Doctor Who - The Aztecs (Story 6)

Doctor Who - The Aztecs (Story 6)

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DVD Reviews of Doctor Who - The Aztecs (Story 6)

DVD Review: Superb DVD of one of the best 1960s Doctor Who stories
Summary: 5 Stars

The DVD is one of the best I have seen. The BBC seems to be taking a pride in their picture and sound quality now, as well as giving a decent number of well-made extras.

The picture has been extensively restored from a filmed copy of a video recording, with much effort spent to eliminate scratches, missing frames, distortion and sound problems. This release also benefits from the new Vidfire system which converts the sometimes jerky look of filmed television into a smooth looking video picture. This looks so good, you would think it was recorded yesterday if it had not been black and white.

The commentary is interesting, featuring the two surviving lead actors, Carole Ann Ford (Susan) and William Russell (Ian) plus the series' producer Verity Lambert. There is an element of memory loss which is unsurprising after nearly forty years, and this means that it is probably about right to have three people doing the commentary. The information subtitles are similarly useful but more thorough, however I think these should be written after the commentary to avoid duplication and to correct any mistakes the cast may make in remembering things.

There is a comic section on how to make coffee Aztec style with John Ringham and Walter Randall supplying voice-overs to a South Park style cartoon of their Doctor Who characters Tlotoxl and Tonila. This has to be seen to believed. Unfortunately Randall seems to have forgotten how to act, but full marks to him for taking part. The same two actors are featured in a short documentary 'Remembering The Aztecs', alongside an impossibly young looking Ian Cullen. All three have interesting things to say about the story, its production, and its stars. The actors also each contribute two spoken introductions to the story, selected at random when the story is played.

Set designer Barry Newbery contributes another short documentary about his work on the serial, well illustrated with his own superb photographs (some in colour). Another short piece shows the viewer what efforts have been made to restore the picture and sound, a textbook example of video restoration. I usually find DVD photo galleries rather boring, but the gallery on this disc is presented more imaginatively - the pictures fade swiftly from one to the next with a nice frame and sound effect.

There is the now standard TARDIS Cam - all very well done, but what is the point of them? Except to show what the BBC Special effects department could do these days if only the BBC commissioned another series of Doctor Who! Another odd inclusion (Useful for completists) is the option to select an Arabic soundtrack for episode 4. I think I might try this one day for fun! The disc is rounded off with a small except from Blue Peter with Val Singleton sitting on the steps of a Ziggurat telling the story of Cortez and Montezuma.

I recommend this disc for anyone who is interested in 1960s television production, Aztec history, or who just wants to watch a cracking Doctor Who story.

Description of Doctor Who - The Aztecs (Story 6)

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Original Doctor Who producer Verity Lambert and actors William Russell and Carole Ann Ford
Featurette:Remembering the Aztecs, Designing the Aztecs, Restoring the Aztecs, The Story of Cotez and Montezuma, animated featurette on Making Cocoa the Aztec Way