 32.32) - Tom Baker and Philip Hinchcliffe meet at Tom’s home to discuss the making of what would be their final story together
- Moving On (dur. 4.33) - ‘The Talons of Weng-Chiang’ was to be Philip Hinchcliffe’s last story as the producer of Doctor Who. In this featurette he looks back at the ideas he had for the next season
- The Foe from the Future (dur. 6.45) - a look at the original concept idea for the un-made story 'The Foe from the Future', which eventually became 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang'
- Now & Then (dur. 11.01) - visiting the locations used in the story and comparing how they looked on screen in 1977 to how they look now.
- Look East (dur. 3.45) - in January 1977, the BBC’s local news programme paid a visit to the filming of 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang' in Northampton Repertory Theatre, where reporter David Cass interviewed Tom Baker
- Victoriana and Chinoiserie (dur. 8.06) - a discussion of the literary references that can be found within the story
- Music Hall (dur. 21.42) - documentary looking at the history of the music hall and features performances by those who continue to uphold its traditions
- Limehouse: A Victorian Chinatown (dur. 19.20) - Dr. Matthew Sweet investigates the area of Limehouse and its history
Disc 3
- Whose Doctor Who (dur. 58.42) - a 1977 documentary from BBC2's 'The Lively Arts' strand, looking back at the history of the programme and its psychological impact on the viewers, particularly children
- Blue Peter Theatre (dur. 25.58) - starts with a 1974 introduction, featuring a strike-bound Blue Peter team having to leave their usual studio and present the programme from the set of the first Tom Baker story, then continues with a series of articles from 1977 in which the team make a Doctor Who theatre, complete with sets and monsters and, with the help of Dick Mills, show how to make your own sound effects to accompany the performance
- Behind the Scenes (dur. 24.00) - very poor quality but exceptionally rare footage from the studio recording of the story.
- Philip Hinchcliffe Interview (dur. 11.30) - series producer Philip Hinchcliffe interviewed on 'Pebble Mill at One' about the show and the possible effects of on-screen violence
- Trails and Continuity (dur. 2.24) - trails and continuity announcements for 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang' and 'Whose Doctor Who'
- TARDIS-Cam No.6 (dur. 1.41)
- Photo Gallery
Easter egg
Disc 3 - Highlight 'Trails and Continuity' - Press 'Right' for logo - enter for clean opening titles